Fishing Swift Creek Lake in City of Colonial Heights, Virginia

• Overview

  Swift Creek Lake is one of the City of Colonial Heights waters in Virginia. The water sits 52 feet up. It measures about 40 acres, which is a comfortable size for bank fishing. Colonial Heights sits 0.7 miles from here and is the nearest stop. Further out sit Ettrick (2.2 miles) and Petersburg (3.2 miles). Being near a boundary, it pays to know which side you are fishing.

• Where to Fish on Swift Creek Lake

  There is no recorded depth, so work from what you can see. Built water gives depth close in, which suits a bank angler. Look for where the old bank line still shows under the surface. County-wide records name American shad, bluegill, redbreast sunfish and American eel. Several of these carry legal protection or closed seasons; the rulebook comes before the rod. On Swift Creek Lake the quiet end is the one worth the extra effort.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Averages here run 78°F at the top of summer and 37°F at the bottom of winter. The surface stays open the year round. The first and last hours carry the summer; the middle is slow. April and May are the settled weeks, with October close behind. On Swift Creek Lake that shapes the whole year.

• Tackle & Baits

  Our records carry no access rule either way. The nearest mapped parking is half a mile away, so the last stretch is on foot. For the bass here, soft plastics worked slow along cover and a spinnerbait for searching do most of the work. Where a permit is needed, the nearest town usually sells it. Where tickets apply, they are sold in the nearest town rather than on the bank. Should this one be busy, Andrews Pond is 4 miles off. Check the position at Swift Creek Lake before loading the car.