One hundred sixty-eight-acre Fairy Stone Lake is located about 20 minutes outside of Martinsville, Virginia, within Fairy Stone State Park. The lake permits the use of electric motors only, which makes it a quiet place to fish.

Fairy Stone may be a small impoundment, but the fishing is good, with bass averaging 15 inches in length, according to Dan Wilson, VDGIF fisheries biologist. Some bass have been sampled that measured over 20 inches, so there is some potential for a rod-bending "hawg." Anglers visiting the lake will find quality bass in its waters. Wilson noted that there are no shad in the lake and sunfish provide forage for the bass. The fact that the bluegill population has increased indicates that the bass population is not overcrowded. Anglers who visit Fairy Stone should concentrate their efforts around the woody structure in the lake. In addition to fishing, the park also offers camping, swimming, hiking, picnicking and boat and canoe rentals.

On the other end of the size scale, Smith Mountain Lake is one of the trio of big-water bassin' destinations for the region. At 20,600 acres, this clear water impoundment has been a favorite of striped bass and largemouth anglers for quite some time. What many anglers do not know is that the largemouth population actually peaked in the mid-'90s. Dan Wilson observed that after the largemouth population began slipping, angler pressure picked up and fish became tough to catch as a result.

The good news is that after the slump, the bass numbers began to increase in biologists' samples. There was a slight increase in 2003 and the numbers continued building in 2004. According to Wilson, the fishing in the spring of 2005 was better than it had been for several years. This was likely because of more fish being available and great fishing conditions. The 2003 year-class recruitment was the biggest push toward improving the fishery. Wilson also cautioned readers that the 2004 year-class did not experience the same successful recruitment that the 2003 year-class did.

Of particular interest to anglers should be the numerous boathouses, docks and coves in the upstream portion of the lake where the bass can find refuge from boat traffic. Of course, during the spring spawn, anglers will find bass heading to the shallow waters of the coves.

Vic DiCenzo covers both Briery Creek and Buggs Island. Both locations are very well known for excellent crappie and bass fishing. Buggs is huge, with over 48,000 acres of water to ply in search of a trophy. Much of the better water is uplake, where there are more nutrients. In the spring, be sure to visit the very backs of coves where flooded timber is key for spawning fish. Try plastics and topwater baits in the flooded timber areas. Make long casts to avoid spooking fish.

Briery Creek is nationally known as a great bass water. The impoundment is not huge like Buggs but very well managed. The 845-acre VDGIF-owned lake gives up "hawgs" year 'round, but spring tends to be the best.

The slot limit of 14 to 24 inches was put into effect two years ago. This has created a trophy bass fishery that is likely unrivaled for hundreds of miles. There are more fish in the 16- to 20-inch range at Briery than any other Virginia water. Most fish average more than 15 inches.

Anglers should use their electronics to locate structure when the water temperature is less than 60 degrees and then head for shallower water when the mercury rises above that temperature, which triggers the pre-spawn and spawn. Anglers who take a quality fish in the slot limit are advised to make quick work of taking a photo and getting the fish back into the water.