22 public waters in the Southwest Virginia region — 2 lakes/reservoirs and 20 rivers. Every one is public water fishable on a Virginia licence.
See every public fishing venue in Virginia on the map, with boat ramps, camping, parking and full rules for each one.
Laurel Bed Lake (360 acres) sits in Russell County, Virginia, managed by Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources. A stocked mountain Trout lake (Moomaw, Douthat, Sherando, Skidmore/Switzer, Hone Quarry, Elkhorn, Coles Run, Mills Creek) — put-and-take rainbow, brown and Brook Trout stocked in the cool months, with smallmouth or Largemouth Bass, Crappie, Yellow Perch and Channel Catfish the rest of the year. A Trout licence is required.
Russell County, Virginia — Lake Bonaventure is a 74-acre lake, managed by Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources (public lake / boating access): Public lakes across the Southeast typically hold largemouth and other black bass species, bream (bluegill and redear/shellcracker sunfish), black and white crappie, and blue, channel and flathead catfish -- species commonly documented across the region's public waters by state wildlife agencies.
The Clinch — a Southwest Virginia river of national conservation importance, holding one of the richest assemblages of freshwater fish and mussels in North America. Smallmouth Bass, Rock Bass, Redbreast Sunfish, Walleye and Muskellunge for anglers; wade or float from Richlands down to the Tennessee line.
Scott and Russell Counties, Virginia — Copper Creek is a 76 km stream, managed by Commonwealth of Virginia (public / navigable water): A Virginia wild or stocked mountain Trout stream — native Brook Trout ('natives' / 'specks') in the headwaters, wild and stocked rainbows and browns lower down. Special-regulation catch-and-release and delayed-harvest sections are marked. A Trout licence (and a National Forest stamp on many) is required to fish stocked water.
Big Moccasin Creek runs 72 km through Scott and Russell Counties, Virginia, managed by Commonwealth of Virginia (public / navigable water): A Virginia wild or stocked mountain Trout stream — native Brook Trout ('natives' / 'specks') in the headwaters, wild and stocked rainbows and browns lower down. Special-regulation catch-and-release and delayed-harvest sections are marked. A Trout licence (and a National Forest stamp on many) is required to fish stocked water.
In Tazewell and Russell Counties, Virginia, Little River is a 51 km river or creek, managed by Commonwealth of Virginia (public / navigable water). A Virginia wild or stocked mountain Trout stream — native Brook Trout ('natives' / 'specks') in the headwaters, wild and stocked rainbows and browns lower down. Special-regulation catch-and-release and delayed-harvest sections are marked. A Trout licence (and a National Forest stamp on many) is required to fish stocked water.
Russell County, Virginia — Elk Garden Creek is a 16 km stream, managed by Commonwealth of Virginia (public / navigable water): A Virginia smallmouth river (the upper James, the Shenandoah and its forks, the Maury, Cowpasture, Jackson and Rappahannock) — Smallmouth Bass on the ledges and grass beds, Redbreast Sunfish ('redeyes'), Rock Bass, and a strong Muskellunge fishery on the James and Shenandoah. Classic wade-and-float bronzeback water.
Lewis Creek runs 16 km through Russell County, Virginia, managed by Commonwealth of Virginia (public / navigable water): A Virginia smallmouth river (the upper James, the Shenandoah and its forks, the Maury, Cowpasture, Jackson and Rappahannock) — Smallmouth Bass on the ledges and grass beds, Redbreast Sunfish ('redeyes'), Rock Bass, and a strong Muskellunge fishery on the James and Shenandoah. Classic wade-and-float bronzeback water.
Big Cedar Creek runs 17 km through Russell County, Virginia, managed by Commonwealth of Virginia (public / navigable water): A Virginia wild or stocked mountain Trout stream — native Brook Trout ('natives' / 'specks') in the headwaters, wild and stocked rainbows and browns lower down. Special-regulation catch-and-release and delayed-harvest sections are marked. A Trout licence (and a National Forest stamp on many) is required to fish stocked water.
In Russell and Buchanan Counties, Virginia, Weaver Creek is a 12 km river or creek, managed by Commonwealth of Virginia (public / navigable water). A Virginia smallmouth river (the upper James, the Shenandoah and its forks, the Maury, Cowpasture, Jackson and Rappahannock) — Smallmouth Bass on the ledges and grass beds, Redbreast Sunfish ('redeyes'), Rock Bass, and a strong Muskellunge fishery on the James and Shenandoah. Classic wade-and-float bronzeback water.
Thompson Creek (13 km) flows through Russell County, Virginia, managed by Commonwealth of Virginia (public / navigable water). A Virginia wild or stocked mountain Trout stream — native Brook Trout ('natives' / 'specks') in the headwaters, wild and stocked rainbows and browns lower down. Special-regulation catch-and-release and delayed-harvest sections are marked. A Trout licence (and a National Forest stamp on many) is required to fish stocked water.
Tazewell, Russell and Smyth Counties, Virginia — Laurel Bed Creek is a 11 km stream, managed by Commonwealth of Virginia (public / navigable water): A Virginia wild or stocked mountain Trout stream — native Brook Trout ('natives' / 'specks') in the headwaters, wild and stocked rainbows and browns lower down. Special-regulation catch-and-release and delayed-harvest sections are marked. A Trout licence (and a National Forest stamp on many) is required to fish stocked water.
Tumbling Creek (1 km) flows through Washington, Smyth and Russell Counties, Virginia, managed by Commonwealth of Virginia (public / navigable water). A Virginia smallmouth river (the upper James, the Shenandoah and its forks, the Maury, Cowpasture, Jackson and Rappahannock) — Smallmouth Bass on the ledges and grass beds, Redbreast Sunfish ('redeyes'), Rock Bass, and a strong Muskellunge fishery on the James and Shenandoah. Classic wade-and-float bronzeback water.
Loop Creek runs 10 km through Russell County, Virginia, managed by Commonwealth of Virginia (public / navigable water): A Virginia smallmouth river (the upper James, the Shenandoah and its forks, the Maury, Cowpasture, Jackson and Rappahannock) — Smallmouth Bass on the ledges and grass beds, Redbreast Sunfish ('redeyes'), Rock Bass, and a strong Muskellunge fishery on the James and Shenandoah. Classic wade-and-float bronzeback water.
Washington and Russell Counties, Virginia — Brumley Creek is a 10 km stream, managed by Commonwealth of Virginia (public / navigable water): A Virginia wild or stocked mountain Trout stream — native Brook Trout ('natives' / 'specks') in the headwaters, wild and stocked rainbows and browns lower down. Special-regulation catch-and-release and delayed-harvest sections are marked. A Trout licence (and a National Forest stamp on many) is required to fish stocked water.
Russell County, Virginia — Little Cedar Creek is a 9 km stream, managed by Commonwealth of Virginia (public / navigable water): A Virginia smallmouth river (the upper James, the Shenandoah and its forks, the Maury, Cowpasture, Jackson and Rappahannock) — Smallmouth Bass on the ledges and grass beds, Redbreast Sunfish ('redeyes'), Rock Bass, and a strong Muskellunge fishery on the James and Shenandoah. Classic wade-and-float bronzeback water.
Dumps Creek runs 10 km through Russell and Dickenson Counties, Virginia, managed by Commonwealth of Virginia (public / navigable water): A Virginia smallmouth river (the upper James, the Shenandoah and its forks, the Maury, Cowpasture, Jackson and Rappahannock) — Smallmouth Bass on the ledges and grass beds, Redbreast Sunfish ('redeyes'), Rock Bass, and a strong Muskellunge fishery on the James and Shenandoah. Classic wade-and-float bronzeback water.
In Buchanan and Russell Counties, Virginia, Right Fork Garden Creek is a 9 km river or creek, managed by Commonwealth of Virginia (public / navigable water). A Virginia smallmouth river (the upper James, the Shenandoah and its forks, the Maury, Cowpasture, Jackson and Rappahannock) — Smallmouth Bass on the ledges and grass beds, Redbreast Sunfish ('redeyes'), Rock Bass, and a strong Muskellunge fishery on the James and Shenandoah. Classic wade-and-float bronzeback water.
Moll Creek runs 9 km through Russell County, Virginia, managed by Commonwealth of Virginia (public / navigable water): A Virginia smallmouth river (the upper James, the Shenandoah and its forks, the Maury, Cowpasture, Jackson and Rappahannock) — Smallmouth Bass on the ledges and grass beds, Redbreast Sunfish ('redeyes'), Rock Bass, and a strong Muskellunge fishery on the James and Shenandoah. Classic wade-and-float bronzeback water.
Bull Run runs 8 km through Wise and Russell Counties, Virginia, managed by Commonwealth of Virginia (public / navigable water): A Virginia wild or stocked mountain Trout stream — native Brook Trout ('natives' / 'specks') in the headwaters, wild and stocked rainbows and browns lower down. Special-regulation catch-and-release and delayed-harvest sections are marked. A Trout licence (and a National Forest stamp on many) is required to fish stocked water.
Sulphur Spring Branch runs 8 km through Russell and Buchanan Counties, Virginia, managed by Commonwealth of Virginia (public / navigable water): A Virginia smallmouth river (the upper James, the Shenandoah and its forks, the Maury, Cowpasture, Jackson and Rappahannock) — Smallmouth Bass on the ledges and grass beds, Redbreast Sunfish ('redeyes'), Rock Bass, and a strong Muskellunge fishery on the James and Shenandoah. Classic wade-and-float bronzeback water.
Sinking Creek (9 km) flows through Scott and Russell Counties, Virginia, managed by Commonwealth of Virginia (public / navigable water). A Virginia smallmouth river (the upper James, the Shenandoah and its forks, the Maury, Cowpasture, Jackson and Rappahannock) — Smallmouth Bass on the ledges and grass beds, Redbreast Sunfish ('redeyes'), Rock Bass, and a strong Muskellunge fishery on the James and Shenandoah. Classic wade-and-float bronzeback water.
Across its mapped waters, Russell County holds 18 species on PiscaMaps, including Largemouth Bass, Channel Catfish, Smallmouth Bass, Flathead Catfish, Bluegill, Rock Bass, Redbreast Sunfish and Muskellunge.
Ramps, put-ins and species for every water — plus the carp layer no other US app has.
Open the Virginia map Join PiscaMapsOne Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources freshwater fishing licence covers every public water in the state — resident annual about $24, non-resident annual about $47, with 1-day and 5-day short-term options. A separate trout licence (~$24 resident) is required from 1 October to 15 June to fish designated stocked trout waters, plus a ~$5 National Forest permit on national-forest stocked water. Below the fall line, tidal water needs a saltwater licence instead. Virginia residents 65+ can buy a discounted or free licence. Buy at GoOutdoorsVirginia.com.