Waterbody · Virginia
Claytor Lake Fishing Regulations 2026
Claytor Lake fishing regulations in 2026: top targets are smallmouth bass, striped bass, walleye. 298 current rules across 16 species from DWR.
Rules (298)
DWR regulates 298 rules across 16 species at this water.
Smallmouth Bass
Big Walker Creek From The Norfolk Southern Railroad Bridge Downstream To The New River
- Daily bag
- 1 fish/day
- Slot min
- 14"
- Slot max
- 22"
longer than 22 inches
Briery Creek Lake
- Daily bag
- 1 fish/day
- Slot min
- 16"
- Slot max
- 24"
longer than 24 inches
Buggs Island Lake/Kerr Reservoir
- Daily bag
- 2 fish/day
of 5 largemouth or smallmouth bass less than 14 inches
Clinch River–Within The Boundaries Of Scott, Wise, Russell Or Tazewell Counties
- Daily bag
- 1 fish/day
- Min size
- 20"
longer than 20 inches no largemouth or smallmouth bass less than 20 inches
Dan River And Tributaries Downstream From The Union Street Dam, Danville
- Daily bag
- 2 fish/day
of 5 largemouth or smallmouth bass less than 14 inches, 5 per day in the aggregate (combined)
Flannagan Reservoir
- Min size
- 15"
no smallmouth bass less than 15 inches
James River (Upper)Open
- Status
- Permitted
mountain sections (upstream from Lynchburg) and piedmont sections (between Lynchburg and Richmond)
James River–Confluence Of The Jackson And Cowpasture Rivers (Botetourt Cty) Downstream To The 14th St. Bridge In Richmond
- Daily bag
- 1 fish/day
- Slot min
- 14"
- Slot max
- 22"
longer than 22 inches no largemouth or smallmouth bass 14 to 22 inches
Lake Gaston
- Daily bag
- 2 fish/day
of 5 largemouth or smallmouth bass less than 14 inches
Lake Moomaw
- Min size
- 12"
no largemouth or smallmouth bass less than 12 inches
Leesville Reservoir
- Daily bag
- 2 fish/day
of 5 largemouth or smallmouth bass less than 14 inches
Levisa Fork River–Within The Boundaries Buchanan County
- Daily bag
- 1 fish/day
- Min size
- 20"
longer than 20 inches no largemouth or smallmouth bass less than 20 inches
Little River Downstream From Little River Dam In Montgomery County
- Daily bag
- 1 fish/day
- Slot min
- 14"
- Slot max
- 22"
longer than 22 inches
Maury RiverOpen
- Status
- Permitted
caught anywhere from the head waters to the mouth of the river where it enters the James
New RiverOpen
- Status
- Permitted
State Record: 8 lbs. 1 oz. on 3-12-2003
New River–Fields Dam (Grayson County) Downstream To The Va-Wv State Line
- Daily bag
- 1 fish/day
- Slot min
- 14"
- Slot max
- 22"
longer than 22 inches
New River–Fields Dam (Grayson County) Downstream To The Va-Wv State Line And Its Tributaries Little River Downstream From Little River Dam In Montgomery County, Big Walker Creek From The Norfolk Southern Railroad Bridge Downstream To The New River And Wolf Creek From The Narrows Dam Downstream To The New R
- Daily bag
- 1 fish/day
- Slot min
- 14"
- Slot max
- 22"
only 1 per day longer than 22 inches No largemouth or smallmouth bass 14 to 22 inches
New River–Fields Dam (Grayson County) Downstream To The Va-Wv State Line And Its Tributaries Little River Downstream From Little River Dam In Montgomery County, Big Walker Creek From The Norfolk Southern Railroad Bridge Downstream To The New River And Wolf Creek From The Narrows Dam Downstream To The New River In Giles County.
- Daily bag
- 1 fish/day
- Slot min
- 14"
- Slot max
- 22"
longer than 22 inches no largemouth or smallmouth bass 14 to 22 inches
North Fork Holston RiverOpen
- Status
- Permitted
outstanding population, good numbers of smallmouth 14 to 18 inches, about one-third more than 14 inches, and more than 10% longer than 17 inches
North Fork Holston River–Rt. 91 Bridge Upstream Of Saltville, Va. Downstream To The Va-Tn State Line
- Daily bag
- 1 fish/day
- Min size
- 20"
longer than 20 inches no largemouth or smallmouth bass less than 20 inches
North Fork, South Fork And Mainstem Shenandoah River
- Slot min
- 11"
- Slot max
- 14"
no largemouth or smallmouth bass 11 to 14 inches
Potomac River – Virginia Tidal Tributaries Above Rt. 301 Bridge
- Min size
- 15"
no largemouth or smallmouth bass less than 15 inches from March 1 through June 15
Smith Mt. Lake And Its Tributaries Below Niagara Dam
- Daily bag
- 2 fish/day
of 5 largemouth or smallmouth bass less than 14 inches
South Holston Reservoir
- Min size
- 15"
no smallmouth less than 15 inches
Staunton (Roanoke) River–And Its Tributaries Below Difficult Creek, Charlotte County
- Daily bag
- 2 fish/day
of 5 largemouth or smallmouth bass less than 14 inches
Staunton River–Leesville Dam (Campbell County) Downstream To The Mouth Of Difficult Creek, Charlotte County
- Daily bag
- 1 fish/day
- Min size
- 20"
longer than 20 inches no smallmouth bass less than 20 inches
Wolf Creek From The Narrows Dam Downstream To The New River
- Daily bag
- 1 fish/day
- Slot min
- 14"
- Slot max
- 22"
Longer than 22 inches No largemouth or smallmouth bass 14 to 22 inches
Wolf Creek From The Narrows Dam Downstream To The New River In Giles County
- Daily bag
- 1 fish/day
- Slot min
- 14"
- Slot max
- 22"
longer than 22 inches
Striped Bass
Appomattox RiverOpen
- Status
- Permitted
seasonal fishery, run out of Lake Chesdin
Atlantic Ocean Waters Beyond The 3 Mile LimitClosed
- Status
- Closed
closed to the taking and possession of striped bass all year.
Back BayCatch & release
- Status
- Catch And Release
- Gear
- No Possession
No possession
Blackwater (Chowan Drainage)Catch & release
- Status
- Catch And Release
No possession
Blackwater River (Chowan Drainage)Open
- Status
- Permitted
limited numbers
Chesapeake Bay Fall SeasonOut of season
- Season opens
- Oct 4
- Season closes
- Dec 31
- Daily bag
- 1 fish/person
- Min size
- 19"
- Max size
- 24"
Chesapeake Bay Spring SeasonOut of season
- Season opens
- May 16
- Season closes
- Jun 15
- Daily bag
- 1 fish/person
- Min size
- 19"
- Max size
- 24"
Clinch RiverOpen
- Status
- Permitted
sometimes caught in lower stretches, migrate out of Norris Reservoir in Tennessee
Dan RiverOut of season
- Season opens
- Apr 1
- Season closes
- May 31
run begins in late April run continues through May
Leesville ReservoirOpen
- Status
- Permitted
State Record: 53 lbs. 7 oz. on 3-16-2000
Meherrin RiverCatch & release
- Status
- Catch And Release
- Gear
- No Possession
No possession
North Landing RiverCatch & release
- Status
- Catch And Release
- Gear
- No Possession
No possession
Northwest RiverCatch & release
- Status
- Catch And Release
- Gear
- No Possession
No possession
Northwest Rivers And Their Tributaries Plus Back BayClosed
- Status
- Closed
No possession
Nottoway RiverCatch & release
- Status
- Catch And Release
- Gear
- No Possession
No possession
Virginia Coastal SeasonsIn season
- Season opens
- May 16
- Season closes
- Dec 31
- Daily bag
- 1 fish/person
- Min size
- 28"
- Max size
- 31"
Walleye
Claytor Lake And The New River Upstream To Fries Dam In Grayson County
- Daily bag
- 2 fish/day
- Slot min
- 19"
- Slot max
- 28"
no walleye 19 to 28 inches
Appomattox RiverOpen
- Status
- Permitted
seasonal fishery, run out of Lake Chesdin
New RiverOpen
- Status
- Permitted
State Record: 15 lbs. 15 oz. on 12-15-2000
Shenandoah River (Main Stem)Open
- Status
- Permitted
abundant in localized areas
South Holston Reservoir
- Daily bag
- 5 fish/day
- Min size
- 18"
No walleye less than 18 inches
Landlocked Striped Bass And Landlocked Striped Bass X White Bass Hybrids
Claytor Lake And Its TributariesOut of season
- Season opens
- Jul 1
- Season closes
- Sep 15
- Daily bag
- 4 fish/day
- Min size
- 20"
July 1–September 15: 4 per day in the aggregate no striped bass or hybrid bass less than 20 inches
Landlocked Striped Bass
Claytor Lake And Its TributariesOpen
- Status
- Permitted
- Daily bag
- 4 fish/day
- Min size
- 20"
July 1–September 15: No length limit July 1–September 15, in the aggregate September 16–June 30, no striped bass or hybrid bass less than 20 inches
Smallmouth Bass Largemouth
New River–Fields Dam (Grayson County) Downstream To The Va-Wv State Line And Its Tributaries Little River Downstream From Little River Dam In Montgomery County, Big Walker Creek From The Norfolk Southern Railroad Bridge Downstream To The New River And Wolf Creek From The Narrows Dam Downstream To The New River In Giles County. (This Does Not Include Claytor Lake Which Is Delineated As: The Upper End Of The Island At Allisonia Downstream To The Dam.)
- Daily bag
- 1 fish/day
- Slot min
- 14"
- Slot max
- 22"
only 1 per day longer than 22 inches No largemouth or smallmouth bass 14 to 22 inches
Landlocked Striped Bass X White Bass Hybrids
Claytor Lake And Its TributariesOpen
- Status
- Permitted
- Daily bag
- 4 fish/day
- Min size
- 20"
July 1–September 15: No length limit July 1–September 15, in the aggregate September 16–June 30, no striped bass or hybrid bass less than 20 inches
Saugeye
Claytor Lake And The New River Upstream To Fries Dam In Grayson County
- Daily bag
- 2 fish/day
- Slot min
- 19"
- Slot max
- 28"
no walleye 19 to 28 inches
Hybrid Striped Bass
Claytor LakeOpen
- Status
- Permitted
State Record: 15 lbs. 13 oz. on 3-16-2016
Spotted Bass
Claytor LakeOpen
- Status
- Permitted
State Record: 4 lbs. 12 oz. on 1-1-2020
Common Carp
Claytor LakeOpen
- Status
- Permitted
Archery State Record: 45 lbs. 7 oz. on 10-15-2016
Sunfish
Plus 4 more species. See the Virginia pillar page for the full list.
FAQ
Who regulates fishing on Claytor Lake?
DWR regulates fishing on Claytor Lake.
What species can I target on Claytor Lake?
Claytor Lake is best known for smallmouth bass, striped bass, walleye. Other species are present and tracked in the rule tables below.
Where should I verify these rules?
These rules summarize DWR's published content. Always confirm with the official source before keeping a catch.
Reference only. Regulations change mid-season. Always verify with the official source before keeping a catch.