Fishing Lake De Jarnette in Caroline County, Virginia

• Overview

  Set in Caroline County, Lake De Jarnette is a Virginia water. The ground around here is farm and woodlot. It covers about 12 acres, so this is small water you can walk round in under an hour. 9.7 miles away sits Ashland, the nearest town. For a city, Richmond is 24 miles off. The line between counties passes nearby, which can change who manages the water.

• Where to Fish on Lake De Jarnette

  We hold no survey for this water; read the slope of the shoreline instead. The old creek line under the surface is the feature worth finding. Draw-down through summer strips the margins, so follow the water out. County-wide records name tessellated darter, bluegill, shield darter, redbreast sunfish and chain pickerel. Protected fish appear in the records for this area, so treat the list as information, not an invitation. Lake De Jarnette gives up more to patience than to distance.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Climate normals give 77°F for July and 35°F for January. Ice comes and goes from one year to the next. Hard water here is never dependable, so check for yourself before stepping out. June to September is hot work, so the first and last hours are what count. It holds true on Lake De Jarnette more years than not.

• Tackle & Baits

  We hold no note on access for this one. Mapping shows an empty shoreline: no ramp, no jetty, no marked entry. For the pike, wire up and throw larger lures along the weed edges. Look for a notice board at the entrance. Barbless rules turn up on managed water more often than not. Caroline Pines Lake, 0.5 miles away, makes the obvious fallback. Check the current arrangement for Lake De Jarnette.