The New "Jewel" of Virginia Beach

That's what my friend, Jerry, is calling the new boat ramp/park facility under construction on Lake Smith, which is very close to where he lives. "I would say that Virginia Beach is building a facility that John Q. Public is really going to enjoy," he said in an email today, adding that he's heard the first phase of construction should be completed by the end of July.

Here are some photos Jerry attached to his email:

This shows the location of the new double-wide ramp. It's in the corner of the cove on the right when leaving the old ramp.

Here you see the lower sections of the new ramp that already are in place. Take a look, too, at the new docks being built.

And then there's this new fishing-pier complex, which really should tickle the bank fishermen. While built in an area of shallow water, the complex will put the fishermen within easy reach of deeper water.





Since the closing of Lake Whitehurst several years ago, Lake Smith and Little Creek have been the only freshwater options available here in the metro area. "When this new facility opens," said Jerry, "I fully expect this ramp to be a 'madhouse' on weekends."

UPDATE (as of early morning, Saturday, June 14)

I had an email from my friend and fellow blogger, Max, who had read this item about Lake Smith. A friend and he had gone there yesterday (opposite side from where the construction is taking place). Max landed two bass dinks, and his buddy landed two bass, as well this monster catfish, which weighed in at 16 lbs. He caught the catfish on a Texas-rigged worm.