Virginia regulations
Crappie (Black & White) Regulations in Virginia 2026
Virginia Crappie regulations as of 2026-05-08: Status Permitted; Status Permitted; Status Permitted. Sourced from DWR.
Rules (70)
AbelOpen
- Status
- Permitted
AccotinkOpen
- Status
- Permitted
AnnaOpen
- Status
- Permitted
Appomattox RiverOpen
- Status
- Permitted
ArrowheadOpen
- Status
- Permitted
Augusta County Rec PondOpen
- Status
- Permitted
Bealer’s Ferry PondOpen
- Status
- Permitted
Beaverdam Cr.Open
- Status
- Permitted
Blackwater River (Chowan Drainage)Open
- Status
- Permitted
Braley PondOpen
- Status
- Permitted
BrieryOpen
- Status
- Permitted
Carvins Cove
- Min size
- 15"
Chickahominy RiverOpen
- Status
- Permitted
ClaytorOpen
- Status
- Permitted
Claytor Lake
- Min size
- 15"
Clearbrook Forest Service LakesOpen
- Status
- Permitted
Clifton Forge ReservoirOpen
- Status
- Permitted
Clinch RiverOpen
- Status
- Permitted
Coles Run ReservoirOpen
- Status
- Permitted
CookOpen
- Status
- Permitted
Douthat Forest Service LakesOpen
- Status
- Permitted
Dry RunOpen
- Status
- Permitted
ElkhornOpen
- Status
- Permitted
Flannagan Res.
- Min size
- 15"
FrederickOpen
- Status
- Permitted
GatewoodOpen
- Status
- Permitted
Germantown LakeOpen
- Status
- Permitted
Hone QuarryOpen
- Status
- Permitted
Hunting Run ReservoirOpen
- Status
- Permitted
Huntsman LakeOpen
- Status
- Permitted
James River (Lower)Open
- Status
- Permitted
good fishing in oxbows upstream of Hopewell
Lake Anna
- Min size
- 15"
Lake Anna State Park PondOpen
- Status
- Permitted
Lake ConnerOpen
- Status
- Permitted
State Record: 4 lbs. 14 oz. on 4-8-1967
Lake MooneyOpen
- Status
- Permitted
LauraOpen
- Status
- Permitted
LaurelOpen
- Status
- Permitted
LexingtonOpen
- Status
- Permitted
LincolnshireOpen
- Status
- Permitted
Locust ShadeOpen
- Status
- Permitted
Lovill’s CreekOpen
- Status
- Permitted
MoomawOpen
- Status
- Permitted
MottsOpen
- Status
- Permitted
Mtn. Run Ni ReservoirOpen
- Status
- Permitted
New RiverOpen
- Status
- Permitted
Newman LakeOpen
- Status
- Permitted
No Entry To Date; Minimum Weight To Qualify Is 3 Lbs.Open
- Status
- Permitted
State Record: NO ENTRY TO DATE; MINIMUM WEIGHT TO QUALIFY IS 3 LBS.
North Fork PoundOpen
- Status
- Permitted
North Fork Shenandoah RiverOpen
- Status
- Permitted
Northwest RiverOpen
- Status
- Permitted
Norton ReservoirOpen
- Status
- Permitted
Nottoway RiverOpen
- Status
- Permitted
below Rt. 630 Bridge, more common
Old Cossey PondOpen
- Status
- Permitted
Private PondOpen
- Status
- Permitted
State Record: 4 lbs. 10 oz. on 4-24-1994
ShenandoahOpen
- Status
- Permitted
SherandoOpen
- Status
- Permitted
SilverOpen
- Status
- Permitted
SkidmoreOpen
- Status
- Permitted
Slate LickOpen
- Status
- Permitted
South HolstonOpen
- Status
- Permitted
South Holston Reservoir
- Daily bag
- 15 fish/day
- Min size
- 10"
No crappie less than 10 inches
Tams City ParkOpen
- Status
- Permitted
TomahawkOpen
- Status
- Permitted
Virginia Department Of Wildlife Resources LakesOpen
- Status
- Permitted
Virginia Power Rec. PondsOpen
- Status
- Permitted
WilkinsOpen
- Status
- Permitted
Willis RobertsonOpen
- Status
- Permitted
WittenOpen
- Status
- Permitted
Woodrow Wilson PondOpen
- Status
- Permitted
Also known as
Crappie is also called Crappie (Black & White), Black Crappie, White Crappie. Anglers in different regions use different names for the same fish, and the rules on this page apply to all of them in Virginia.
Frequently asked questions
When is Crappie season in Virginia?
Crappie season in Virginia is set by DWR. Some zones may have specific open windows; see the rule table above.
What is the size limit for Crappie in Virginia?
Minimum size for Crappie in Virginia is 15 inches in Carvins Cove, per DWR. Slot limits or maximum sizes may apply in some zones.
What is the daily bag limit for Crappie in Virginia?
Daily bag limit for Crappie in Virginia is 15 fish/day in South Holston Reservoir, per DWR.
Official sources cited
- https://www.eregulations.com/assets/docs/guides/26VAFW_LR_2026-01-14-181617_afxs.pdf
- https://www.eregulations.com/assets/docs/resources/VA/26VAFW_LR.pdf
Reference only. Regulations change frequently, often mid-season. Always verify with DWR before keeping a catch. Last verified .