Virginia offers a wide range of fishing opportunities for beginners and pros at many state park locations. Several locations provide boat, kayak and canoe rentals. If equipment is needed, you should check the park’s web page or call the park before your visit to be sure they have some available for purchase or to rent.

Depending on what type of fish you want to catch or which water you prefer to fish in, each location will provide a unique experience on your visit. There are plenty of locations that provide overnight amenities so you can enjoy more time on the water. You never know what you’ll catch until you get out there and cast that line.

How to get started

First you will need to be sure you have a fishing license before you head to any park location. Each point below will give you a place to start for more details about licenses needed depending on where you plan to fish.

• Fishing licenses are required at all parks except at the Kiptopeke and York River piers where a fee is charged to fish.
• The Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources website has information about freshwater fishing licenses. Trout fishing license details can also be found on the website.
• Visit the Virginia Marine Resources Commission website for information about saltwater fishing Saltwater fishing also requires an annual free registration as explained on the website.
• Check out the Fish Virginia First Trail.

Fishing programs

Once you have the license needed, you can fish at your desired location. It’s encouraged to check out the park website before your visit, especially if bad weather is expected.

Virginia State Parks offer programs during the year that can help beginners and professionals learn tips and tricks for fishing. Programs such as Let’s Go Adventures teach the basics of fly fishing. The program also covers other outdoors adventures that focus on the beginner level of topics such as camping, orienteering, archery, hiking and camping. Email parksletsgo@dcr.virginia.gov if you have any questions about the programs.

Several parks offer programs that focus on fishing for adults and children. There are several Kid’s Fishing Days as well as Fishing 101 programs that cover all the basics. Check the park event website for the full list of fishing programs.

Lake Fishing

There are big and small lakes to choose from when fishing at a Virginia State Park. Lake Anna, Claytor Lake, Smith Mountain Lake, Staunton River and Occoneechee State Park each provide access to lakes for fishing. Buggs Island Lake can be accessed at Staunton River and Occoneechee and is a very popular spot for anglers and boaters.

All of these lakes are great places to catch some bass and panfish. You can fish along the shoreline, off the fishing pier or from a boat. Be sure to check the park website to see where fishing is allowed at each location.

Some of the smaller lakes can be found at Bear Creek Lake, Douthat, Fairy Stone, Holliday Lake, Hungry Mother, Pocahontas, Twin Lakes and York River state parks. Don’t be fooled by the size as you can find big fish in small ponds. In fact, former state record for the northern pike and chain pickerel came from state park lakes.

River Fishing

Virginia has some of the best smallmouth bass fishing rivers in America and many of them can be accessed at a Virginia State Park. James River, New River Trail and Shenandoah River state parks provide car-top launching and wading access to their namesake rivers, and they all have camping.

For a longer adventure, be sure to book a cabin at James River State Park. You can stay in the campground at Natural Tunnel State Park, while the sites are not next to the water, it still provides a great base camp for the nearby Clinch River.

Clinch River State Park lies along the Clinch River, which contains more fish species than any other river in Virginia. The river supports smallmouth bass, spotted bass, rock bass, sunfish, crappie, walleye, musky, freshwater drum, longnose gar, channel catfish, and more.

The North Fork of the Shenandoah River features unique geology and landscape that promotes productive fishing and provides pleasant scenery for floating at Seven Bends State Park.

The tides run all the way to the fall-line in Virginia, so you can find freshwater and saltwater tidal rivers. Mason Neck and Leesylvania state parks are on the freshwater portion of the Potomac River and provide boating access to some of the best largemouth bass fishing in the area. Leesylvania also has a small fishing pier. Caledon is on the brackish portion of the Potomac River and allows fishing on open sections of the shoreline.

At Widewater State Park the Potomac River is an excellent fishery for largemouth bass; other sport fish include catfish, perch, and striped bass. This section of river is tidal and is considered fresh water. A Virginia or Maryland freshwater fishing license is required when fishing on the main stem of the Potomac River. When fishing on Aquia Creek or in Long Pond, a Virginia freshwater fishing license is required. The park also honors Potomac River Fisheries Commission licenses.

Westmoreland (lower Potomac), Belle Isle (Rappahannock) and York River (York) are along the saltwater portions of their rivers. York River has a small public fishing pier (no fishing license required), but the best opportunities at these parks are for boaters using the parks’ boat ramps. The fishing changes by season but generally follows the pattern of striped bass in the spring, fall and early winter, and bottom-fishing for flounder, spot and croaker during warmer months.

‎Chippokes offers freshwater fishing from the shore of the James River and on the banks of College Run Creek. 

Machicomoco only allows fishing from the slips at Timberneck Creek and a saltwater fishing license is required.

Bay and Ocean Fishing

Boaters love Kiptopeke and First Landing state parks because they offer direct access to the great fishing of the Chesapeake Bay and Atlantic Ocean. You can find striped bass, flounder, spadefish, cobia and more. These parks are also great for land-bound fishermen.

Kiptopeke has a large, lighted fishing pier (no fishing license required), and First Landing has almost a mile of bay beach along the park campground. Both parks have cabins or lodges and large, well-equipped campgrounds.

Trout Fishing

You can find brookies or stocked fish in the creeks at Grayson Highlands, or fish for rainbow and brown trout in Indian Creek at Wilderness Road. Base camp and fish the many trout streams in the national forest lands around Hungry Mother, Douthat, Natural Tunnel or Shenandoah River.

Douthat has a great put-and-take fishery in its lake as well as more than three miles of stocked creek waters, including a special section just for kids. There is a designated kid’s fishing area just below the dam on a section of Wilson Creek for kids 12 and under. They must have their own permit or must be accompanied by an adult who has purchased a daily permit, and only children are allowed to fish in the area. Other than the five days before the first Saturday in April, fishing is allowed year-round.

Plan your next visit

Visiting a Virginia State Park for water adventures, especially fishing, is highly recommended. Each park will have its own scenic environment, and so you should check out many locations if possible. Whether you prefer a self-guided adventure or want to participate in a program to learn more about fishing, Virginia State Parks have you covered.

Be sure to check out the reservation website to book your stay at a Virginia State Park to enjoy your next fishing adventure.