South Fork Quantico Creek in Prince William Forest Park

Fishing is allowed within Prince William Forest Park with a proper Virginia fishing license. No special permit is required from the National Park Service. For a complete list of rules, see the NPS’s official Fishing web page for the park.

You can fish anywhere along the banks of South Fork Quantico Creek and Quantico Creek except from road bridges. Fishing from foot bridges is permitted.

Carters Pond is open to catch-and-release fishing. The pond is located just off the main park road between the Prince William Forest Park Visitor Center and the Scenic Drive loop. If coming from the Visitor Center, be on the lookout for a dirt road to your left, the second road that you will come to. There is a parking lot right next to the pond. Of all the fishing spots, this is the easiest to reach. All others require hiking or biking.

Carters Pond at Prince William Forest Park

There are also a number of small lakes—I call them ponds—that have been created by dams along the creek. With a few exceptions, most are open to the public. Lake One is located at the end of Lake One Road. The public can fish from the west bank only (the side where the road comes out). I don’t even think it is possible to get to the other side from there without some serious Lewis-and-Clarking-It™. Only guests of Cabin Camp 1 can fish from the far side. The much larger Lake Four is just downstream, but it is only accessible to guests of Cabin Camp 4.

Lake One at Prince William Forest Park

Lake Two and Lake Five are located on the southwest side of Prince William Forest Park near Cabin Camps 2 and 5. The public can only fish from the east bank, which is accessed via the South Valley Trail. The quickest way to get there is from Parking Lot G on Scenic Drive. Walk down Mawavi Road (a gravel fire road open to hikers and bikers) and take a left when you come to the intersection with the South Valley Trail. The lakes are about a half mile down, a mile overall from the parking lot. The west bank is for cabin guests only.

Lake Three is near Cabin Camp 3, but it is open to the public and not exclusive to the camp. Park at the Pine Grove Picnic Area near the Visitor Center and take South Orenda Road to the fork that leads to the cabins. The lake is halfway up the camp road, about a mile from the parking lot.

Breckenridge Reservoir is located in the Chopawamsic Backcountry Area. You can only fish from the east bank, as the other side is on Quantico Marine Base. A free permit is required to enter the backcountry, and these can be obtained at the Visitor Center during normal business hours. While the permit is free, you must still pay the entrance fee for Prince William Forest Park. Keep in mind that you must park at the backcountry parking lot on Joplin Road and walk to the reservoir, and it’s a long walk of close to two miles. Fishing makes more sense for those camping overnight in the backcountry than it does for day trippers.

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