Trout Waters
Statewide Limits
Six fish per day. No fish less than 7 inches; see exceptions below.
Designated Stocked Trout Waters
"Designated stocked trout waters" include those waters that are stocked with harvestable-sized trout and are listed by the Director in the annual Trout Stocking Plan (PDF). These waters will only be considered designated stocked trout waters from October 1 through June 15 (trout license required). A trout license is not required from June 16 through September 30. Trout angling hours on designated stocked trout waters are from 5:00 a.m. until one hour after sunset. See exceptions for Trout Heritage Waters (below), Urban Program Waters (below) and Pay-As-You-Go Trout Fishing. Designated stocked trout waters are posted by the Department with appropriate "stocked trout waters" signs.
It is unlawful to fish in designated stocked trout waters after the daily creel limit of trout has been obtained or during the closed hours for taking trout. Once a trout is taken into possession by placing in the creel (basket, bucket, stringer, cooler, etc.) it becomes part of the daily creel limit and may not be released (culled). It is unlawful to feed, bait or snag trout in designated stocked trout waters. It shall be unlawful for any person fishing in designated stocked trout waters to use more than one rod, one line, and one baited hook (a treble hook is considered one hook); however, any combination of artificial lures is allowed. It shall be unlawful to use seines and nets in designated stocked waters, except that a hand-landing net to land fish legally hooked may be used in all waters.
Trout Heritage Waters
Trout Heritage Waters selected by the Director will be considered designated stocked trout waters. They will be closed to fishing on the Friday prior to the first Saturday in April and will reopen to fishing at 9:00 a.m. on the first Saturday in April.
Urban Program Waters
Waters selected by the Director for inclusion into the Urban Fishing Program will be considered designated stocked trout waters from November 1 through April 30 only (trout license required). A trout license is not required from May 1 through October 31. In addition trout may be creeled from these waters year round and the trout creel limit is 4 per day. Once a trout is taken into possession by placing in the creel (basket, bucket, stringer, cooler, etc.) it becomes part of the daily creel limit and may not be released (culled).
Trout Stocking Information
The Department has provided a telephone number to call for trout stocking information. This recording is updated each day at 4:00 p.m. during the stocking season. The number is (434) 525-FISH. This information is also updated daily on this Web site.
Artificial Lure Definition
Artificial lure shall include manufactured or handmade flies, spinners, plugs, spoons, and facsimilies of live animals, but shall not be construed to include artificially produced organic baits and fish eggs that are intended to be ingested. Artificial lure with single hook shall mean any single point lure (with no multiple point hooks). Where single-hook artificial lures are required, a multiple number of single-hook lures (such as dropper flies) fished in a series is permitted.
Special Trout Regulations
| Area | Regulation |
|---|---|
| Jackson River | There is a 12-inch minimum size limit and 4 fish per day creel limit on trout taken from Gathright Dam downstream to the Westvaco Dam at Covington in Alleghany County. All trout less than 12 inches must be immediately returned to the water and no trout less than 12 inches may be in possession while fishing this section. Look under 16-inch minimum, 2 fish per day on page 16 for the Bath County special trout section of Jackson River. |
| Blue Ridge Parkway | Fishing is prohibited from one half hour after sunset until one half hour before sunrise. No live or dead fish or fish eggs may be used as bait. Digging for worms is prohibited. Special creel limits and other regulations for Parkway waters may be posted. |
| Shenandoah National Park | Only single-point hook artificial lures may be used-no bait. On those streams open to harvest, the creel limit is 6 trout per day with a 9-inch minimum size for brook trout and a 7-inch minimum size for brown and rainbow trout. On all other streams open to fishing, catch and release regulations apply. The release of any brown trout back into any Park stream is prohibited and brown trout less than 7 inches must be disposed of within the Park but away from Park streams, roads or trails. This is an effort to limit the impacts of brown trout on the native brook trout populations. Contact the Shenandoah National Park at (540) 999-3500 for the annual list of streams open to harvest. |
| Reservoirs | There is a 16-inch minimum size limit and 2 fish per day creel limit on trout taken from Moomaw Reservoir. |
Special Trout Stream Areas
Fishing in the following waters is permitted under the following regulations only:
- Only single point hook artificial lures may be used unless otherwise noted. See artificial lure definition above.
- No bait may be in possession while fishing these waters.
- All trout less than the minimum size must be immediately returned to the water unharmed. No trout less than the minimum size may be in possession while fishing in these waters.
Note: The special trout stream areas marked with an asterisk (*) require a landowner permit. For further information refer to the Trout Guide or contact your local fisheries office.
9-inch Minimum
| Area | County | Section |
|---|---|---|
| Big and Little Wilson Creeks | Grayson County | That portion within the Grayson Highlands State Park and the Jefferson National Forest Mount Rogers National Recreation Area. |
| Cabin Creek | Grayson County | That portion of stream and its tributaries within the Grayson Highlands State Park and the Jefferson National Forest Mount Rogers National Recreation Area. |
| Conway River | Greene and Madison counties | That portion of stream and its tributaries within the Rapidan Wildlife Management Area. |
| Little Stony Creek | Giles County | That portion of stream within the Jefferson National Forest. |
| Little Stony Creek | Shenandoah County | That portion of stream within the George Washington National Forest. |
| North Fork Buffalo River | Amherst County | That portion of the stream and its tributaries within the George Washington National Forest. |
| St. Mary's River | Augusta County | That portion of stream and its tributaries upstream from the gate near the George Washington National Forest property line. |
| Ramsey's Draft | Augusta County | That portion of the stream and its tributaries within the George Washington National Forest. |
12-inch Minimum
| Waterbody | County | Section |
|---|---|---|
| Green Cove Creek | Washington County | That portion of stream from Rt. 859 downstream to its mouth. |
| Snake Creek | Carroll County | Upstream from its mouth to Hall Ford on Big Snake Fork and to the junction of Rts. 922 and 674 on Little Snake Fork. |
| Smith Creek | Alleghany County | That portion from the Clifton Forge Dam downstream to a sign at the Forest Service boundary above the C & O Dam. |
| Whitetop Laurel | Washington County | That portion of stream upstream from the first railroad trestle above Taylor Valley to the mouth of Green Cove Creek at Creek Junction and that portion of stream upstream from the mouth of Straight Branch to a sign at the Forest Service boundary just downstream of Taylor Valley. |
16-inch Minimum, 2 Fish Per Day
| Waterbody | County | Section |
|---|---|---|
| *Buffalo Creek | Rockbridge County | From the confluence of Collier's Creek upstream 2.9 miles to the confluence of North and South Buffalo creeks. |
| *Dan River | Patrick County | That portion from Talbott Dam approximately 6 miles downstream to a sign posted just upstream from the confluence of the Dan River and Townes Reservoir. |
| Jackson River | Bath County | From the swinging bridge located just upstream from the mouth of Muddy Run upstream 3 miles to the last ford on Forest Service Road 481D. Note: Multiple hook artificial lures are permitted. |
| Pound River | Dickenson County | That portion from a sign 0.4 miles below Flannagan Dam downstream 1.2 miles to a sign just upstream of the confluence of the Pound River and the Russell Fork River. |
| Roaring Run | Botetourt County | That portion from a sign at the third footbridge above the Roaring Run Furnace Day Use Area upstream approximately one mile to a sign at the Botetourt/Alleghany County line. |
| Smith River | Henry County | That portion of stream from signs below the east bank of Towne Creek downstream to the Rt. 666 (Trent Hill Rd.) Bridge crossing in Bassett, VA. |
| South Fork Holston River | Smyth County | That portion from a sign posted at the upper Jefferson National Forest boundary downstream approximately four miles to a sign posted 500 feet upstream of the concrete Dam at Buller Fish Culture Station. |
20-inch Minimum, 1 Fish Per Day, Flyfishing Only
| Waterbody | County | Section |
|---|---|---|
| *Mossy Creek | Augusta County | That portion of stream upstream from the Augusta/Rockingham county line to a sign posted at the confluence of Joseph's Spring. |
Catch and Release Only
| Waterbody | County | Section |
|---|---|---|
| *Dan River | Patrick County | That portion of stream and its tributaries between the Townes Dam and the Pinnacles Hydroelectric Powerhouse |
| East Fork Chestnut Creek (Farmers Creek) | Grayson and Carroll counties | That portion of stream and its tributaries upstream from the Blue Ridge Parkway. |
| North Creek | Botetourt County | That portion of stream and its tributaries upstream from a sign at the North Creek Campground. |
| North Fork Moormans River | Albemarle County | That portion of the stream within the Shenandoah National Park. |
| Rapidan River | Madison County | That portion of stream and its tributaries (including Staunton River) upstream from a sign at the lower Shenandoah National Park boundary. |
| Roaring Fork | Tazewell County | That portion upstream from the southwest boundary of Beartown Wilderness Area. |
| South Fork Holston River | Smyth County | That portion of stream from the concrete dam at Buller Fish Culture Station downstream to the lower boundary of the Buller Fish Culture Station. |
| Stewart's Creek | Carroll County | Within the boundaries of the Stewart's Creek Wildlife Management Area. |
Delayed Harvest Waters
From October 1 through May 31 fishing on the following waters is permitted under the following regulations only:
- Only artificial lures may be used.
- No trout may be in possession (catch and release only) while fishing these waters.
- No bait may be in possession while fishing these waters.
- Trout license required October 1-June 15.
Note: During the period of June 1 through September 30 restrictions a. through c. above will not apply and these waters are like any other designated stocked trout water.
| Waterbody | County | Section |
|---|---|---|
| Accotink Creek | Fairfax County | That portion of stream from King Arthur Road downstream 3.1 miles to Route 620 (Braddock Road). |
| Back Creek | Bath County | That portion of stream from the Rt. 600 Bridge just below the Virginia Power Back Creek Dam downstream 1.5 miles to the Rt. 600 Bridge at the lower boundary of the Virginia Power Recreational Area. |
| Chestnut Creek | Carroll County | That portion of stream from the U.S. Rt. 58 Bridge downstream 11.4 miles to the confluence with the New River. |
| Hardware River | Fluvanna County | That portion of stream from the confluence of the James River upstream 3.0 miles to Muleshoe Bend as posted. |
| Holliday Creek | Appomattox/Buckingham counties | That portion of stream from the Rt. 640 crossing downstream 2.8 miles to a sign at the headwaters of Holliday Lake. |
| Holmes Run | Fairfax County | That portion of stream from the Lake Barcroft Dam downstream 1.2 miles to a sign posted at the Alexandria City line. |
| North Fork of Pound and Pound Rivers | Wise County | That portion of the streams from the base of North Fork of Pound Dam downstream to the confluence with Indian Creek. |
| North River | Augusta County | That portion of stream from the base of Elkhorn Dam downstream 1.5 miles to a sign posted at the head of Staunton City Reservoir. |
| Passage Creek | Warren County | That portion of stream from the lower boundary of the Front Royal State Hatchery upstream 0.9 miles to the Shenandoah/Warren County line. |
| Peak Creek | Pulaski County | That portion of stream from the confluence of Tract Fork downstream 2.7 miles to the Rt. 99 Bridge. |
| Pedlar River | Amherst County | That portion of stream from the City of Lynchburg/George Washington National Forest boundary line (below Lynchburg Reservoir) downstream 2.7 miles to the boundary line of the George Washington National Forest. |
| Roanoke River | Roanoke County | That portion of stream from the Rt. 760 Bridge (Diuguids Lane) upstream 1.0 miles to a sign posted at the upper end of Green Hill Park. |
| Roanoke River | City of Salem | That portion of stream from the Rt. 419 Bridge upstream 2.2 miles to the Colorado Street Bridge. |
| South River | Augusta County | That portion of stream from Second Street Bridge upstream 2.4 miles to the base of Rife Loth Dam in the City of Waynesboro. |
Pay-As-You-Go Trout Fishing
These waters are stocked regularly with catchable trout throughout the fee permit season. Anglers are required to buy a daily permit ($6.50) in addition to the applicable resident or nonresident license. Trout licenses are not required to fish in the areas during the fee permit season, but they are required during the nonpermit period of the year.
No fishing is permitted in any fee fishing area for five days proceeding the opening day (first Saturday in April). Fishing shall begin at 9:00 a.m. on opening day at all fee areas. After opening day, fishing times will be as posted. The daily creel limit is 6 trout. Fishermen are required to use separate stringers. Bait or artificial lures may be used as posted. Children-only fishing area (where applicable) regulations are posted.
| Waterbody | Area | Directions |
|---|---|---|
| Big Tumbling Creek | Area includes Big Tumbling Creek within the Clinch Mountain Wildlife Management Area. A daily permit is required from the first Saturday in April through September 30. | From Saltville, Va. turn left off of Rt. 107 onto Rt. 91 (¼ mile); then right onto Rt. 634; bear left onto Rt. 613 and proceed 3.5 miles; then right onto Rt. 747 to the area. |
| Crooked Creek | Area is located within the Crooked Creek Wildlife Management Area in Carroll County. A daily permit is required from the first Saturday in April through September 30. | From Galax, Va. take Rt. 58 east to Woodlawn, Va.; then take Rt. 620 south approximately 4.0 miles to the area. |
| Douthat State Park | Area includes Douthat State Park Lake and Wilson Creek above the lake to the park boundary and downstream to the lower USFS boundary. A daily permit is required from the first Saturday in April through June 15 and from September 15 through October 31. A children-only area is provided. Also, children 12 years and under can fish without a permit in the entire area if under the direct supervision of a permitted adult and the combined creel limit for both adult and child/children does not exceed 6 trout. | Located 7 miles north of Clifton Forge on Rt. 629 which can be accessed by Exit 27 off of I-64. |