30 public waters in the Tidewater region — 21 lakes/reservoirs and 9 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.
York County, Virginia — Harwood's Mill Reservoir is a 259-acre lake, managed by Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources (public lake / boating access): A Tidewater municipal water-supply reservoir (the Newport News, Suffolk 'Nansemond', Norfolk and Virginia Beach lakes, plus the Chickahominy and Diascund system) — Largemouth Bass, Chain Pickerel, Black Crappie, Bluegill, yellow and White Perch, Bowfin, and channel and Blue Catfish. Most require a city launch permit or are electric-motor / car-top only.
York County, Virginia — Harwoods Mill Reservoir is a 258-acre lake, managed by Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources: A Tidewater municipal water-supply reservoir (the Newport News, Suffolk 'Nansemond', Norfolk and Virginia Beach lakes, plus the Chickahominy and Diascund system) — Largemouth Bass, Chain Pickerel, Black Crappie, Bluegill, yellow and White Perch, Bowfin, and channel and Blue Catfish. Most require a city launch permit or are electric-motor / car-top only.
York, Hampton and Newport News Counties, Virginia — Big Bethel Reservoir is a 228-acre lake, managed by Other or Unknown Federal Land: A VDWR-managed small lake or a Department-leased city/county lake — Largemouth Bass, Bluegill, Redear Sunfish, Channel Catfish and Crappie, with Rainbow Trout stocked into a number of them through the cool months (the Community Fishing / urban programme). Managed for easy bank and pier access.
Waller Mill Reservoir (176 acres) sits in York County, Virginia, managed by Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources. A Tidewater municipal water-supply reservoir (the Newport News, Suffolk 'Nansemond', Norfolk and Virginia Beach lakes, plus the Chickahominy and Diascund system) — Largemouth Bass, Chain Pickerel, Black Crappie, Bluegill, yellow and White Perch, Bowfin, and channel and Blue Catfish. Most require a city launch permit or are electric-motor / car-top only.
York County, Virginia — Thorofare is a 128-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.
In York County, Virginia, Bigler Millpond is a 124-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.
Claxton Creek (107 acres) sits in York County, Virginia, 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.
Cheatham Lake (92 acres) sits in York County, Virginia, 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.
In York County, Virginia, Felgates Creek is a 90-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.
In York County, Virginia, Harwoods Mill Resevoir 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.
In York County, Virginia, Queens Lake is a 69-acre lake, managed by County Land. A VDWR-managed small lake or a Department-leased city/county lake — Largemouth Bass, Bluegill, Redear Sunfish, Channel Catfish and Crappie, with Rainbow Trout stocked into a number of them through the cool months (the Community Fishing / urban programme). Managed for easy bank and pier access.
In York and Louisa Counties, Virginia, Beaverdam Pond is a 64-acre lake, managed by Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources (public lake / boating access). A VDWR-managed small lake or a Department-leased city/county lake — Largemouth Bass, Bluegill, Redear Sunfish, Channel Catfish and Crappie, with Rainbow Trout stocked into a number of them through the cool months (the Community Fishing / urban programme). Managed for easy bank and pier access.
Jones Mill Pond, a 59-acre lake in York County, Virginia, 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.
York County, Virginia — Barlows Pond is a 58-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.
Jones Millpond, a 51-acre lake in York County, Virginia, managed by National Park Service: A VDWR-managed small lake or a Department-leased city/county lake — Largemouth Bass, Bluegill, Redear Sunfish, Channel Catfish and Crappie, with Rainbow Trout stocked into a number of them through the cool months (the Community Fishing / urban programme). Managed for easy bank and pier access.
Penniman Lake, a 51-acre lake in York County, Virginia, 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.
Roosevelt Pond, a 22-acre lake in York County, Virginia, 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.
In York County, Virginia, Pond 11 is a 21-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.
Wormley Pond (16 acres) sits in York County, Virginia, managed by National Park Service. A VDWR-managed small lake or a Department-leased city/county lake — Largemouth Bass, Bluegill, Redear Sunfish, Channel Catfish and Crappie, with Rainbow Trout stocked into a number of them through the cool months (the Community Fishing / urban programme). Managed for easy bank and pier access.
Powell Lake, a 16-acre lake in York County, Virginia, managed by Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources (public lake / boating access): 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.
York County, Virginia — Lee Hall Reservoir is a 6-acre lake, managed by Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources (public lake / boating access): A Tidewater municipal water-supply reservoir (the Newport News, Suffolk 'Nansemond', Norfolk and Virginia Beach lakes, plus the Chickahominy and Diascund system) — Largemouth Bass, Chain Pickerel, Black Crappie, Bluegill, yellow and White Perch, Bowfin, and channel and Blue Catfish. Most require a city launch permit or are electric-motor / car-top only.
In Gloucester, York, King and Queen and 2 more counties in Virginia, York River is a 36 km river or creek, managed by Commonwealth of Virginia (public / navigable water). A tidal Virginia river (the tidal James, Chickahominy, Pamunkey, Mattaponi, Appomattox and lower Rappahannock) — a nationally-known trophy blue-Catfish fishery, Largemouth Bass in the grass and cypress, white and Yellow Perch, Crappie, Bluegill, Bowfin and Gar, plus seasonal Striped Bass and one of the East Coast's better American-Shad runs.
York and Poquoson Counties, Virginia — Poquoson River 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.
Newport News and York Counties, Virginia — Warwick River is a 28 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.
James City, Newport News and York Counties, Virginia — Skiffes Creek 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.
Brick Kiln Creek runs 12 km through Hampton, Newport News, York and 1 more county in 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.
Skimino Creek runs 8 km through York, James City and Gloucester 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.
York and Gloucester Counties, Virginia — Queen 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.
Chisman Creek runs 8 km through York and Poquoson 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.
Carter Creek runs 3 km through York and Gloucester 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, York County holds 23 species on PiscaMaps, including Largemouth Bass, Channel Catfish, Bluegill, Black Crappie, Flathead Catfish, Blue Catfish, Redear Sunfish and White Crappie.
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.