Fishing Lake Carroll in Stafford County, Virginia

• Overview

  In Virginia, Lake Carroll falls inside Stafford County. The country round it is rolling hill from end to end. This is a pocket water of some 15 acres, and every part of it is reachable from the bank. Some 2.2 miles away sits Fredericksburg, the nearest settlement. Falmouth follows at 3.5 miles, then Southern Gateway at 5.8 miles. The boundary is close enough to be worth checking before you fish.

• Where to Fish on Lake Carroll

  Nothing in our records gives a depth for this one. Standing timber shows when the level drops, and fish sit against it. Points where the flooded channel swings in are the reliable ones. Public occurrence data for Stafford County names blueback herring, striped bass and tessellated darter. The county list is broader than any single water. On Lake Carroll the obvious spot is not always the productive one.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The year swings from about 35°F in January to roughly 78°F in July. The season stretches long at both ends here. It is not guaranteed even in a cold spell, so check yourself. February into May fishes hardest as the water warms. Lake Carroll fishes to that pattern most years. A grey, mild day is often better than a bright, still one.

• Tackle & Baits

  Whether the bank is open is not something our records settle. Parking sits half a mile out, which makes for a walk with tackle. There are toilets mapped about 0.9 miles away. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. Sort the permit out before you load the car. Close seasons apply to some species and not others. Failing this one, try Ruffins Pond, 2.7 miles away. Confirm before you fish Lake Carroll.