Fishing at Thompson Lake, Fauquier County, Virginia

• Overview

  Thompson Lake is a Fauquier County water, in Virginia. It lies 942 feet above sea level. Surface area runs to about 9 acres — small enough to read in one session. It sits higher than most water we list in Virginia. Shenandoah Farms lies 4.7 miles from the water. Arlington is the closest city, 48 miles away. A border sits close enough to be relevant to the paperwork.

• Where to Fish on Thompson Lake

  Nothing we hold settles how deep this runs. Points where the flooded channel swings in are the reliable ones. Held water runs deepest at the wall and shallows back to the inflow. Fish documented in Fauquier County include bluegill, green sunfish, redbreast sunfish, rock bass and fantail darter. Read it as a county summary, not a water-by-water list. Thompson Lake gives up its fish to patience rather than distance.

• Seasonal Patterns

  On the long-term average, July reads 74°F and January reads 31°F. The calendar is generous: something works in nearly every month. It is not guaranteed even in a cold spell, so check yourself. February into May fishes hardest as the water warms. Keep it in mind when planning a trip to Thompson Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  Access is not recorded for this water. A ramp is mapped within 150 yards. Park at Lake Thompson Parking Area, half a mile from the water. Facilities include toilets around 0.9 miles from here. For the bass here, soft plastics worked slow along cover and a spinnerbait for searching do most of the work. State or provincial rules still apply whatever the bank status. Keep proof of licence with you rather than in the car. Mathews Pond sits 2.5 miles off and takes the overflow. Nothing here settles the position at Thompson Lake for certain.