Waterbody · Virginia
New River Fishing Regulations 2026
New River fishing regulations as of 2026-05-08: 288 current rules from DWR. Anglers target musky, smallmouth bass, walleye.
Rules (288)
DWR regulates 288 rules across 27 species at this water.
Smallmouth Bass
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
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
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
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
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
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
Carvins CoveOpen
- Status
- Permitted
- Min size
- 23"
stocked as fingerlings
ClaytorOpen
- Status
- Permitted
Claytor Lake
- Min size
- 23"
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
Clinck And Powell Rivers Only
- Min size
- 23"
Coles Run ReservoirOpen
- Status
- Permitted
CookOpen
- Status
- Permitted
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 Res.
- Min size
- 23"
Flannagan Reservoir
- Min size
- 15"
no smallmouth bass less than 15 inches
FrederickOpen
- Status
- Permitted
GatewoodOpen
- Status
- Permitted
Germantown LakeOpen
- Status
- Permitted
Hone QuarryOpen
- Status
- Permitted
Hunting Run ReservoirOpen
- Status
- Permitted
Huntsman LakeOpen
- Status
- Permitted
JamesOpen
- Status
- Permitted
stocked as fingerlings
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 Anna
- Min size
- 23"
Lake Anna State Park PondOpen
- Status
- Permitted
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
Maury RiverOpen
- Status
- Permitted
caught anywhere from the head waters to the mouth of the river where it enters the James
MoomawOpen
- Status
- Permitted
MottsOpen
- Status
- Permitted
Mtn. Run Ni ReservoirOpen
- Status
- Permitted
Newman LakeOpen
- Status
- Permitted
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 PoundOpen
- Status
- Permitted
North Fork Shenandoah RiverOpen
- Status
- Permitted
throughout
North Fork, South Fork And Mainstem Shenandoah River
- Slot min
- 11"
- Slot max
- 14"
no largemouth or smallmouth bass 11 to 14 inches
Norton ReservoirOpen
- Status
- Permitted
Nottoway RiverOpen
- Status
- Permitted
above Rt. 630 Bridge
Old Cossey PondOpen
- Status
- Permitted
PhilpottOpen
- Status
- Permitted
stocked as fingerlings
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
Powell Rivers Only
- Min size
- 23"
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
SouthOpen
- Status
- Permitted
stocked as fingerlings
South HolstonOpen
- Status
- Permitted
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
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
Walleye
New RiverOpen
- Status
- Permitted
State Record: 15 lbs. 15 oz. on 12-15-2000
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
AbelOpen
- Status
- Permitted
AccotinkOpen
- Status
- Permitted
AnnaOpen
- Status
- Permitted
Appomattox RiverOpen
- Status
- Permitted
seasonal fishery, run out of Lake Chesdin
ArrowheadOpen
- Status
- Permitted
Augusta County Rec PondOpen
- Status
- Permitted
Bealer’s Ferry PondOpen
- Status
- Permitted
Beaverdam Cr.Open
- Status
- Permitted
Braley PondOpen
- Status
- Permitted
BrieryOpen
- Status
- Permitted
BrittleOpen
- Status
- Permitted
Carvins Cove
- Min size
- 13"
ClaytorOpen
- Status
- Permitted
Claytor Lake
- Min size
- 13"
Clearbrook Forest Service LakesOpen
- Status
- Permitted
Clifton Forge ReservoirOpen
- Status
- Permitted
ClinchOpen
- Status
- Permitted
Clinch RiverOpen
- Status
- Permitted
Coles Run ReservoirOpen
- Status
- Permitted
CookOpen
- Status
- Permitted
DanOpen
- Status
- Permitted
Dan River
- Season opens
- Jan 1
begin moving as early as January
Douthat Forest Service LakesOpen
- Status
- Permitted
Dry RunOpen
- Status
- Permitted
ElkhornOpen
- Status
- Permitted
FlannaganOpen
- Status
- Permitted
Flannagan Res.
- Min size
- 13"
FrederickOpen
- Status
- Permitted
Gaston (Especially Below Kerr Dam)Open
- Status
- Permitted
GatewoodOpen
- Status
- Permitted
Germantown LakeOpen
- Status
- Permitted
Hone QuarryOpen
- Status
- Permitted
Hungry MotherOpen
- Status
- Permitted
Hunting Run ReservoirOpen
- Status
- Permitted
Huntsman LakeOpen
- Status
- Permitted
Lake Anna
- Min size
- 13"
Lake Anna State Park PondOpen
- Status
- Permitted
Lake MooneyOpen
- Status
- Permitted
LauraOpen
- Status
- Permitted
LaurelOpen
- Status
- Permitted
LexingtonOpen
- Status
- Permitted
LincolnshireOpen
- Status
- Permitted
Little Creek ReservoirOpen
- Status
- Permitted
Locust ShadeOpen
- Status
- Permitted
Lovill’s CreekOpen
- Status
- Permitted
MoomawOpen
- Status
- Permitted
MottsOpen
- Status
- Permitted
Mtn. Run Ni ReservoirOpen
- Status
- Permitted
NewOpen
- Status
- Permitted
Newman LakeOpen
- Status
- Permitted
North Fork PoundOpen
- Status
- Permitted
Norton ReservoirOpen
- Status
- Permitted
Old Cossey PondOpen
- Status
- Permitted
PhilpottOpen
- Status
- Permitted
ShenandoahOpen
- Status
- Permitted
Shenandoah River (Main Stem)Open
- Status
- Permitted
abundant in localized areas
SherandoOpen
- Status
- Permitted
SilverOpen
- Status
- Permitted
SkidmoreOpen
- Status
- Permitted
Slate LickOpen
- Status
- Permitted
South HolstonOpen
- Status
- Permitted
South Holston Reservoir
- Daily bag
- 5 fish/day
- Min size
- 18"
No walleye less than 18 inches
Staunton/RoanokeOpen
- Status
- Permitted
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
Muskellunge
New RiverOpen
- Status
- Permitted
New River-Claytor Dam Downstream To Va-Wv State LineIn season
- Season opens
- Mar 1
- Season closes
- May 31
- Daily bag
- 1 fish/day
- Min size
- 48"
- Slot min
- 40"
- Slot max
- 48"
March 1–May 31: No muskellunge less than 48 inches June 1–last day of February: No muskellunge 40 to 48 inches
AbelOpen
- Status
- Permitted
AccotinkOpen
- Status
- Permitted
AnnaOpen
- Status
- Permitted
Beaverdam Cr.Open
- Status
- Permitted
BrieryOpen
- Status
- Permitted
BurkeOpen
- Status
- Permitted
ClinchOpen
- Status
- Permitted
CookOpen
- Status
- Permitted
Dry RunOpen
- Status
- Permitted
FrederickOpen
- Status
- Permitted
Germantown LakeOpen
- Status
- Permitted
Hone QuarryOpen
- Status
- Permitted
Hungry MotherOpen
- Status
- Permitted
Hunting Run ReservoirOpen
- Status
- Permitted
Huntsman LakeOpen
- Status
- Permitted
JamesOpen
- Status
- Permitted
Lake Anna State Park PondOpen
- Status
- Permitted
Lake MooneyOpen
- Status
- Permitted
LauraOpen
- Status
- Permitted
Locust ShadeOpen
- Status
- Permitted
MottsOpen
- Status
- Permitted
Mtn. Run Ni ReservoirOpen
- Status
- Permitted
NewOpen
- Status
- Permitted
Newman LakeOpen
- Status
- Permitted
Old Cossey PondOpen
- Status
- Permitted
Rural RetreatOpen
- Status
- Permitted
ShenandoahOpen
- Status
- Permitted
Shenandoah River (Main Stem)Open
- Status
- Permitted
abundant in localized areas
SilverOpen
- Status
- Permitted
SkidmoreOpen
- Status
- Permitted
Slate LickOpen
- Status
- Permitted
TomahawkOpen
- Status
- Permitted
Virginia Department Of Wildlife Resources LakesOpen
- Status
- Permitted
WilkinsOpen
- Status
- Permitted
Woodrow Wilson PondOpen
- Status
- Permitted
Largemouth Bass
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
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
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
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
Sucker
Grayson County, New RiverOut of season
- Season opens
- Oct 1
- Season closes
- Nov 30
- Daily bag
- 20 fish/day
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
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
Trout
Chestnut Creek (Carroll County): That Portion Of Stream From The U.s. Route 58 Bridge Downstream Approximately 4.2 Miles To The Downstream Boundary Of The New River Trail State Park Cliffview CampgroundOpen
- Status
- Permitted
- Gear
- No Live Bait
Trout license required October 1–June 15. No bait may be in possession while fishing these waters. October 1 through May 31
Other Sunfish Excluding Crappie, Rock Bass (Redeye) And Roanoke Bass
That Portion Of The New River From The Va–Nc State Line Downstream To The Confluence Of The New And Little Rivers In Grayson CountyOpen
- Status
- Permitted
No daily limit
Lake Gaston And Buggs Island Lake/Kerr Reservoir Including The Staunton (Roanoke) River And Its Tributaries To Difficult Creek, Charlotte County; And The Dan River And Its Tributaries To The Banister River, Halifax County; And That Portion Of The New River From The Va–Nc State Line Downstream To The Confluence Of The New And Little Rivers In Grayson CountyOpen
- Status
- Permitted
No daily limit
Rock Bass (Redeye)
That Portion Of The New River From The Va–Nc State Line Downstream To The Confluence Of The New And Little Rivers In Grayson CountyOpen
- Status
- Permitted
No daily limit
Lake Gaston And Buggs Island Lake/Kerr Reservoir And That Portion Of The New River From The Va–Nc State Line Downstream To The Confluence Of The New And Little Rivers In Grayson CountyOpen
- Status
- Permitted
No daily limit
Muskie
James River (Upper)Open
- Status
- Permitted
excellent fishing
North Fork Shenandoah RiverOpen
- Status
- Permitted
All Species
New RiverOpen
- Status
- Permitted
Virginia or North Carolina state fishing licenses and permits are honored on the mainstream portion lying between the confluence of the North and South Forks of the New River in North Carolina (Alleghany County) downstream to the confluence of the New and Little rivers in Virginia (Grayson County).
Plus 15 more species. See the Virginia pillar page for the full list.
FAQ
Who regulates fishing on New River?
DWR regulates fishing on New River.
What species can I target on New River?
New River is best known for musky, smallmouth bass, walleye. 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 .