Claytor Lake

Fishing

Claytor Lake holds fewer Largemouth Bass than other Virginia lakes, and they grow slowly in this mountain reservoir. Anglers can find Largemouth Bass in coves throughout the lake, but the best places to fish are Peak Creek, Clapboard Hollow, and large coves in the lower lake area. The Claytor Lake record for Largemouth Bass was a 14- pound, 6-ounce giant caught in June 1991.

Spotted Bass in Claytor are generally smaller than the other black basses. Spotted Bass in Claytor Lake do not grow as large as Largemouth and Smallmouth bass, rarely reaching 2 pounds in size, although the state record 4-pound, 12-ounce Spotted Bass was caught at Claytor Lake on January 1, 2020.

Anglers fishing for black bass in the lake can use information collected during a bass food habits study at Claytor Lake to select lures and techniques for these species. Smallmouth Bass and Spotted Bass have very similar diets, with both relying mostly on crayfish. Techniques and lures that mimic crayfish are most likely to be successful in producing catches of these fish. Both of these bass species eat a lot of Bluegill as well as some Alewife and Gizzard Shad, so they may also hit lures that imitate fish. Largemouth Bass diets are quite different than from Smallmouth and Spotted bass diets, which may be one reason they are doing so well in the lake. Largemouth Bass eat Bluegill, Alewife, Gizzard Shad, and crayfish, depending on the season of the year and whether these prey are abundant in a given year. Lures that imitate fish are the best choice for Largemouth Bass, but they may also hit crayfish imitations.

Catfish angling is an emerging fishery at Claytor Lake, with 13% of anglers pursuing catfish in the most recent angler survey in 2017, and an estimated annual catch of almost 6,000 channel catfish. Channel Catfish up to 15 pounds are available throughout the lake. Flathead Catfish are also sought by Claytor Lake catfish anglers. The lake record Flathead Catfish of 58 pounds, 8 ounces was caught from the upper area of the lake.

Striped Bass and Hybrid Striped Bass combine to create an important fishery at Claytor Lake, with nearly 6% of anglers fishing for these 2 species.  Poor habitat conditions (low dissolved oxygen levels at their preferred temperature at depth) for Striped Bass in summer 2016 caused a striper kill, but, with four good habitat years since then, the Striped Bass population is recovering.  Claytor Lake bait populations (Alewife and Gizzard Shad) are high, aiding in the restoration of the Striped Bass fishery. Water temperatures below 70 degrees produce the best striper Striped Bass and hybrid striper Hybrid Striped Bass fishing.  While most anglers troll or float live Gizzard Shad and Alewife for stripers and hybrids, many are taken with topwater baits (Redfins, Rapalas, etc.) and bucktails in the spring and fall. Trolling bucktails and umbrella rigs in 20–60 feet of water can produce good catches. Since they can tolerate higher water temperatures, hybrids often chase schools of shad at the lake’s surface at night in the summer months.  Claytor Lake is the top destination for hybrids in Virginia, setting a new state record with a hybrid weighing 15 pounds, 13 ounces caught by local angler Don Jessie on March 16, 2016.

New size and creel limits for Striped Bass and Hybrid Striped Bass were implemented on January 1, 2019. From September 16 to June 30, Striped Bass and Hybrid Striped Bass must be 20 inches long to be harvested and anglers are allowed to keep 2 per day combined. From July 1 to September 15, there is no minimum size limit for Striped Bass and Hybrid Striped Bass and anglers are allowed to keep 4 per day combined. White Bass are regulated by a creel limit of five per day, with no size limit. Anglers should study the differences between these fish carefully. Helpful identification information is available on the Department website.

Anglers will also find schools of Walleye and Yellow Perch in Claytor Lake. During fall, winter, and summer months, look for schools of these fish in the same areas where stripers hang out.  During the spring spawning run, look for Walleye where the New River enters the lake near Allisonia. A new size and creel limit is now in place from Claytor Lake Dam upstream to Buck Dam on the New River in Carroll County year round (formerly a seasonal size and creel limit). No Walleye 19 to 28 inches may be kept and anglers are limited to 2 Walleye per day year round. This size and creel limit is designed to protect large female spawning Walleye in Claytor Lake and the New River, while allowing some harvest of the more abundant male Walleye.

The Black Crappie population is not large compared to other lakes, but they average a little less than a pound in size.  Bluegill and Rock Bass are numerous throughout the lake, providing fishing action when other species are not biting.  With catches of 20 to 30 pound Carp possible, anglers from as far away as England come to fish for them at Claytor.

Claytor Lake Fish Habitat Enhancements

In partnership with Appalachian Power Company, Claytor Lake State Park, Friends of Claytor Lake, and the Virginia BASS Nation, DWR fisheries biologists have worked to enhance fish habitat across Claytor Lake. A variety of artificial habitat structures have been used since habitat efforts began in 2001 including spider blocks, dumbos, rock piles, Mossback habitat structures, and Christmas tree reefs. Since 2017, fish habitat enhancements have consisted primarily of the Mossback fish habitats and Christmas tree reefs.

All of these fish attractors are places where anglers can find black bass, sunfish, and Black Crappie. In early spring and fall, Walleye and Hybrid Striped Bass may use them as well.

Locations and coordinates of fish habitat structures developed since 2012 can be seen in the maps below:

• Claytor Lake Habitat Enhancement Projects Map (2012–2016)
• Claytor Lake Habitat Enhancement Projects Map (2017–2021)

Biologist Reports

• 2021 Claytor Lake Popular Report