Following the theory that you never know when something new will pop up, I regularly visit the local parks and recreation websites in search of new places to fish. Buried deep in the Fairfax County site are a few references to Royal Lake. I eventually found a map that showed me how to get to this spot and resolved to take the Basswife and check out the fishing from my canoe. After winding our way through a residential area to enter the small parking lot adjacent to some tennis courts, I was disappointed to see a chain stretched across the asphalt road that led to the side of the lake. It was too far to carry the canoe and all the fishing gear, so the visit turned into a reconnaissance. We walked down the path to the edge of the lake and saw a bunch Orvis guys there with kayaks – they must have had some kind of event going on. If you have a canoe or kayak carrier, the walk is not that far – maybe 100 yards. The lake itself looked pretty good. It is a general L-shaped with an open shoreline on the near side and vegetation on the far. Bottom Line: I need to come back to this lake and bring the canoe carrier in case the chain is across the road again. The fact that the Orvis guys were in there with their boats tells me there is no prohibition the floating in this particular lake. In addition, I was able to find several Internet references to people fishing. Therefore, everything looks like it's good to go and merits a return visit next year. View Larger Map	Purchase Switchfisher's books using the links to Amazon below for: Wade Fishing the Rappahannock River of Virginia (more info) Wade Fishing the Rapidan River of Virginia (more info) Wade and Shoreline Fishing the Potomac River for Smallmouth Bass (more info) Trout and Smallmouth Fishing on the North Branch of the Potomac (more info) Getting There: from I 95, take exit 54 west onto VA 620 (Braddock Road). turn left on VA 651 (Guinearoad) and follow it onto Commonwealth Boulevard. Turn left at Gainsborough Drive followed by a left at Eastlake Drive where you eventually see the sign for the Park. Secrets Revealed?  No.  This a lake documented on the Fairfax County webpage Tell a friend about this article by clicking on this link
Chain across the road at entrance	Path to river
Easy walking path around the lake	Plenty of grass and picnic spots
	This is the long view.  You can see the Orvis guys in their tent and all the kayaks splayed out along the lake.