Westhaven Lake Fishing in Hanover County, Virginia

• Overview

  The Hanover County end of Virginia holds Westhaven Lake. The ground around here is open plain. This is a pocket water of some 7 acres, and every part of it is reachable from the bank. Most waters listed here for Hanover County are larger. For supplies, Mechanicsville is 3.7 miles out. The big place round here is Richmond, 9.3 miles distant. Rules can differ a short way off, since the county line is near.

• Where to Fish on Westhaven Lake

  Depth here is unknown, so count the lead down before committing. The old creek line under the surface is the feature worth finding. Draw-down through summer strips the margins, so follow the water out. Hanover County records list bluegill, redbreast sunfish, tessellated darter, warmouth and black crappie among the fish reported. County records show what lives in the area; the local agency holds the water-by-water list. At Westhaven Lake the water rewards a slow, careful approach.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Average temperature peaks around 78°F in July and bottoms out near 36°F in January. The awkward stretch is midsummer, not midwinter. The first and last hours carry the summer; the middle is slow. Autumn steadies things again once the heat lets go. It holds true on Westhaven Lake more years than not.

• Tackle & Baits

  Public data does not answer the access question here. You can leave the car about half a mile from the water. Catfish want bait on the bottom: cut bait or worms, a simple running rig, and patience after dark. Gates get locked out of season on water like this. Where parking is tight, arriving early solves most problems. Cherrydale Pond sits 1.1 miles off and takes the overflow. Nothing on Westhaven Lake should be assumed from this page alone.