21 public waters in the Southwest Virginia region — 1 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.
Bark Camp Lake, a 41-acre lake in Scott County, Virginia, managed by Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources: A Southwest Virginia or Highlands mountain lake (South Holston, Flannagan, Hungry Mother, Bark Camp, Laurel Bed) — cool, clear water with smallmouth and Largemouth Bass, Walleye, Muskellunge, Crappie and Bluegill, plus stocked rainbow and Brown Trout in the higher and colder lakes.
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.
This 139 km Southwest Virginia river system spans Bland, Scott, Smyth and Washington counties, offering a mixed warmwater and coolwater fishery managed as public navigable water. Smallmouth bass and walleye anchor the catch, supported by rock bass, redbreast sunfish, largemouth bass and muskellunge, with channel and flathead catfish providing alternative species for bottom-feeders.
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 Wise, Norton and Scott Counties, Virginia, Guest River is a 43 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.
A 44 km tributary in Lee and Scott counties, the North Fork Clinch delivers classic Appalachian river fishing for smallmouth bass and walleye amid rock bass, redbreast sunfish and muskellunge. Channel and flathead catfish round out a diverse warmwater roster in this Virginia-managed public waterway.
In Washington and Scott Counties, Virginia, Reedy Creek is a 18 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.
Scott County, Virginia — Possum Creek is a 25 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.
In Scott and Wise Counties, Virginia, Stony Creek is a 9 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.
In Scott County, Virginia, Cove Creek is a 10 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.
In Scott County, Virginia, Stock Creek is a 16 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.
Little Stony Creek (14 km) flows through Scott and Wise 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.
Scott County, Virginia — Valley 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.
Boozy Creek (10 km) flows through Scott 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.
Scott County, Virginia — Timbertree Branch is a 11 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.
In Lee and Scott Counties, Virginia, East Fork Blackwater 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.
Scott County, Virginia — Staunton Creek is a 9 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.
Lee and Scott Counties, Virginia — Northeast Fork Blackwater 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.
In Scott and Lee Counties, Virginia, Dry Branch is a 8 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.
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, Scott County holds 16 species on PiscaMaps, including Smallmouth Bass, Largemouth Bass, Muskellunge, Channel Catfish, Rock Bass, Redbreast Sunfish, Flathead Catfish and Bluegill.
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.