Cover of the Freshwater Fishing & Boating in Virginia regulations guide, featuring an angler getting ready to fish and highlighting essential rules and information for Virginia anglers and boaters.
What’s New for 2026
Changes to Stocking Dates
Updated dates for Youth-Only Stocked Trout Waters and Pre-Announced Stocked Trout Waters are available on the Trout Fishing Guide page.
Changes to Catchable Trout Stocking Plan
Liberty Lake in Bedford County is now a Class B water (formerly Class A).
Pandapas Pond in Montgomery County is now a Class B water (formerly Class A). See Trout Fishing Guide page.
Changes to Special Regulation Trout Waters
Wildcat Hollow in Fauquier County is no longer catch and release and defaults to statewide bag and size limit on trout – six fish per day, no fish less than 7 inches. Note that DWR will not be stocking Wildcat Hollow and that a trout license is not required to fish this stream. See the Special Regulations Trout page.
Blue Catfish
The size and bag limit on blue catfish are changing to allow unlimited harvest of any size in the York and Rappahannock Rivers and their tributaries below the fall line. The same change will apply to the tidal James River below the freshwater-saltwater demarcation line. See Creel and Length Limits for more.
Virginia DWR Free Fishing Days take place June 5–7, 2026, offering license-free freshwater fishing statewide and welcoming anglers of all ages to explore Virginia’s lakes, rivers, and reservoirs.
