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Lake Nelson

Lake Nelson is a 40-acre impoundment in Nelson County, Virginia and is owned and managed by the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries. The reservoir was impounded in 1958 and was stocked with various species of fish such as largemouth bass, black crappie, bluegill, redear sunfish, catfish, and grass carp. Grass carp were introduced to control aquatic vegetation. Located in central Virginia along the Blue Ridge Mountains, Lake Nelson offers anglers great fishing opportunities.

Anglers fishing Lake Nelson are likely to catch largemouth bass, channel catfish, black crappie, bluegill, and redear sunfish. Largemouth bass harvest is regulated with a "trophy slot limit" of 14-20 inches to try and maintain larger sized bass in the lake. While there are some large bass at Lake Nelson, there are also good numbers of various sizes for the beginner and veteran alike.

The sunfish population is consistently very good with Redear sunfish up to 9 inches and bluegill up to 8 inches in length. The black crappie population is variable and can be excellent in some years and poor in others. The crappie population is dependant on spawning success, which is highly variable.