Waterbody · Virginia
Shenandoah River Fishing Regulations 2026
Shenandoah River fishing regulations in 2026: top targets are smallmouth bass, musky, catfish. 334 current rules across 25 species from DWR.
Rules (334)
DWR regulates 334 rules across 25 species at this water.
Smallmouth Bass
North Fork, South Fork And Mainstem Shenandoah River
- Slot min
- 11"
- Slot max
- 14"
no largemouth or smallmouth bass 11 to 14 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
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
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
Catfish
Carroll County
- Gear
- No Live Bait
Live bait other than game fish may be used on trot lines to take catfish
Clinch River In Russell County
- Gear
- No Live Bait
Live bait other than game fish may be used on trot lines to take catfish
Clinch River In Scott County
- Gear
- No Live Bait
Live bait other than game fish may be used on trot lines to take catfish
Clinch River In Wise County
- Gear
- No Live Bait
Live bait other than game fish may be used on trot lines to take catfish
Dickenson County
- Gear
- No Live Bait
Live bait other than game fish may be used on trot lines to take catfish
Giles County
- Gear
- No Live Bait
Live bait other than game fish may be used on trot lines to take catfish
Grayson County
- Gear
- No Live Bait
Live bait other than game fish may be used on trot lines to take catfish
Montgomery County
- Gear
- No Live Bait
Live bait other than game fish may be used on trot lines to take catfish
Pulaski County
- Gear
- No Live Bait
Live bait other than game fish may be used on trot lines to take catfish
South Holston Reservoir
- Daily bag
- 20 fish/day
- Max size
- 34"
- Slot max
- 34"
Only 1 catfish over 34 inches
Tidal Waters (Below Fall Line)Open
- Status
- Permitted
Bowfin and catfish may be taken in tidal waters (below Fall Line, see page 12)
Urban Fishing WatersOpen
- Status
- Open
- Daily bag
- 4 fish/day
NO CLOSED SEASON
Wythe County
- Gear
- No Live Bait
Live bait other than game fish may be used on trot lines to take catfish
Muskellunge
Shenandoah River (Main Stem)Open
- Status
- Permitted
abundant in localized areas
New River-Claytor Dam Downstream To Va-Wv State LineOut of 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
Blue Catfish
All Rivers Below The Fall Line Other Than The Tidal James River And Its Tributaries Downstream To A Line Connecting Hog Point On Hog Island (Surry County) And The Downstream Point Of The Mouth Of College Creek (James City County)Open
- Status
- Permitted
No daily limit
Buggs Island LakeOpen
- Status
- Permitted
State Record: 143 lbs. on 6-18-2011
Buggs Island Lake/Kerr Reservoir Including The Staunton (Roanoke) River And Its Tributaries To Difficult Creek, Charlotte County
- Daily bag
- 1 fish/day
longer than 32 inches
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
- Daily bag
- 1 fish/day
longer than 32 inches
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;
- Daily bag
- 1 fish/day
- Min size
- 32"
only 1 blue catfish per day longer than 32 inches
Dan River And Its Tributaries To The Banister River, Halifax County
- Daily bag
- 1 fish/day
longer than 32 inches
Inland Waters Of VirginiaClosed
- Status
- Prohibited
Unauthorized introduction (i.e., stocking) is illegal
James River And Its Tributaries Below The Fall Line Downstream To A Line Connecting Hog Point On Hog Island (Surry County) And The Downstream Point Of The Mouth Of College Creek (James City County)Open
- Status
- Permitted
- Daily bag
- 1 fish/day
- Min size
- 32"
No daily limit, except only 1 blue catfish per day longer than 32 inches longer than 32 inches only 1 blue catfish per day longer than 32 inches
Lake GastonOpen
- Status
- Permitted
- Daily bag
- 1 fish/day
- Min size
- 32"
No daily limit, except only 1 blue catfish per day longer than 32 inches longer than 32 inches only 1 blue catfish per day longer than 32 inches
Privately Owned Ponds And LakesClosed
- Status
- Prohibited
cannot be stocked
Rappahannock RiverOpen
- Status
- Permitted
Archery State Record: 68 lbs. 14 oz. on 10-20-2022
Tidal James RiverOpen
- Status
- Permitted
unlimited harvest of any size below the freshwater-saltwater demarcation line. See page 24 for more.
Tidal James River Below The Freshwater-Saltwater Demarcation LineOpen
- Status
- Permitted
unlimited harvest of any size
Virginia’s Rivers And LakesClosed
- Status
- Prohibited
Unauthorized introduction (i.e., stocking) of fish or wildlife, including game, bait, and aquarium species, into new waters can harm the environment and destroy public fisheries. Releasing exotic or potentially harmful species is illegal.
York RiverOpen
- Status
- Permitted
unlimited harvest of any size below the fall line. See page 24 for more.
Channel Catfish
Rappahannock RiverOpen
- Status
- Permitted
State Record: 31 lbs. 8 oz. on 10-2-1992
Flathead Catfish
Lake SmithOpen
- Status
- Permitted
State Record: 68 lbs. 12 oz. on 5-25-2018
Occoquan RiverOpen
- Status
- Permitted
Archery State Record: 49 lbs. 3 oz. on 6-11-2025
Virginia’s Rivers And LakesClosed
- Status
- Prohibited
Unauthorized introduction (i.e., stocking) of fish or wildlife, including game, bait, and aquarium species, into new waters can harm the environment and destroy public fisheries. Releasing exotic or potentially harmful species is illegal.
Largemouth Bass
North Fork, South Fork And Mainstem Shenandoah River
- Slot min
- 11"
- Slot max
- 14"
no largemouth or smallmouth bass 11 to 14 inches
Muskie
Smallmouth Bass Largemouth
North Fork, South Fork And Mainstem Shenandoah River
- Slot min
- 11"
- Slot max
- 14"
No largemouth or smallmouth bass 11 to 14 inches
All Species
North Fork Of The Shenandoah RiverOpen
- Status
- Permitted
National Forest Permit not required
South Fork Of The Shenandoah RiverOpen
- Status
- Permitted
National Forest Permit not required
Rock Bass
Pumpkinseed Sunfish
Plus 13 more species. See the Virginia pillar page for the full list.
FAQ
Who regulates fishing on Shenandoah River?
DWR regulates fishing on Shenandoah River.
What species can I target on Shenandoah River?
Shenandoah River is best known for smallmouth bass, musky, catfish. 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.