Skip to main content
Virginia

Fishing

Fishing

Public Lakes Guide

Public Lakes Guide Region Map

KEY

BG – Bluegill

CF – Catfish

CL – Ramp Closed–Another to be built in another location

CP – Chain Pickerel

CRP – Crappie

DR – Dirt Ramp

FP – Fishing Pier

HSB – Hybrid Striped Bass

KB – Kentucky Spotted Bass

LMB – Largemouth Bass

MY – Muskellunge

NF – National Forest

NP – Northern Pike

PK – Parking

PR – Primitive Ramp

RBr – Redbreast Sunfish

SB – Striped Bass

SF – State Forest Permit

SL – 25 mph Speed Limit

SMB – Smallmouth Bass

SP – State Park Fee

SW – Swimming

TR – Trout

WB – White Bass

WD – Weekends Only

WE – Walleye

WP – White Perch

YP – Yellow Perch

Public Lakes Guide

For more information: www.virginiawildlife.gov/lakes/

Lakes, Size & Location

Permit Req.

Boat Ramp

Picnic Facil.

Gas Motor

Boat Rental

Handi. Facil.

Conces. Facil.

LMB BG

SMB

CF

CRP

WB

TR

MY

WE

HSB

SB

CP

YP

WP

NP

Region 1 – Eastern Virginia

Beaverdam Swamp Reservoir (635 ac) Rt. 17 to Rt. 616.

Fee

Chandler’s Millpond (75 ac) on Rt. 3 just south of Westmoreland State Pk.

Chickahominy Reservoir (1,230 ac) I-64 east to Providence Forge (Rt 60 E) off Rt. 649.

Fee

Diascund Reservoir (1,110 ac) I-64 east to Providence Forge (Rt. 60 E) off Rt. 603.

Gardy’s Mill Pond (75 ac) Rt. 202 west of Callao.

Harwood’s Mill Reservoir (265 ac) Rt. 17 – Rt. 173.

Fee

WD

WD

Harrison Lake (82 ac) Rt. 5 to Rt. 658. (Harrison Lake National Fish Hatchery)

5 HP

Lee Hall Reservoir (230 ac) Rt. 143 Newport News. (757) 886-7912

Fee

WD

WD

Little Creek Reservoir (947 ac) Rt. 60 E to Rt. 603 to Rt. 610 E off Lakeview Drive.

Fee

Sandy Bottom Park Pond (12 ac) Intersection of I-64 and Big Bethel Road.

Waller Mill Reservoir (360 ac) Rt. 143 to Rt. 645.

Fee

Woodstock Pond (7.5 ac) York River State Park east of Croaker Rt. 606.

Region 1 – Southeastern Virginia

Airfield (105 ac) Located 5 miles south of Wakefield on Rt. 628.

DR

Back Bay (25,473 ac) Rt. 615. State ramps at Mill Landing Rd. and Back Bay Landing Rd.

Burnt Mills (610 ac) Located in Suffolk off Rt. 10 on Rt. 603. No fishing from shore.

Fee

12 HP

Cohoon (510 ac) off Rt. 58 on Pitchkettle Road (Rt. 604) in Suffolk.

Fee

10 HP

Drummond (3,000 ac) Access by feeder ditch off Rt. 17.

25 HP

Emporia (210 ac) West of I-95 on Rt. 611.

10 HP

Lone Star (490 ac) Fishing station located off Rt. 10 on Rt. 125 in Suffolk.

Fee

Meade (512 ac) Fishing station (bait sales). Located off Rt. 58 on Pitchkettle Rd. (Rt. 604 ) in Suffolk.

Fee

10 HP

Oak Grove Lake (70 ac) Byron Street off Volvo Parkway in Chesapeake. Shore Fishing.

Prince (777 ac) Off Rt. 460 on Lake Prince (Rt. 604) in Suffolk.

Fee

12 HP

Smith (222 ac) Boat ramp located on Rt. 13 (Northhampton Blvd.) in Va. Beach.

Fee

12 HP

Speights Run (197 ac) Located on Rt. 646 off Rt. 58 in Suffolk. No shore fishing.

Fee

10 HP

Trashmore (52 ac) Located off Va. Beach Exp. in Va. Beach. No private boats.

Western Branch (1,579 ac) 2 boat ramps located off Rt. 603 and Rt. 605 in Suffolk.

Fee

12 HP

Region 1 – Central Virginia

Bryan Park Lakes (12 ac) Richmond, Hermitage Rd/Lakeside Ave. to Bryan Park.

Chesdin (3,100 ac) I-95 to I-85 S to Rt. 460 W to Rt. 623 N to Rt. 601 W to Rt. 776 N.

Henrico County Park Lakes

Crump Park (2 ac) Staples Mill Rd. (33 W) to Courtney Road

Deep Run Park (2) (2 ac) I-64 to S. Gaskins Rd. to Ridgefield Parkway.

Dorey Park (5 ac) Off Darbytown Rd.

Three Lakes Park (3) (4 ac) off Rt. 301 N to Wilkinson Rd.

Lakeview (42 ac) Rt. 1 to Pickett St.

Shields (7 ac) in Byrd Park in Richmond.

Swan (13 ac) in Byrd Park in Richmond.

Swift Creek (156 ac) Pocahontas State Park, Rt. 10 to Rt. 655 (Beach Rd.) to Rt. 780.

Willcox Lake (22 ac) I-85 to Squirrel Level Rd east to Defense Rd to Lee Memorial Park.

Region 2 – Southside Virginia

Amelia (100 ac) from Rt. 360 take Rt. 604 N to Rt. 616 to Rt. 652.

Banister (400 ac) Rt. 501 just north of Halifax.

Bear Creek (42 ac) Rt. 60 W to Rt. 622 to Rt. 629.

SP

Briery Creek (845 ac) Rt. 15, 7 miles south of Farmville.

10 HP max

Brunswick (150 ac) on Rt. 638 off Rt. 58 east of Edgerton.

Conner (110 ac) from Rt. 360 take Rt. 746 to Rt. 603 to Rt. 619 to Rt. 623 E to Rt. 624 S, 2 miles from Providence.

Cumberland State Forest Lakes

Arrowhead (6 ac) Rt. 60 W, Rt. 622 to Rt. 629.

Fee

Bonbrook (6 ac) Rt. 60 W to Rt. 622-623-626 to C.S.F.

Fee

Oak Hill (6 ac) Rt. 60 W to Rt. 622 to Rt. 629.

Fee

Winston (12 ac) Rt. 60 W to Rt. 622 to Rt. 629.

Fee

Fort Pickett Lakes off Rt. 40 east of Blackstone.

Birchin (45 ac) limited access

SL

Butterwood Pond (8 ac)

SL

Dearing Pond (7 ac)

SL

Engineers Pond (19 ac)

SL

Lewis Pond ( 12 ac)

SL

Pickett Reservoir (384 ac)

SL

Reservation Pond (3 ac)

SL

Tommeheton (51 ac) limited access

SL

Gaston (20,300 ac) Mecklenburg and Brunswick counties, various routes.

Gordon (157 ac) off Rt. 58 on Rt. 664 south of South Hill.

Great Creek (212 ac) 1 mile north of Lawrenceville off Rt. 46.

Holliday (113 ac) Appomattox-Buckingham State Forest. From Rt. 460 take Rt. 24 N to Rt. 626 to Rt. 640 to Rt. 692.

Fee

Horsepen (19 ac) Rt. 60 to Rt. 638 to WMA.

James River Ponds Rt. 607, 7 mi. north of Rt. 60 at Bent Creek.

Branch (7 ac)

Fee

Taylor (1 ac)

Fee

Green Hill (1 ac)

Fee

Kerr Reservoir (48,900 ac) Halifax and Mecklenburg counties, various routes.

Modest Creek (29 ac) from Victoria - Rt. 49 N to Rt. 723 to Rt. 739.

Nottoway (188 ac) 6 miles north of Blackstone on Rt. 606.

10 HP max

Nottoway Falls (60 ac) from Victoria - Rt. 49 N to lake.

Sandy River Reservoir (740 ac) Rts. 460-640, 1 mile to access road.

10 HP max

Slate River Watershed (38 ac) in Appomattox -Buckingham State Forest, Rt. 640 1 mile north of Rt. 636.

SF

Twin Lakes State Park (Goodwin, 13 ac; Prince Edward, 27 ac) From Rt. 360 take Rt. 621 to park.

Fee

Wilck’s (27 ac) Rt. 460 Bus. west in Farmville.

Region 2 – Staunton River District

Abbott (24 ac) off Rt. 43 at Peaks of Otter on Blue Ridge Parkway.

BANK FISHING ONLY

BG

Burton (76 ac) 6 miles north of Callands via Rt. 969 and Rt. 800.

Fairy Stone (168 ac) Rt. 623 off of Rt. 57 west of Bassett.

Leesville Reservoir (3,400 ac) Campbell, Bedford, and Pittsylvania counties, various routes.

Martinsville Reservoir (175 ac) Rt. 220 Bus. South, Rt. 174 North, left on Rt. 108.

Fee

Mill Creek (189 ac) Rt. 60 to Rt. 778, right on 610-619.

Nelson (40 ac) Rt. 655 E of Arrington, left on 812.

Otter Lake (8 ac) off Blue Ridge Parkway north of Big Island.

BANK FISHING ONLY

Philpott Reservoir (2,800 ac) Franklin, Henry, and Patrick counties, various routes.

Smith Mountain (20,000 ac) Bedford, Franklin, and Pittsylvania counties, various routes.

Stonehouse (34 ac) Rt. 610 – 625 – 830.

Thrasher (34 ac) Rt. 60 – 610 – 617.

White Oak Mtn. Ponds (4) (1/2 to 7 ac) off Rt. 707 out of Spring Garden.

Region 3 – Southwest Virginia

Bark Camp (45 ac) Alt. 58 to Tacoma, Rt. 706 to Rt. 699 to Rt. 822 to U.S.F.S. Rt. 993 to lake.

NF

Beartree (14 ac) I-81 to Marion (Exit 45) and Rt. 16 S to Troutdale, west on Rt. 603 to Rt. 58 W to lake.

NF

Bear Creek Reservoir (Wise Reservoir) (46 ac) Alt. 58 to Tacoma, Rt. 706 to Rt. 646 to Sportsman Drive to Browning Lane to lake.

Big Cherry Reservoir (132 ac) From Big Stone Gap take Rt. 616 to Rt. 613 to Cracker’s Neck Rd to Big Cherry Rd.

John Flannagan (1,143 ac) Alt. 58 to Rt. 63 N to Clincho Rt. 63 to Rt. 616 to Rt. 614 to lake.

Hales (4 ac) I-81 to Marion (Exit 45) Rt. 16 S to Sugar Grove and Rt. 614 to Rt. 612 to Rt. 798 to lake.

NF

Hidden Valley (61 ac) Abingdon northwest on Alt. 58 to Rt. 690 to lake.

•, RBr

Hungry Mother (108 ac) Hungry Mother State Park. I-81 to Marion (Exit 47) to Rt. 16 N to state park and lake.

Fee

•, KB, RBr

Keokee (92 ac) Rt. 23 to Rt. 68 W at Appalachia to Rt. 606 to Rt. 623 to U.S.F.S. road to lake.

NF

Laurel (Breaks Interstate Park) Rt. 460 at Vansant to Rt. 83 W to Rt. 80 N to park.

Laurel Bed (300 ac) I-81 to Chilhowie, Rt. 107 NW to Saltville. Signs lead to Clinch Mtn. WMA and lake.

9.9 HP MAX

Lincolnshire (20 ac) Rt. 460 at Tazewell.

North Fork Pound (154 ac) Rt. 23 to Pound and lake.

•, KB

Norton Reservoir (9 ac) Rt. 23 South from Norton to Rt. 619 to lake.

South Holston (7,580 ac) I-81 to Abingdon (Exit 17) Rt. 75 S to Rt. 670 and lake.

•, RBr

Witten (52 ac) Rt. 460 to Tazewell and Rt. 16 N to Rt. 643 to lake.

•, RBr

Region 3 – New River Valley

Claytor (4,472 ac) Various routes.

Gatewood (162 ac) Rt. 710 (Mt. Olivet Rd.), west of Pulaski off Rt. 99 N.

Rural Retreat (90 ac) I-81 to Rural Retreat (Exit 60) to Rt. 90 S. Signs to lake.

Lovill’s Creek (45 ac) Rt. 52 to Cana, Rt. 686 to lake.

Region 4 – West Central Virginia

Clifton Forge Reservoir (9 ac) I-64 W of Clifton Forge, Exit 24, go toward town, Rt. 606 N to top of mountain.

NF

Coles Run Reservoir (7 ac) Exit 96 off I-64 at Waynesboro, Rt. 624 S, Rt. 664 S to Forest Rd 42, take right, go 4.5 miles.

NF

Douthat (52 ac) I-64 W of Lexington (Exit 27).

Fee

Forest Service Lakes

Braley Pond (5 ac) 10 miles west of Churchville on Rt. 250, 0.5 north on Rt. 715.

NF

Elkhorn (50 ac) 10 miles west of Churchville on Rt. 250, 6.5 miles north on Rt. 715, east on Forest Road 95.

NF

Sherando (20 & 8 ac) Exit 96 off I-64 at Waynesboro Rt. 624 S (3 mi) and Rt. 664 S (7 mi).

NF

•,SW

Lexington (22 ac) Rt. 11 south to 251 – 612 – 667.

Moomaw (2,530 ac) Callaghan Exit off I-64, 2 miles east on Rt. 661, 10 miles north on Rt. 620.

PK

Tams City Park (3 ac) City of Staunton.

Virginia Power Rec. Ponds (40 & 32 ac) Rt. 39 west of Warm Springs to Hiners Store, Rt. 600 N (6 mi).

Willis Robertson (26 ac) Rt. 11 bypass to S. Lexington, Rt. 251 follow signs to lake.

Region 4 – Northwest Virginia

Arrowhead (34 ac) southeast of Luray on Rt. 669.

Augusta County Rec Pond (2 ac) Rt 612 - Mill Place Pkwy.

Clearbrook (3 ac) Clearbrook Park (Town of Clearbrook Rt. 81 – 11 – 672).

Forest Service Lakes

Bealer’s Ferry Pond (7 ac) Hwy. 211 to Luray. North on Rt. 675, east on Rt. 684.

NF

Briery (9 ac) Rt. 257 W of Dayton - Rt. 924.

NF

Dry Run (10 ac) Rt. 33 W of Rawley Springs.

NF

Hone Quarry (6 ac) Rt. 257 W of Dayton - Rt. 924.

NF

Skidmore (118 ac ) Rt. 33 W of Harrisonburg - PS 227.

Slate Lick (10 ac) Rt. 33 - Rt. 612N - Rt. 230 - PS 1279.

NF

Tomahawk (2 ac) Rt. 263 and 610 W of Mt. Jackson.

NF

Laura (44 ac) Bryce Mtn. Resort at Bayse. Rt. 263, 12 miles, west of Mt. Jackson.

Newman Lake (8 ac) City of Harrisonburg

Silver (10 ac) From Harrisonburg take Rt. 42 south to Dayton, then right on Rt. 701.

Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources Lakes

Frederick (117 ac) Rt. 522 and 340, 5 miles north of Front Royal.

Shenandoah (36 ac) Rt. 276 S of Rt. 33.

Wilkins (3 ac) Jim Barnett Park (Winchester).

Woodrow Wilson Pond (3 ac) Near Fishersville, Rt. 250 East - Woodrow Wilson Ave.

Region 4 – Northern Virginia

Abel (185 ac) Rt. 17 N - Rt. 616 N - Rt. 651 E.

Accotink (90 ac) FCPA, I-95 N - 644 W - right on Backlick, left on Highland, right on Accotink.

Anna (9,600 ac) Rt. 1 south, west on Rt. 208 to lake.

Beaverdam Cr. (350 ac) 15 N - 50 W - 659 N.

PR

Cook (4 ac) Cameron Run Reg. Pk. (Alexandria).

FP

Fairfax Lake (28 ac) 7 W - 606 W - FCPA surrounded by park.

Germantown Lake (109 ac) Rt. 17 to 28 N, 643 (Meetze Road) to C.M. Crocklett Park.

FP

Hunting Run Reservoir (430 ac) 3 W to 610 W.

FP

Huntsman (27 ac) 123 N- 636 N - 641 N.

Lake Anna State Park Pond (1 ac) Rt. 1 to Fredericksburg west on 208, north on 601 to Lake Anna State Park. (Kids only)

Lake Mooney (520 ac) Take Rt. 17 north from Fredericksburg, turn left onto Banks Ford Pkwy, right on Greenbank Rd.

Locust Shade (8 ac) Locust Shade Park. Paddle boats available.

Motts (160 ac) 95 N - 3 W - 639 N - 618 W.

FP

Mtn. Run (75 ac) 29 S - 718 W - 719 N.

Ni Reservoir (411 ac) 95 N - 3 W - 620 S - 627 S.

Old Cossey Pond (3 ac) Kenmore Ave, Fredericksburg

Occoquan (2,100 ac) two parks off 123 N.

Fountainhead Park & Prince William Park

9.9 HP MAX

Pelham (255 ac) 29 S – 718 N.

Royal (35 ac) 123 N – R. Zion Rd. – Rt. 20 S – 629 S – R Commonwealth Blvd.– R Gainsborough Dr.

Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources Lakes

Brittle (77 ac) 29 N - 600 E - 793 S.

FP

Burke (218 ac) in Burke Park. 95 N - 123N.

FP

Curtis (91 ac) 17 N - 616 N - 662 W, surrounded by park.

FP

Orange (124 ac), off Rt. 629 two miles east of Orange on Rt. 20 S - 629 S.

FP

Phelps Pond (3 ac) Rt. 17 N – Rt. 651. Phelps WMA.

Lake Thompson (10 ac) I-66 at Markham Exit, follow SR 688 North 3 miles.

PR

Region 4 – Central Virginia

Albemarle Parks Dept. Lakes

Beaver Creek (104 ac) Follow 680 from Rt. 250 junction west of Charlottesville to lake.

Chris Greene (62 ac) Off Rt. 606 one mile from airport.

Fee

•,SW

Canoe

Mint Springs (8 ac) Rt. 684-788 west of Crozet.

Fee

•,SW

Totier Creek (66 ac) Rt. 726 to Rt. 845W of Scottsville.

Walnut Creek (60 ac) on Rt. 631 south of Charlottesville.

Fee

•,SW

Canoe

Gordonsville (81 ac) I-64 W to Rt. 15 Boswell Tavern to Rt. 603.

Northeast Creek (187 ac) 4 miles east of Louisa on Rt. 33.

Ragged Mountain (170 ac) Rt. 702 off Rt. 29.

Rivanna (450 ac) Rt. 659 off 631 (Rio Rd).

Scottsville Lake (2 ac) On Hardware St. (Rt. 795) north end of downtown off Rt. 20.

PR

Sugar Hollow Reservoir (47 ac) On Moorman’s River 6 mi. west of White Hall on Rt. 614. No boats allowed.

Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources Lakes

Albemarle (35 ac) In White Hall, take Rt. 614 E to Rt. 675, follow to lake.

Fluvanna Ruritan (50 ac) On Rt. 619 off Rt. 58 at Cunningham.

Powhatan Ponds (3) (20 ac) Powhatan County Rt. 60 W to Rt. 627 to Rt. 662.

PR

Powhatan Lakes (2) (71 ac) Powhatan County Rt. 60 W to Rt. 684 (Bell Rd) to Rt. 625 (Powhatan Lakes Rd.).