This is the Official Virginia Fishing regulations and Information navigation page for the Virginia state rules and regulations guidebook overviews.
You can access each individual state regulation guidebook by clicking the links below.
These are just the overviews of the official state regulations.
The Actual state Virginia Fishing regulation guidebooks are accessible by clicking on the state you would like to see from the home page map then clicking on the Virginia state fishing regulations books.
They are also accessible by clicking on the Virginia fishing reg. books below and accessing the Virginia fishing regs link in the Virginia Guidebooks listed below.
Enjoy be safe and have a great time exploring the site and remember to check back often to keep updated on all the new laws, rules, and Virginia regulations pertaining to the hunting, fishing, trapping, and wildlife sports.
Weather its Virginia Trout fishing, Virginia bass fishing, Virginia striper fishing, Virginia Salmon fishing, Virginia Catfish fishing, Virginia steelhead fishing, Virginia Panfish fishing, Virginia pike/muskie fishing, Virginia Walleye fishing  We have the Virginia state fishing regulations for your trip into the wilderness or on the water covered in one easy to location.
If you need Virginia fishing maps, Virginia state fishing maps, or just some Virginia fishing reports to tell you were the bite is hot we have that too.

Virginia Fishing Report

If you’re planning a fishing trip to Virginia, you have some excellent choices for lakes and streams throughout the state including Claytor Lake, Diascund Creek Reservoir, Kerr Lake, Lake Anna, Lake Chesdin, Lake Drummond, Lake Gaston, Lake Moomaw, Leesville Reservoir, Philpott Lake, Smith Mountain Lake, South Holston Lake, Swift Creek Reservoir, Western Branch Reservoir and others. Many of the lakes in Virginia have camping facilities as well as other accommodations nearby. Virginia is well known for excellent Bass, Crappie and Walleye fishing. Additionally, in waters around the state you’ll find populations of Trout, Catfish, Stripers, Musky, Northern Pike, Chain Pickerel, Sauger, Bowfin and sunfish including Rock Bass, White Bass, White Perch, Yellow Perch which are plentiful in some waters.

Fishing is regulated in Virginia by the Fish & Game Department. You can check their website for current fishing reports.

Largemouth Bass, Spotted Bass and Smallmouth Bass Fishing in in Virginia.

Bass are one of the most sought after of all the game fish. Its appeal spans cultures, age groups and genders to tap on the heart strings of anglers everywhere. Join us in our endeavor to offer information about bass fishing on your favorite bass lake in the Virginia area.

Bass Fishing Lakes In Virginia

The state of Virginia offers a nice variety of bass fishing. The Potomac River is an excellent bass fishery. Other smaller rivers also offer excellent bass fishing. Ponds and small lakes are great places to find bass as well. The major lakes in VA with good populations of bass include Claytor Lake, Diascund Creek Reservoir, Kerr Lake, Lake Anna, Lake Chesdin, Lake Gaston, Lake Moomaw, Leesville Reservoir, Philpott Lake, Smith Mountain Lake, South Holston Lake, Swift Creek Reservoir and Western Branch Reservoir.

The Virginia state record largemouth bass was caught from Connor Lake and the VA state record smallmouth bass was taken out of New River.

Trout Fishing in Virginia

The 5 primary trouts are the rainbow, brook, brown, cutthroat and lake trout. Brown trout are considered the most difficult to catch and brookies are the easiest. Pure cold water is key to survival of the trouts and the brook trout is the most sensitive to temperature. The others are comfortable in slightly warmer waters.

Trout Fishing Lakes In Virginia

As far as major lakes in Virginia with trout goes, Lake Moomaw is the only one with a significant trout population. Rivers and streams are your best bet in VA. The Virginia state record brook trout was caught from Stony Creek and the VA state record brown trout was taken out of South Fork Holston River. Greers Pond produced the Virginia state record rainbow trout.

Visit the The Virginia Department of Game & Inland Fisheries website for information on trout stocking in Virginia.

Rainbow Trout
Oncorhynchus mykiss

Known for its tasty pink flesh, beauty and gameness, the rainbow trout is a favorite among the vast majority of trout fishing anglers. It also appeals to the fly fisherman as it can be tempted to take properly presented flies as well as other baits and lures. It feeds on small insects, minnows, crustaceans and worms. Rainbow trout fishing is fun for both sport and dining pleasures.

In waters that allow such migration the rainbow trout will remain in streams until it reaches 6" to 9" in length and then travel to lakes or oceans where it will bulk up and then return to the streams or rivers to spawn. Steelhead trout are rainbow trout which have adapted to the salt water environment. Fishing for steelhead is very similar to fishing for rainbows. However in winter the steelhead typically prefer spoons or bait rather than flies.

Walleye Fishing in Virginia

Walleye
Stizostedion vitreum

The walleye prefers moderately deep lakes with gravel, rock or sandy bottoms. It is found primarily in cold water lakes but has proven to survive in some warmer water impoundments. It is prized for its great tasting white, flaky flesh.

Waleye Fishing Lakes In Virginia

Claytor Lake, Lake Anna, Lake Chesdin, Leesville Reservoir, Philpott Lake, Smith Mountain Lake and South Holston Lake are the major lakes in Virginia with walleye. Rivers flowing into and out of these lakes are also a good place to look for walleye. The Virginia state record walleye was caught from New River.

Virginia walleye spawn in spring and when they have the option will choose to migrate from the lake up into feeder streams to spawn. If this option is not available they seek out shallow bars or shoals with clean bottom surfaces near deep water.

This toothy fish will eat virtually anything it can catch and get in its mouth. They prefer small fish and will eat crustaceans, worms and insects. They tend to be somewhat wary and prefer the safety of deeper darker water. Try fishing for walleye from sundown to midnight, particularly during the heat of summer.

Fish for Virginia walleye with live bait, crankbaits, spoons, small spinner baits as well as plastic worms and grubs.

How To Fish For Walleye

SPRING
Top Baits: Small crankbaits, small jigs and plastic worms.
Fish shallow to moderate depths as the walleye move into the shallows to spawn. Gravel ledges, points and submerged humps in protected areas are prime holding areas.

SUMMER
Top Baits: Crankbaits, Jigs and plastic worms.
Fish shallow in the mornings and evenings and move deeper as the sun rises. Use lures that mimic crawfish as this is a favorite food of the walleye. Follow points and rocky or gravel structure deeper until you establish the proper depth.

FALL
Top Baits: Jigs, crankbaits and spoons.
Fish shallow to moderate depths in the mornings and evenings. As the sun rises move deeper toward outside structure and use small spoons or jigs.

WINTER
Top Baits: Jigs, spoons and plastic worms.
Try moderately shallow depths in the mornings then move deeper as the sun rises. Walleyes are less active in cold water, so move your bait in a slow, easy to catch manner and fish deep structure.

Crappie Fishing in Virginia

Crappie are actually a member of the sunfish family and can be found in all the continental states. They are known by many different names, typically based on geographic location. Paper mouth, goggleye, bridge perch and speckled perch, just to name a few.

Crappie Fishing Lakes In Virginia

Most ponds have a population of crappie, as do parks, small lakes and rivers. The bigger schools come from major lakes including Claytor Lake, Diascund Creek Reservoir, Kerr Lake, Lake Anna, Lake Chesdin, Lake Drummond, Lake Moomaw, Philpott Lake, Smith Mountain Lake, South Holston Lake, Swift Creek Reservoir and Western Branch Reservoir. The Virginia state record crappie was caught out of a private pond

Catfish Fishing in Virginia

There are many species of catfish and even more ways to catch them. Adults range in size from less than a pound to hundreds of pounds. They can be found in all types of water including ponds, streams, lakes and rivers. There are even species which spend a limited amount of time on dry land. Big giant catfish put up a very noble fight once hooked.

Catfish Fishing Lakes In Virginia

Catfish can be found in most fishing waters across Virginia. Most rivers, small lakes and ponds have one or more species of catfish. The major containing a healthy population of catfish include Claytor Lake, Kerr Lake, Lake Anna, Lake Chesdin, Lake Drummond, Lake Gaston, Lake Moomaw, Leesville Reservoir, Philpott Lake, Smith Mountain Lake, South Holston Lake and Western Branch Reservoir.

The Virginia state record blue catfish was caught from Buggs Island Lake and the VA state record channel catfish was taken out of the Rappahannock River. The Occoquan Reservoir served up the Virginia state record flathead catfish and the state record white catfish was pulled from Western Branch Reservoir.

Sunfish Fishing in Virginia for Bluegills, Rock Bass, White Bass, White Perch, Yellow Perch and Other VA Panfish.

One or more species of sunfish populate virtually all warm water streams, ponds and lakes throughout Virginia and around the world for that matter. They can survive in waters that provide their natural food source of minnows, crustaceans, insects and worms. Their competitive nature amongst themselves for food, makes them relatively easy to catch.

Sunfish Lakes In Virginia

Almost everywhere you drop a small, baited hook you can expect to see small sunfish comin for dinner. Ponds, rivers, parks, small lakes as well as major lakes like Claytor Lake, Diascund Creek Reservoir, Kerr Lake, Lake Anna, Lake Chesdin, Lake Drummond, Lake Gaston, Lake Moomaw, Leesville Reservoir, Philpott Lake, Smith Mountain Lake, South Holston Lake, Swift Creek Reservoir and Western Branch Reservoir have populations of one or more panfish.

The Virginia state record private pond was caught from a private pond and the VA state record yellow perch was taken out of Lake Moomaw. Lake Prince produced the VA state record white perch.

Striper Fishing in Virginia

While stripers are native to salt water, they naturally migrate into fresh water streams to spawn. Their eggs must remain in motion in order to hatch so the fresh water rivers and streams which drain into the ocean become the spawning grounds for stripers.

Striped Bass Fishing Lakes In Virginia

The major lakes in Virginia with significant populations of stripers include Claytor Lake, Kerr Lake, Lake Anna, Lake Chesdin, Leesville Reservoir, Smith Mountain Lake and Western Branch Reservoir. The Virginia state record striper was caught from Leesville Reservoir.

Fishing for Musky, Northern Pike, Chain Pickerel, Sauger, Bowfin in Virginia.

Musky - Muskellunge
Esox masquinongy
World Record: 69.9 lbs
The largest of the pike family, they are found in about half the states, primarily the northern and northeastern states. They prefer clear water with temperatures from 60 to 70 degrees. Also known as musky, muskie and great pike, they eat any fish they can catch and prefer to ambush their prey. They also eat crayfish, frogs and birds. Use large lures (salt-water sizes) and heavy line when fishing for muskellunge. They will hit lures and fresh cut bait. They are known for their speed and are exceptionally strong for short runs.

Northern Pike
Esox Lucius
IFGA Record: 55.1 lbs
The northern pike is a valient fighter and prefers water temperatures from 58 to 70 degrees. Also known as jack, jackfish, great northern pike and pickerel. While they have been transplanted into most states with cold water, they are native to the northern states and are abundant in the north-eastern states. Northern pike are basically olive in color with white and/or yellow bellies. The northern pike has light-colored marking on a dark body whish is opposite that of their cousins the muskies.They are an ambushing predator that eats frogs, crayfish, birds and virtually any fish they can get into their mouth. Use spinners, fish-immitating lures, jerk-baits or cutbait and fish close to cover.

Chain Pickerel
Esox niger
World Record: 9.4 lbs.
A freshwater fish in the pike family easily identified by the "chain-like marking along its sides. It can be found in the northwest, northeast and southeast sections of the USA. Its primary food source is smaller fish and is known to lie in wait to ambush its prey. While it can be eaten it is not considered one of the better sport fishes for table fare. The chain peickere can be caught on fish-imitation lures and live or cut bait. Watch the sharp teeth when handling. Prefers water temperatures from 62 to 70 degrees. Also known as pickerel, eastern pickerel, pike, grass pike, jackfish, jack and others.

Sauger
Stizostedion canadense
World Record: 17.7 lbs.
Excellent eating fish which typically runs a bit smaller than its cousin the walleye. The sauger prefers cold and cloudy, moving water in the 60s to low 70s. They spawn in the low to mid 40s. You can tell them from a walleye by the dark spotting on the dorsal fin, darker coloring and the rough covering of the gill area. Due to their resembelance to pickerel, they are also known as gray pickerel spotfin pike, gray pike, river pike and others. When the water turns cold and other fish are hard to come by, this is the time to fish for sauger.Fish with jigs, spoons and crankbaits imitating crayfish or baitfish. Fish near the bottom and experiment with presentation action and speed.

Bowfin
Amia calva
World Record: 21.5 lbs.
Found in waters around Alabama, Florida, Louisiana and Mississippi, the bowfin prefers water temperatures of the warmer climates. It has an exceptionally long dorsal fin which extends back to the tail, made of about 50 spines or rays. Near the upper tail is an eye spot. They have very sharp teeth and a nasty disposition when hooked. Handle with caution. They are most often caught on cut bait and crayfish. They put up quite a fight and are not considered good eating. The bowfin is also known as dogfish, mud pike, mudfish, grindle, swamp bass and others.

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