Fishing Near Me in Virginia 2026 — Best Spots, License Info & Local Lakes
Smith Mountain Lake stripers, James River smallmouth, and tidal Rappahannock. We've catalogued 60 fishing venues in Virginia — public lakes, reservoirs, rivers, and access points. Below are the top 10 spots, state license info, what's biting, and answers to every fishing-near-me question for Virginia.
Virginia Top 10
Top 10 Fishing Spots in Virginia
The most useful fishing venues across Virginia — picked for solid descriptions, on-site facilities, and confirmed species data. Click any spot for full venue details.
- 1
James T Wilson Fishing Pier
Hampton, Hampton city
James T. Wilson Fishing Pier (formerly Buckroe Fishing Pier) in Hampton, Virginia holds catfish and trout, with bait, a bar and parking for customers.
- catfish
- trout
- 2
Weasel Junction Catfish Pond
Roanoke County
Weasel Junction Catfish Pond is a well-kept fishing pond in Roanoke County, Virginia, suited to experienced anglers, novices, beginners and family outings, holding catfish.
- catfish
- 3
Weasel Junction Catfish Pond
Roanoke County
Weasel Junction Catfish Pond is a well-kept fishing pond in Roanoke County, Virginia, suited to experienced anglers, novices, beginners and family outings, holding catfish.
- catfish
- 4
Wilkins Lake
Winchester city
Wilkins Lake is a stillwater in Winchester, Virginia, inside the independent city at the northern end of the Shenandoah Valley. Its in-town position makes it a handy local option rather than a destination water. No species list, fees or facilities are recorded for the lake, so check current City of Winchester and Virginia DWR guidance before fishing, and carry a Virginia freshwater license.
- 5
Accessible Fishing Deck
Bridgewater town, Rockingham County
- 6
Boy Scout Lake
Augusta County
- 7
Cape Charles Fishing Pier
Northampton County
- 8
Carillon Pond
Luray town, Page County
- 9
Clemmons Lake
Lynchburg city
- 10
Codham Bay Pier
Surry County
See all 60 fishing venues in Virginia in our full directory.
License Info
Fishing License Info for Virginia
Everything you need to know about getting legal to fish in Virginia — who needs a license, what it costs, where to buy, and the annual free-fishing days.
Virginia fishing license — the short version
Anyone fishing public waters in Virginia aged 16 or older needs a valid state fishing license. Licenses are issued by the Virginia state fish and wildlife agency. Resident annual freshwater licenses are typically priced below the federal non-resident rate, with discounted short-term, senior, and youth options. Saltwater anglers may also need a separate registry in coastal counties. Always check the latest official prices and exemptions before you buy.
Prices and rules change each season. The linked Virginia guide is updated for 2026 with current resident, non-resident, and short-term fees, plus where to buy online and in person.
What's Biting
What Can You Catch in Virginia?
The most-recorded species across our Virginia venue data. Click any species to open the GilledIt species guide.
- Catfish
- Trout
Virginia anglers commonly target Catfish, Trout. Open GilledIt to see real-time catch reports for any of these species near you.
More Resources
Keep Exploring Virginia Fishing
Fishing Near Me in Virginia: FAQ
Virginia has 60 fishing venues in the GilledIt directory, including James T Wilson Fishing Pier and dozens of state-park lakes, USACE reservoirs, and public-access rivers. Browse the full Virginia list on the Virginia pond directory or open GilledIt to see live catch reports near your location.
Yes. Anyone fishing public waters in Virginia aged 16 or older needs a valid state fishing license issued by the state fish and wildlife agency. Resident, non-resident, short-term, senior, and youth options are available. See our Virginia fishing license guide for the latest 2026 prices, where to buy, and free fishing days.
James T Wilson Fishing Pier is one of the most-mentioned fishing spots in our Virginia directory. Smith Mountain Lake stripers, James River smallmouth, and tidal Rappahannock. The "best" lake depends on the species you're after — see the top 10 list above for our pick of the most useful venues across the state.
Virginia participates in a state Free Fishing Day each year, typically in early June, when residents and non-residents can fish public waters without a license (bag, size, and season rules still apply). Many city-park ponds and USACE reservoirs are also free to access with a state license. Confirm exact dates and locations on the Virginia state fish and wildlife website.
For most Virginia waters, spring (March–May) and fall (September–November) are the most productive months — bass spawn in spring, walleye and pike run in early spring, and nearly every species feeds heavily in fall before winter. Summer is peak topwater and inshore saltwater. Check the GilledIt community feed for live catch reports in Virginia this week.
Start logging catches in Virginia
GilledIt is the social fishing app for American anglers. Log catches with photos, auto-tagged weather, pressure, moon and tide data. Free on iOS and Android.