Lake Lawson in City of Virginia Beach: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  Out in City of Virginia Beach, Virginia, sits Lake Lawson. The land about it is open plain. With some 29 acres of water, there is room for a boat but no need of one. For supplies, Norfolk is 7.2 miles out. Chesapeake follows at 7.7 miles, then Portsmouth at 8.2 miles. Also within reach: Little Creek Reservoir 0.9 miles off, Lake Wright within 1.9 miles, Lake Edward 2.2 miles off, Varian Lake within 2.4 miles and Lake Charles 2.4 miles off. It sits near the edge of the county, so check which rules apply.

• Where to Fish on Lake Lawson

  No depth figure appears in our records, so the bank has to tell you. A reservoir gives you a hard edge, a shelf, and not much else. Draw-down through summer strips the margins, so follow the water out. Fish documented in City of Virginia Beach include silver mullet, bluegill and common carp. Those are county-wide records, so not every one of them will be in this water. On Lake Lawson the quiet end is the one worth the extra effort.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The warmest month averages 79°F, the coldest about 41°F. Cooler months are the productive ones on most of this water. The first and last hours carry the summer; the middle is slow. February into May fishes hardest as the water warms. The season on Lake Lawson follows the weather closely.

• Tackle & Baits

  Whether the bank is open is not something our records settle. A launch point is recorded some half a mile off. There is a car park half a mile from the bank. There is a jetty half a mile off, worth knowing on a busy day. Check whether a boat is allowed before you tow one. Close seasons apply to some species and not others. For a change of water, Little Creek Reservoir is 0.9 miles distant. Check the position at Lake Lawson before loading the car.