Besides the aforementioned vegetation, Briery also boasts massive amounts of both standing and submerged timber. Some of the biggest bluegills and shellcrackers hold in deep water near that cover. Sandy River Reservoir also features abundant wood cover and it is concentrated in two main areas. Additionally, the VDGIF has sunk Christmas trees, plus hinged trees so that they have fallen into the body of water.

I have long considered the Tidewater region to be the epicenter of the best panfish action in the Old Dominion. Biologist Scott Herrmann reports that through late October of 2007, the flatland bodies of water were dominating the panfish citation parade. The sunfish leaders (with totals in parentheses; sunfish must weigh a pound or measure 11 inches to qualify for a citation) were as follows: Lake Prince (53), Little Creek Reservoir (24), Nottoway River (20) and Western Branch (15).

For the yellow perch citation list (ringtails must total 1.4 pounds or measure 12 inches to qualify for a citation), 947-acre Little Creek ranked fourth with 18 and Western Branch fifth with 15. The citation figures are particularly valuable for understanding yellow perch population trends, as Herrmann relates that this species usually schools too deep for personnel to effectively sample for it in an electro-fishing craft.

“Little Creek Reservoir has consistently provided a lot of action for anglers willing to target redear sunfish,” Herrmann said. “The majority of the redears that anglers catch are of decent size in the 8- to 10-inch range. Anglers usually find the majority of all fish species in deeper water. The crystal clear water must be taken into account when fishing Little Creek Reservoir.

“Our electro-fishing catch rates from the spring of 2006 revealed 186 redear sunfish per hour. This sample collected redear sunfish up to 10 inches in length. The majority of the larger redear sunfish were holding in deeper water and not up close to the bank. A sample later in the spring would have revealed a higher abundance of breeding size redear sunfish.”

Herrmann said that the 2006 trap net survey collected a total of 308 redear sunfish over the course of two nights. The catch rate of 15.4 redear sunfish/net night was very respectable. An additional electro-fishing survey will be conducted during the spring of 2008. Anglers must pay a launch fee at the concession stand before setting forth in their boats at Little Creek. A fishing pier is provided for shoreline anglers. The concession stand can be reached at (757) 566-1702.

Another Tidewater possibility, continued Herrmann, is 75-acre Gardy’s Millpond on the border of Westmoreland and Northumberland counties. The biologist related that good numbers of 8- to 10-inch redear sunfish are present.

“The prime time for the redear action is usually around the end of April to the middle of May,” Herrmann said. “Gardy’s Millpond has some decent bluegill action as well with an abundance of bluegills in the 6- to 8-inch range.”

Gardy’s Millpond can be reached off Route 202, just to the west of the town of Callao. The pond is open to fishing 24 hours a day. Boats can be powered only by an electric motor.

Among panfish addicts, 1,265-acre Western Branch and 946-acre Lake Prince have attained legendary status, not only in Tidewater but also across the Old Dominion. Chad Boyce told me that the fishing remains of the highest quality.