Waterbody · Virginia
Lake Anna Fishing Regulations 2026
Lake Anna fishing regulations as of 2026-05-08: 277 current rules from DWR. Anglers target largemouth bass, striped bass, crappie.
Rules (277)
DWR regulates 277 rules across 18 species at this water.
Largemouth Bass
Lake Anna State Park PondOpen
- Status
- Permitted
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
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
Blackwater River (Chowan Drainage)Open
- Status
- Permitted
Braley PondOpen
- Status
- Permitted
BrieryOpen
- Status
- Permitted
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
Chickahominy RiverOpen
- Status
- Permitted
ClaytorOpen
- Status
- Permitted
Clearbrook Forest Service LakesOpen
- Status
- Permitted
Clifton Forge ReservoirOpen
- Status
- Permitted
Clinch RiverOpen
- Status
- Permitted
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
Coles Run ReservoirOpen
- Status
- Permitted
Conner LakeOpen
- Status
- Permitted
State Record: 16 lbs. 4 oz. on 5-20-1985
CookOpen
- Status
- Permitted
Dan RiverOpen
- Status
- Permitted
just west of Danville
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)
Douthat Forest Service LakesOpen
- Status
- Permitted
Dry RunOpen
- Status
- Permitted
ElkhornOpen
- Status
- Permitted
Flannagan Reservoir
- Min size
- 12"
no largemouth bass less than 12 inches
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
nationally recognized fishery; upstream from Hopewell, best in old river channels and abandoned gravel pits; downstream from Hopewell to Hog Island, most productive in larger tributary creeks and large expanses of vegetated tidal flats
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
Lake MooneyOpen
- Status
- Permitted
LauraOpen
- Status
- Permitted
LaurelOpen
- Status
- Permitted
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
LexingtonOpen
- Status
- Permitted
LincolnshireOpen
- Status
- Permitted
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
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
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
Newman LakeOpen
- Status
- Permitted
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 PoundOpen
- Status
- Permitted
North Fork Shenandoah RiverOpen
- Status
- Permitted
North Fork, South Fork And Mainstem Shenandoah River
- Slot min
- 11"
- Slot max
- 14"
no largemouth or smallmouth bass 11 to 14 inches
North Landing RiverOpen
- Status
- Permitted
Northwest RiverOpen
- Status
- Permitted
good numbers
Norton ReservoirOpen
- Status
- Permitted
Nottoway RiverOpen
- Status
- Permitted
below Rt. 630 Bridge, more common
Old Cossey PondOpen
- Status
- Permitted
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
ShenandoahOpen
- Status
- Permitted
Shenandoah River (Main Stem)Open
- Status
- Permitted
SherandoOpen
- Status
- Permitted
SilverOpen
- Status
- Permitted
SkidmoreOpen
- Status
- Permitted
Slate LickOpen
- Status
- Permitted
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 HolstonOpen
- Status
- Permitted
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
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
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
Woodrow Wilson PondOpen
- Status
- Permitted
Striped Bass
Lake Anna
- Min size
- 37"
Lake Anna State Park PondOpen
- Status
- Permitted
AbelOpen
- Status
- Permitted
AccotinkOpen
- Status
- Permitted
All Tidal RiversOpen
- Status
- Permitted
AnnaOpen
- Status
- Permitted
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
Beaverdam Cr.Open
- Status
- Permitted
Blackwater (Chowan Drainage)Catch & release
- Status
- Catch And Release
No possession
Blackwater (Chowan Drainage) River
- Gear
- No Possession
Blackwater River (Chowan Drainage)Open
- Status
- Permitted
limited numbers
BrieryOpen
- Status
- Permitted
Buggs IslandOpen
- Status
- Permitted
Carvins Cove
- Min size
- 37"
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"
ClaytorOpen
- Status
- Permitted
Claytor Lake
- Min size
- 37"
Clinch RiverOpen
- Status
- Permitted
sometimes caught in lower stretches, migrate out of Norris Reservoir in Tennessee
CookOpen
- Status
- Permitted
DanOpen
- Status
- Permitted
Dan RiverIn season
- Season opens
- Apr 1
- Season closes
- May 31
run begins in late April run continues through May
Dry RunOpen
- Status
- Permitted
Flannagan Res.
- Min size
- 37"
FrederickOpen
- Status
- Permitted
GastonOpen
- Status
- Permitted
Germantown LakeOpen
- Status
- Permitted
Hone QuarryOpen
- Status
- Permitted
Hunting Run ReservoirOpen
- Status
- Permitted
Huntsman LakeOpen
- Status
- Permitted
Lake MooneyOpen
- Status
- Permitted
LauraOpen
- Status
- Permitted
LeesvilleOpen
- Status
- Permitted
Leesville ReservoirOpen
- Status
- Permitted
State Record: 53 lbs. 7 oz. on 3-16-2000
Locust ShadeOpen
- Status
- Permitted
MeherrinClosed
- Status
- Closed
No possession
Meherrin RiverCatch & release
- Status
- Catch And Release
- Gear
- No Possession
No possession
MottsOpen
- Status
- Permitted
Mtn. Run Ni ReservoirOpen
- Status
- Permitted
New RiverOpen
- Status
- Permitted
Newman LakeOpen
- Status
- Permitted
North LandingClosed
- Status
- Closed
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
NottowayClosed
- Status
- Closed
No possession
Nottoway RiverCatch & release
- Status
- Catch And Release
- Gear
- No Possession
No possession
Old Cossey PondOpen
- Status
- Permitted
ShenandoahOpen
- Status
- Permitted
SilverOpen
- Status
- Permitted
SkidmoreOpen
- Status
- Permitted
Slate LickOpen
- Status
- Permitted
Smith MountainOpen
- Status
- Permitted
Staunton/RoanokeOpen
- Status
- Permitted
TomahawkOpen
- Status
- Permitted
Virginia Coastal SeasonsOut of season
- Season opens
- May 16
- Season closes
- Dec 31
- Daily bag
- 1 fish/person
- Min size
- 28"
- Max size
- 31"
Virginia Department Of Wildlife Resources LakesOpen
- Status
- Permitted
Western BranchOpen
- Status
- Permitted
WilkinsOpen
- Status
- Permitted
Woodrow Wilson PondOpen
- Status
- Permitted
Crappie
Lake Anna State Park PondOpen
- Status
- Permitted
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
Chickahominy RiverOpen
- Status
- Permitted
ClaytorOpen
- Status
- Permitted
Clearbrook Forest Service LakesOpen
- Status
- Permitted
Clifton Forge ReservoirOpen
- Status
- Permitted
Coles Run ReservoirOpen
- Status
- Permitted
CookOpen
- Status
- Permitted
Douthat Forest Service LakesOpen
- Status
- Permitted
Dry RunOpen
- Status
- Permitted
ElkhornOpen
- Status
- Permitted
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 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
Newman LakeOpen
- Status
- Permitted
North Fork PoundOpen
- Status
- Permitted
North Fork Shenandoah RiverOpen
- Status
- Permitted
Norton ReservoirOpen
- Status
- Permitted
Old Cossey PondOpen
- Status
- Permitted
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
Black Crappie
Clinch RiverOpen
- Status
- Permitted
Lake ConnerOpen
- Status
- Permitted
State Record: 4 lbs. 14 oz. on 4-8-1967
New RiverOpen
- Status
- Permitted
Northwest RiverOpen
- Status
- Permitted
Nottoway RiverOpen
- Status
- Permitted
below Rt. 630 Bridge, more common
Private PondOpen
- Status
- Permitted
State Record: 4 lbs. 10 oz. on 4-24-1994
White Crappie
Lake Anna
- Min size
- 15"
Carvins Cove
- Min size
- 15"
Claytor Lake
- Min size
- 15"
Flannagan Res.
- Min size
- 15"
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.
Walleye
Lake Anna
- Min size
- 13"
Lake Anna State Park PondOpen
- Status
- Permitted
White Bass
Lake Anna
- Min size
- 25"
Lake Anna State Park PondOpen
- Status
- Permitted
White Perch
Lake Anna
- Min size
- 16"
Lake Anna State Park PondOpen
- Status
- Permitted
Yellow Perch
Lake Anna
- Min size
- 12"
Lake Anna State Park PondOpen
- Status
- Permitted
Smallmouth Bass
Lake Anna State Park PondOpen
- Status
- Permitted
Lake Anna
- Min size
- 23"
Sunfish
Lake Anna
- Min size
- 10"
Northern Pike
Lake Anna State Park PondOpen
- Status
- Permitted
Plus 6 more species. See the Virginia pillar page for the full list.
FAQ
Who regulates fishing on Lake Anna?
DWR regulates fishing on Lake Anna.
What species can I target on Lake Anna?
Lake Anna is best known for largemouth bass, striped bass, crappie. Other species are present and tracked in the rule tables below.
When was this last updated?
These rules were last verified against DWR on 2026-05-08. 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. Last verified .