Largemouth, Smallmouth Bass

1 222022 virginia FRESHWATER FISHING & BOATING (HARVEST)AND LENGTH LIMITSThe tables that follow give statewide creel (harvest) and length limits for major sport fish and ex-ceptions for major rivers and lakes. Regulations for many smaller lakes and boat access areas are posted on site, and posted regulations are in effect (see OTHER USES under Department-owned Lakes, Ponds, Streams or Boat Access Sites, page 14). For smaller lakes, information can be found online at: Creel limits are per person per AND LENGTH LIMITGEOGRAPHIC EXCEPTIONSCREEL OR LENGTH LIMITS FOR EXCEPTIONSL argemouth, Smallmouth Bass5 per day in the aggregate (combined)

2 No statewide length limitsLAKESB riery Creek LakeNo largemouth or Smallmouth bass 16 to 24 inches, only 1 per day longer than 24 inchesBuggs Island Lake/Kerr ReservoirOnly 2 of 5 largemouth or Smallmouth bass less than 14 inchesClaytor LakeNo Smallmouth less than 14 inchesFlannagan ReservoirNo largemouth bass less than 12 inches; no Smallmouth bass less than 15 inchesLake GastonOnly 2 of 5 largemouth or Smallmouth bass less than 14 inchesLeesville ReservoirOnly 2 of 5 largemouth or Smallmouth bass less than 14 inchesLake MoomawNo largemouth or Smallmouth bass less than 12 inchesPhilpott ReservoirNo largemouth or Smallmouth bass less than 12 inchesQuantico Marine Base watersNo largemouth or Smallmouth bass 12 to 15 inchesSmith Mt.

3 Lake and its tributaries below Niagara DamOnly 2 of 5 largemouth or Smallmouth bass less than 14 inchesSouth Holston ReservoirNo Smallmouth less than 15 inchesRIVERSC linch River within the boundaries of Scott, Wise, Russell or Taze-well countiesNo largemouth or Smallmouth bass less than 20 inches, only 1 per day longer than 20 inchesDan River and tributaries downstream from the Union Street Dam, DanvilleOnly 2 of 5 largemouth or Smallmouth bass less than 14 inchesJames River Confluence of the Jackson and Cowpasture rivers (Botetourt Cty) downstream to the 14th St.

4 Bridge in RichmondNo largemouth or Smallmouth bass 14 to 22 inches, only 1 per day longer than 22 inchesLevisa Fork River within the boundaries Buchanan CountyNo largemouth or Smallmouth bass less than 20 inches, only 1 per day longer than 20 inchesNew 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.

5 (This does not include Claytor Lake which is delineated as: The upper end of the island at Allisonia downstream to the dam.)No largemouth or Smallmouth bass 14 to 22 inches, only 1 per day longer than 22 inchesNorth Fork Holston River Rt. 91 Bridge upstream of Saltville, Va. downstream to the VA-TN state lineNo largemouth or Smallmouth bass less than 20 inches, only 1 per day longer than 20 inchesPotomac River virginia tidal tributaries above Rt. 301 bridgeNo largemouth or Smallmouth bass less than 15 inches from March 1 through June 15 Staunton (Roanoke) River and its tributaries below Difficult Creek, Charlotte CountyOnly 2 of 5 largemouth or Smallmouth bass less than 14 inchesNorth Fork, South Fork and Mainstem Shenandoah RiverNo largemouth or Smallmouth bass 11 to 14 inchesStaunton River Leesville Dam (Campbell County)

6 Downstream to the mouth of Difficult Creek, Charlotte CountyNo Smallmouth bass less than 20 inches, only 1 per day longer than 20 inchesAlabama, Spotted BassNo statewide daily limitNo statewide length limitHow to Measure a FishTotal 2022 virginia FRESHWATER FISHING & BOATINGCREEL AND LENGTH LIMITGEOGRAPHIC EXCEPTIONSCREEL OR LENGTH LIMITS FOR EXCEPTIONSS triped BassLandlocked Striped Bass and Landlocked Striped Bass X White Bass Hybrids4 per day in the aggregateNo fish less than 20 inchesBuggs Island Lake/Kerr

7 Reservoir including the Staunton (Roanoke) River to Leesville Dam and the Dan River to the Union Street Dam (Danville)October 1 May 31: 2 per day in the aggre-gate (combined) No striped bass or hybrid striped bass less than 20 inchesJune 1 September 30: 4 per day in the aggregate (combined) No length limitClaytor Lake and its tributariesSeptember 16 June 30: 2 per day in the aggregate, no striped bass or hybrid bass less than 20 inchesJuly 1 September 15: 4 per day in the ag-gregate; no length limitLake Gaston4 per day in the aggregate (combined)October 1 May 31: No striped bass or hybrid striped bass less than 20 inchesJune 1 September 30: No length limitSmith Mountain Lake and its tributaries, including the Roanoke River upstream to Niagara Dam2 per day in the aggregate (combined)November 1 May 31: No striped bass 30 to 40 inchesJune 1 October 31.

8 No length limitAnadromous (coastal) striped bass above the fall line in all coastal rivers of the Chesapeake BayCreel and length limits shall be as set by the virginia Marine Resources Commis-sion for recreational fishing in tidal watersNone applyNone applyStriped bass in the Meherrin, Nottoway, Blackwater (Chowan Drainage), North Landing and Northwest rivers and their tributaries plus Back Bay2 per dayNo striped bass less than 18 inchesNone applyNone applyWalleye, Saugeye5 per day in the aggregateNo walleye or saugeye less than 18 inchesClaytor Lake and the New River upstream of Claytor Lake Dam to Buck Dam in Carroll County2 walleye per day.

9 No walleye 19 to 28 inchesSauger2 per day No statewide length limitsNone applyNone applyWhite Bass5 per dayNo statewide length limitsSouth Holston ReservoirNo harvest or possession (catch and release only)Lake Gaston and Buggs Island Lake/Kerr Reservoir, including the Staunton River to Leesville Dam and the Dan River to Union Street Dam (Danville)10 per day; no white bass less than 14 inchesChain Pickerel5 per dayNo statewide length limitsLake Gaston and Buggs Island Lake/Kerr ReservoirNo daily limitNorthern Pike2 per dayNo pike less than 20 inchesNone applyNone applyMuskellunge2 per day No muskellunge less than 30 inchesNew River-Fields Dam (Grayson County) downstream to Claytor Dam, including Claytor Lake1 per dayNo muskellunge less than 42 inchesNew River-Claytor Dam downstream to VA-WV state line1 per dayJune 1 last day of February.

10 No muskel-lunge 40 to 48 inchesMarch 1 May 31: No muskellunge less than 48 inches242022 virginia FRESHWATER FISHING & BOATING AND LENGTH LIMITGEOGRAPHIC EXCEPTIONSCREEL OR LENGTH LIMITS FOR EXCEPTIONSB luegill (bream) and other sunfish excluding Crappie, Rock Bass (redeye) and Roanoke Bass50 per day in the aggregate (combined) No statewide length limitsLake 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 CountyNo daily limitCrappie (black or white)25 per day in the aggregate (combined)