Fishing in
Virginia
9,542 named waters · 0 stocked in the last 30 days
The James River through Richmond holds one of the best urban smallmouth bass fisheries in the country, floatable for miles through the middle of a state capital. The Chesapeake Bay adds striped bass fishing along Virginia's coast, and the Shenandoah Valley's mountain streams carry native brook trout in cold, clear headwaters.
Virginia holds 9,542 fishable waters on the books. The biggest water in the state is John H. Kerr Reservoir at 44,895 acres.
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Freshest stockings
Full report →No dated stocking feed from Virginia yet — waters and species above are still live.
Biggest waters
- John H. Kerr Reservoir44,895 ac
- Smith Mountain Lake19,676 ac
- Lake Anna12,673 ac
- Claytor Lake4,073 ac
- Lake Drummond3,241 ac
- Lake Chesdin3,019 ac
- Philpott Lake2,815 ac
- Leesville Lake2,630 ac
Major rivers
- James Riverorder 8 · ~10,827 cfs
- Dan Riverorder 7 · ~4,823 cfs
- Rappahannock Riverorder 7 · ~2,941 cfs
- York Riverorder 7 · ~2,690 cfs
- South Fork Shenandoah Riverorder 7 · ~1,859 cfs
- Nottoway Riverorder 7 · ~1,854 cfs
- Appomattox Riverorder 7 · ~1,712 cfs
- Rivanna Riverorder 7 · ~963 cfs
Waters by county
All counties →Buchanan (406) · Accomack (394) · Dickenson (240) · Northampton (193) · Albemarle (189) · Wise (171) · Scott (166) · Augusta (166) · Washington (165) · Pittsylvania (155) · Rockingham (155) · Westmoreland (151) · Russell (139) · Bedford (134) · Halifax (131) · Fairfax (130) · Amherst (128) · Caroline (124) · Rockbridge (123) · Chesterfield (116) · Patrick (116) · Franklin (116) · Smyth (116) · Tazewell (114) · Buckingham (114) · Northumberland (113) · Mecklenburg (113) · Virginia Beach (city) (112) · Louisa (109) · Spotsylvania (106)
Seasons, limits, and rules are Virginia's call — read the official regulations and buy your license from the state, not a middleman. We link the source; we never restate the rules.
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Virginia fishing — FAQ
What fish can you catch in Virginia?+
Virginia waters hold trout and warmwater species. The map above shows every fishable water in the state with the species found there.
How often does Virginia stock fish?+
Virginia's agency publishes stocking updates that we check daily. Follow any water to track its stocking schedule.
Do I need a license to fish in Virginia?+
Yes — Virginia requires a fishing license for most anglers. Buy one from the state agency and check current seasons and limits before you go.
How many fishable waters are in Virginia?+
Virginia has 9,542 named fishable waters mapped on FishableWaters, from stocked reservoirs to wild streams.