Trout Heritage Waters for 2024
Celebrate trout fishing with friends and family on Trout Heritage Day! Some may find this day reminiscent of a traditional opening day of the trout season. DWR fisheries staff stock select waters on the first Saturday of April. This is done to create an announced stocking event and give anglers a routine opening day.
Add a bit of a challenge to your Trout Heritage Day by aiming to complete the Virginia Trout Slam Challenge! Catch each of the trout species of Virginia—brook, rainbow, and brown—in one to join the club of those who have completed Virginia Trout Slam Challenge and display their #VATroutSlam sticker proudly.
If you compete your Trout Slam on Trout Heritage Day, submit your catch to the DWR Trophy Fish Program, via Go Outdoors Virginia. Log in, click on make a purchase, click on Fishing, and choose Trout Slam Application. Once the form is processed, the angler will be mailed a Virginia Trout Slam sticker. Display it proudly, and don’t forget to tag us on Instagram (@VirginiaWildlife) and use #VATroutSlam!
The following waters will be stocked for the April 6th Heritage Day:
| Waterbody | County |
|---|---|
| Beartree Lake | Washington County |
| Bark Camp Lake | Scott County |
| Clinch Mountain Fee Fishing Area* | Washington County |
| Cripple Creek (Ravens Cliff) | Wythe County |
| Crooked Creek Fee Fishing Area* | Carroll County |
| Douthat State Park Fee Fishing Area* | Bath County |
| Hawksbill Creek | Page County |
| Jennings Creek | Botetourt County |
| Lake Witten | Tazewell County |
| Liberty Lake | Bedford County |
| Lincolnshire Lake | Tazewell County |
| Middle Fork Holston River | Smyth County |
| Passage Creek | Shenandoah County |
| Pedlar River (upper) | Amherst County |
| Pigg River | Franklin County |
| Quantico MCB | Prince William County |
| Robinson River | Madison County |
| Rose River | Madison County |
| South Fork Powell River | Wise County |
| Tinker Creek | Roanoke County |
* The fee fishing areas are closed to angling from April 1 to 5. Heritage Waters are closed on April 5. On April 6, fishing can begin at 9:00 a.m.