One of the best kept secrets in the entire Virginia State Parks system is Twin Lakes State Park, and it's all about fishing!

Though I’ve lived my whole life in Prince Edward County, I hadn’t even heard of the park before applying for this position a few years back. At the time, it was just another Point B on a job search stretch.

Fishing secrets revealed at Twin Lakes State Park

It didn’t take long to see the true value in being at Twin Lakes State Park. It’s all about the fishing!  

By the time I started working here, my tackle had been gathering dust for the better part of a decade.  I just never took the time to make some time for a little fishing. Within a month I was back hooked, making the one-mile fishing hike around Goodwin Lake (a great place to teach your little ones how to fish--especially during the spring) a priority--the perfect activity for a healthier body and mind.

I soon realized Twin Lakes State Park wasn’t just another destination on a digital map; it was the perfect hub for fishing Central Virginia.

Within a thirty minute drive, anglers can find some of the best largemouth bass, black crappie, and channel catfish fishing opportunities in the state.

 Goodwin Lake Beach at Twin Lakes

d»zd»zWith proper planning you can turn a weekend away into a great fishing getaway.

Featuring 33 campsites with water and electric hookups (accommodating up to 40-foot RVs) and 8 cabins (sleeping between 4 and 16 people), Twin Lakes State Park has the perfect setup to fulfill your basecamp needs. 

With a mid-afternoon check-in time for either the campground or the cabins, why not start your Friday morning off the road and on the water? Roughly twenty minutes away from Twin Lakes State Park you will find the 845-acre Briery Creek Lake. A beauty of a design, filled with acres of felled and standing timber, Briery produces trophy largemouth bass like few others in the Commonwealth. The lake allows gas-powered motors up to a 9.9hp and has two boat ramps conveniently located off Route 15.

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Twin Lakes State Park Bass

After you’ve caught your limit, it’s time to head over to Twin Lakes State Park for check-in.

With two lakes of our own, we are always working to make our fishery better. This year we have plans to revamp our shellcracker population and improve our bank fishing opportunities by introducing new artificial structures to promote healthier spawns, especially in Goodwin Lake. 

Once you have settled in, why not grab your chicken livers and night gear and head over to the lake closest to your reservation for some great channel cat action. As a perk for our overnight guests, we allow campers to bank fish on Goodwin Lake. Similarly, our cabin guests have the same opportunity on Prince Edward Lake.

Twin Lakes State Park Channel Catfish

After a late dinner of catfish nuggets and largemouth fillets; it’s time for some well-earned sleep. But don’t even think about sleeping in--you’ve got more fish to catch and an early start ahead!  So, grab your light tackle and let’s go catch some tasty black crappie at the Sandy River Reservoir.

Located less than fifteen minutes away, the Sandy River Reservoir is one of the state’s newest fisheries. This 740-acre lake produces some of the best crappie in Central Virginia, as well as great largemouth bass and channel cat.  Like Briery Creek Lake, Sandy River allows gas motors up to 9.9hp.

There’s nothing better than a campfire dinner under the stars!

Now that the sun’s setting in the west and you’ve filled your creel, it’s time to head back to Twin Lakes State Park to work up your catch for supper. Whether you enjoy your crappie blackened or double batter dipped, there’s nothing better than a campfire dinner under the stars! 

Twin Lakes State Park Catfish

Sunday might be checkout day, but you’ve come to fish and we’ve got one more leg to go! 

Located thirty minutes away from Twin Lakes State Park is Fort Pickett, a military base just east of Blackstone. The base is a real hidden gem in that it is home to a handful of fishing opportunities to choose from, including four ponds (ranging from 4 to 19 acres) and a 348-acre reservoir that has become a great fishery for largemouth bass, black crappie, and carp. Please note that a special permit is needed to fish at Fort Pickett. It can be purchased on base or in the Town of Blackstone.  What better way to end the weekend than to catch a few more for the road!

While we can’t always predict the weather or exactly when the bite will be on, we can absolutely guarantee that you will have a great weekend of fishing at Twin Lakes State Park!        

Twin Lakes State Park is near Farmville, about an hour southwest of Richmond. To get there, take U.S. 360 West of Burkeville to Route 613 (Indian Springs Rd.). Then go east on Route 629 (Twin Lakes Rd.).  The address is 788 Twin Lakes Rd., Green Bay, VA 23942-2525.

Drive Time: Northern Virginia, three to four hours; Richmond, one to one and a half hours; Tidewater/ Norfolk/ Virginia Beach, two and a half to three hours; Roanoke, three hours. Click here for a map.