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Fly Fishing in Virginia

50 featured rivers, lakes and streams in Virginia, each with target species, a hatch chart and a map of nearby access.

Back Bay (Red Drum, Speckled Trout, Striped Bass)
Virginia Beach coastal bay with red drum and speckled trout. Wildlife refuge fishing.
Back Creek (Bath) (Brown Trout, Rainbow Trout)
Bath County stream with wild brown trout. Remote Allegheny Mountain waters.
Big Run (Brook Trout)
Shenandoah National Park stream with native brook trout. Remote wilderness fishing.
Big Stony Creek (Brown Trout, Rainbow Trout)
Giles County stream with wild trout. Cascades waterfall area.
Buffalo Creek (Brown Trout, Rainbow Trout)
Rockbridge County stream with wild trout. Scenic mountain fishing.
Bullpasture River (Brown Trout, Rainbow Trout, Brook Trout)
Highland County stream with wild trout. Remote mountain fishing in beautiful valley.
Catawba Creek (Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout)
Roanoke County stream with stocked trout. McAfee Knob hiking area.
Chesapeake Bay (Virginia) (Striped Bass, Red Drum, Speckled Trout)
World-famous estuary with striped bass, red drum, and speckled trout. Year-round fishing.
Claytor Lake (Striped Bass, Largemouth Bass, Walleye)
Pulaski County reservoir with excellent bass fishing. Striped bass and walleye too.
Clinch River (Musky, Smallmouth Bass, Channel Catfish)
Southwest Virginia river with exceptional biodiversity. Musky and bass fishing.
Conway River (Brook Trout)
Greene County stream with native brook trout. Shenandoah National Park drainage.
Cowpasture River (Brown Trout, Rainbow Trout)
Highland and Bath County stream with wild trout. Scenic Allegheny Mountain fishing.
Doyles River (Brook Trout)
Shenandoah National Park stream with native brook trout. Scenic waterfall hike access.
Dry River (Brook Trout, Brown Trout)
Rockingham County stream with wild trout. George Washington National Forest.
Eastern Shore (Virginia) (Red Drum, Speckled Trout, Flounder)
Barrier island coast with red drum, speckled trout, and flounder. World-class saltwater fishing.
Elizabeth River (Striped Bass, Speckled Trout, Red Drum)
Hampton Roads tidal river with diverse fishing. Urban fishing near Norfolk.
Hazel River (Brook Trout, Brown Trout)
Rappahannock County stream with native brook trout. Scenic Blue Ridge fishing.
Hughes River (Brook Trout)
Blue Ridge stream with native brook trout. Shenandoah National Park headwaters.
Jackson River (Brown Trout, Rainbow Trout)
Excellent tailwater below Gathright Dam. Trophy brown and rainbow trout in scenic valley.
James River (Smallmouth Bass, Striped Bass, Channel Catfish)
Virginia's iconic river with diverse fishing from mountains to the Bay. Smallmouth and striped bass.
Kerr Reservoir (Largemouth Bass, Striped Bass, Crappie)
Virginia-NC border lake with excellent bass fishing. Striped bass and crappie.
Lake Anna (Largemouth Bass, Striped Bass, Crappie)
Central Virginia reservoir with diverse fishing. Largemouth bass and striped bass.
Lake Moomaw (Brown Trout, Rainbow Trout, Largemouth Bass)
Bath County reservoir with excellent trout fishing. Source of Jackson River tailwater.
Laurel Fork (Brook Trout)
Highland County stream with wild brook trout. Remote wilderness area.
Little Stony Creek (Brook Trout, Brown Trout)
Giles County mountain stream with wild trout. Remote backcountry fishing.
Maury River (Smallmouth Bass, Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout)
Central Virginia river with smallmouth bass and stocked trout. Goshen Pass section.
Middle Fork Holston River (Smallmouth Bass, Rock Bass)
Southwest Virginia stream with smallmouth bass. Good wade fishing.
Mossy Creek (Brown Trout, Rainbow Trout)
Famous spring creek in the Shenandoah Valley. Wild brown trout with excellent hatches.
New River (Smallmouth Bass, Musky, Walleye)
One of the oldest rivers in the world with excellent smallmouth bass. World-class fishing.
North Fork Holston River (Rainbow Trout, Smallmouth Bass)
Southwest Virginia stream with trout and smallmouth. Scenic mountain river.
North Fork Moormans River (Brook Trout)
Albemarle County stream with native brook trout. Sugar Hollow area.
North Fork Shenandoah River (Smallmouth Bass, Sunfish)
Northern Shenandoah Valley river with excellent smallmouth bass. Scenic float fishing.
North River (Brown Trout, Rainbow Trout)
Rockingham County stream with wild trout. Good public access.
Pedlar River (Brown Trout, Rainbow Trout)
Amherst County stream with wild trout. Blue Ridge Parkway area.
Philpott Lake (Largemouth Bass, Crappie, Striped Bass)
Henry County reservoir and source of Smith River tailwater. Bass and crappie.
Potts Creek (Brown Trout, Rainbow Trout)
Craig County stream with wild trout. Remote mountain fishing experience.
Powell River (Smallmouth Bass, Rock Bass)
Lee County river with smallmouth bass. Remote southwest Virginia fishing.
Rapidan River (Brook Trout, Brown Trout)
Blue Ridge mountain stream with wild brook and brown trout. Shenandoah National Park waters.
Roanoke River (Smallmouth Bass, Striped Bass, Channel Catfish)
Central Virginia river with diverse species. Smallmouth bass in upper reaches.
Robinson River (Brook Trout, Brown Trout)
Madison County stream with wild trout. Blue Ridge mountain fishing.
Sinking Creek (Brown Trout, Rainbow Trout)
Craig County stream with wild brown trout. Unique karst geology.
Smith Mountain Lake (Striped Bass, Largemouth Bass, Channel Catfish)
Virginia's second largest lake with excellent striped bass. Also largemouth and catfish.
Smith River (Brown Trout, Rainbow Trout)
Virginia's premier tailwater with trophy brown trout. Year-round fishing below Philpott Dam.
South Fork Holston River (Smallmouth Bass, Musky)
Southwest Virginia river with smallmouth bass. Excellent float fishing.
South Fork Shenandoah River (Smallmouth Bass, Sunfish, Catfish)
Scenic Shenandoah Valley river with excellent smallmouth bass. Float fishing paradise.
South River (Brown Trout, Rainbow Trout)
Central Virginia stream with wild brown trout. Waynesboro area fishing.
St. Marys River (Brook Trout, Brown Trout)
Augusta County stream with wild brook and brown trout. St. Marys Wilderness access.
Staunton River (Smallmouth Bass, Largemouth Bass, Striped Bass)
South-central Virginia river with excellent smallmouth and largemouth bass. Diverse fishery.
Thornton River (Brook Trout, Brown Trout)
Rappahannock County stream with wild trout. Access near Sperryville.
Whitetop Laurel Creek (Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout, Brook Trout)
Southwest Virginia mountain stream with wild rainbow and brown trout. Virginia Creeper Trail access.

Fly Fishing in Virginia

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