Lake Thompson
Trout Stocking to Resume at Lake Thompson
Lake Thompson is a 10 acre public fishing lake located on the G. Richard Thompson Wildlife Management Area in Fauquier County. Lake Thompson is in a secluded location nestled in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains. The lake and surrounding WMA offer numerous recreational activities. One can enjoy the fishing, hunting, hiking the Appalachian Trail and wildlife photography.
The sport fishery consists of bluegill, redear sunfish, channel catfish, smallmouth bass along with stocked rainbow and brown trout. Lake Thompson is a spring fed impoundment and a tributary to Crooked Run with a maximum depth of 32 feet and an average depth of 14 feet. Fisheries biologists tried for many years to improve the structure of the lake's largemouth bass and bluegill populations, but the goal of a balanced fishery was never truly reached. In August 1986, the entire lake was renovated with the use of rotenone. The lake was then stocked with fingerling and adult smallmouth bass, fingerling bluegill, redear sunfish, golden shiners, fathead minnows and channel catfish. However, the lake didn't fully establish itself as a cool water fishery. Biologists decided that the cool waters of Lake Thompson provided suitable habitat for trout and the lake was stocked with rainbow and brown trout. The lake officially opened for trout fishing on March 18, 1995 under the Department's put-and-take trout stocking program.
To reach Lake Thompson, take Interstate 66 to the west of Marshall, VA. Take exit 18 to (Route 688) at Markham, VA. Travel north on Route 688 for about 4 miles. Along the way, you will pass by the first WMA parking lot on your left. Continue to travel up 688 past the orchard and winery until you see the second parking lot on the left for Lake Thompson.