Virginia Fishing 

Here's the information on fish, creel limits, regulations, and areas to fish in Virginia. The state has a great variety of fishing opportunities from the little brook trout of the mountain streams to the Chesapeake and saltwater fishing. Over 176,000 acres of public lakes and 27,300 miles of fishable streams provide every freshwater angler something: tidal river for largemouth bass, striped bass, blue catfish and shad; unsurpassed float fishing smallmouth bass rivers spread across the state; expansive reservoirs renowned for largemouth bass, striped bass, and crappie; numerous "close-to-home" small, family fishing lakes and ponds with great chances to land bass, sunfish, and channel catfish; and phenomenal stocked and wild trout fishing in the Blue Ridge and Allegheny mountains.

Virginia Trout Fishing

Virginia contains over 2,800 miles of trout streams, in addition to numerous ponds, small lakes and reservoirs. The total includes over 2,350 miles of wild trout streams and about 600 miles of water inhabited with stocked trout. Virginia's diversified trout habitat offers a wide range of trout fishing opportunities. Success for both wild and stocked trout should be very high through the spring, fall and mild winter periods. From June through September, normally low stream flows and warming water temperatures make trout fishing more difficult. However, experienced trout anglers can find good trout fishing opportunities throughout the year.

Virginia Bass Fishing

Both large and smallmouth bass can be found in many streams, rivers and lakes in Virginia. The James River is famous for both. Panfish including bluegills, pumpkinseeds, white and black crappie are abundant throughout the state. You can fish these rivers by wading, drifting, or from the bank. You can find the best largemouth fishing in these lakes:  Anna, Gaston, Buggs Island, Chickahominy, Chesdin, Smith Mountain, Prince, Briery Creek, Western Branch and Flannagan.  The best lakes for smallmouth bass: Claytor, Smith Mountain, Philpott, Moomaw, and South Holston. The best rivers for smallmouths: James (above the fall line); New; South Fork, North Fork, and mainstem Shenandoah; Rappahannock (above the fall line); Maury; North Fork Holston; and Clinch.

Some of the best waters for crappie and other panfish include: Lakes: Buggs Island, Chesdin, Chickahominy, Cohoon, Anna, Smith Mountain, Prince, Gaston, Claytor, Brittle, Moomaw, Orange, Burke, South Holston, and Western Branch. Rivers: tidal Chickahominy and its tributaries, tidal James, and South Fork Shenandoa.

Creel Limits and Sizes for Virginia Fish