Trout Fishing Guide

Important Notices

Change to Cranesnest River Stocking in Dickenson CountyAs a result of the closure of Cranesnest River Campground Road, the stocked section of the Cranesnest River in Dickenson County will not receive the fifth stocking that, as a Category B water, it would normally get. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has closed the entire road for maintenance and resurfacing.

Trout Stocking at Douthat Lake Fee Fishing Area SuspendedDue to elevated water temperatures, trout stocking at the Douthat State Park Fee Fishing Area have been suspended until further notice.  Stockings to Douthat Lake and Wilson Creek will resume when conditions allow.

Whitetop Laurel and Straight Branch Trout Stocking ClosuresImpacts from Hurricane Helene were widespread throughout Southwest Virginia, particularly the Mount Rogers Area around Damascus, which led to a complete closure of the Virginia Creeper Trail between Green Cove Station and Damascus. Construction is scheduled to begin in early 2026 to repair or replace several dozen trestle crossings and to rebuild the trail system. As a result of large-scale construction mobilization, heavy traffic along Highway 58, and public safety concerns, most of Whitetop Laurel and Straight Branch will not be stocked with catchable trout until further notice. Beartree Lake is currently undergoing renovation and dredging and will also not be stocked until completion of that project. For more information, a list of nearby waters receiving increased stocking allocations, and a map of the affected area, please see this press release.

Lake Thompson Trout StockingDue to inconsistent water levels, we have discontinued trout stocking at Lake Thompson indefinitely.

Trout Stocking Updates Pandapas Pond in Montgomery County will change from an A water to a B water this stocking season. Liberty Lake in Bedford County will change from an A water to a B water this stocking season.

Virginia contains over 3,500 miles of trout streams, in addition to numerous ponds, small lakes and reservoirs. The total includes over 2,900 miles of wild trout streams and about 600 miles of water inhabited with stocked trout. Virginia’s diversified trout habitat offers a wide range of trout fishing opportunities.

• Trout Fishing Changes & Updates for 2026
• Tiger Trout in Virginia
• Trout Season and Limits
• Where to Go Trout Fishing (Interactive Map)
• Daily Trout Stocking Information
• Designated Trout Waters (Catchable Trout Stocking Waters)
• Pre-Announced Stocked Trout Waters
• Catchable Trout Stocking Plan (PDF)
• Trout Heritage Day
• Urban Program Waters
• Kids Fishing Events
• Youth-Only Stocked Trout Program
• Special Regulation Trout Waters
• Delayed Harvest Waters
• Fee Fishing Areas
• Special Trout Areas: Shenandoah National Park & Blue Ridge Parkway Waters
• Artificial Lure Definition
• Landowner Permits
• License Requirements for Trout Fishing
• Freshwater Fish Citations
• Didymo in Virginia

Trout Management in Virginia

Trout management in Virginia consists of three basic programs.

• The Catchable Trout Stocking Program is the best known and most popular. “Designated Stocked Trout Waters” are stocked from October through May with catchable-sized trout. See the Trout Stocking Plan for the streams and lakes stocked and their stocking schedule.
  • Stocked Trout Management Plan (2016–2025)
• The Wild Trout Program includes the management of reproducing populations of brook, rainbow, and brown trout. Efforts are directed primarily at habitat preservation and proper regulation for protection of spawning stocks.
  • Wild Trout Management Plan (2019–2028)
• The Fingerling Trout Stocking Program involves stocking sublegal trout into waters that have cold summer water temperatures and a good food source. This is the smallest of the three programs, but includes many of our high quality, special regulation trout fishing waters.