Fishing in Alleghany County, Virginia
Government seat in Covington; 15,223 residents at the 2020 Census.
- 2lake pages
- 5DWR launches
- 6river pages
Pick for troutPiscifun Carbon X ultralight spinning reel28% OFFSale $57.99 Photo of Lake Moomaw: Will Fisher, CC BY-SA 2.0
Old Dominion water in Alleghany County, in a few lines
Covington serves as the seat of Alleghany County, home to 15,223 people at the last Census. Its own DWR lakes, ramps and piers are filed under DWR Region 4. New River is shared with a neighbouring state under the digest.
Of 2 lake pages reaching it, Douthat Lake spreads widest. DWR records show 5 boating access sites across it. Pier fishing here includes 2 fishing piers recorded by DWR. 73 stocking dates on the DWR trout schedule list it.
Census 2020 population; Virginia DWR Public Fishing Lakes layer (outline, motor rule, region number), read November 6, 2026. Virginia DWR Boating Access Locations layer (attributes as recorded; lanes, fees and hours are not in the layer), read November 6, 2026. Virginia DWR trout stocking schedule (date, county, water, category and species as listed; DWR prints no numbers or sizes), read November 6, 2026.
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Virginia DWR Boating Access Locations layer (attributes as recorded; lanes, fees and hours are not in the layer), read November 6, 2026. Lake points from the Virginia DWR Public Fishing Lakes layer (outline, motor rule, region number), read November 6, 2026.
Lake pages inside Alleghany County
| Lake | Area | Kind | DWR launches | Fish DWR names |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Douthat Lake | 50 acres | lake | 0 | black crappie, brook trout, chain pickerel |
| Clifton Forge Reservoir | 9 acres | reservoir | 0 | black crappie, bluegill, channel catfish |
Measured from Covington, these lake pages are the closest outside Alleghany County.
| Lake | From Covington | Area | Kind | DWR launches | Fish DWR names |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lake Moomaw | 13 miles north | 2,530 acres | lake | 1 | alewife, black crappie, bluegill |
| Lake Robertson | 21 miles east | 31 acres | reservoir | 0 | bluegill, common carp, channel catfish |
| Cave Mountain Lake | 28 miles southeast | 2 acres (DWR outline area) | lake | 0 | brook trout, brown trout, rainbow trout |
| Bath County Recreation Ponds | 29 miles north | 45 acres | pond | 0 | bluegill, channel catfish, largemouth bass |
| Abbott Lake | 31 miles southeast | 24 acres | reservoir | 0 | bluegill, bullhead, smallmouth bass |
| Otter Lake | 38 miles southeast | 7 acres | lake | 0 | bluegill, largemouth bass, rock bass |
Acres are the NHD outline area of the mapped lake (USGS National Hydrography Dataset), not a DWR figure. Virginia DWR Boating Access Locations layer (attributes as recorded; lanes, fees and hours are not in the layer), read November 6, 2026.
Counting species on lake pages by Alleghany County
Out to 50 miles from Covington, largemouth bass appears on the most lake pages DWR describes.
Species DWR names on waterbody pages and its fishing grid, counted per lake page within 50 miles; not a survey of fish numbers.
Rivers and trout streams of Alleghany County
- Potts Creek2 stocked trout reaches, wild trout survey class V, 16.0 km, 1 USGS gauge
- Pounding Mill Creek3 stocked trout reaches, wild trout survey class II, 10.0 km
- Smith Creek4 stocked trout reaches
- Wilson Creek2 stocked trout reaches
- New River18 DWR launches, 5 USGS gauges, shared with NC
- Jackson River4 DWR launches, 3 USGS gauges
Additional flowing water through Alleghany County (48)
- Jackson River, 10JKS-04wild trout survey class II, 33.1 km
- Falling Spring Creek, 10FAS-01Twild trout survey class II, 25.7 km
- Blue Spring Run, 10BSP-01Twild trout survey class II, 21.1 km
- Mill Branch, 10MIB-01Twild trout survey class II, 19.1 km
- Karnes Creek, 10CNC-01Twild trout survey class II, 15.8 km
- Simpson Creek, 10SPN-01Twild trout survey class II, 15.2 km
- Simpson Creek, 10SPN-01wild trout survey class II, 12.7 km
- Cast Steel Runwild trout survey class II, 11.7 km
- Hays Creek, 10HYY-01wild trout survey class III, 11.0 km
- Christleys Run, 10CSY-01Twild trout survey class III, 10.3 km
- Jackson River Tailwater1 stocked trout reach
- Shawvers Run1 stocked trout reach
- Simpson Creek1 stocked trout reach
- Hays Creek, 10HYY-01Twild trout survey class III, 9.8 km
- Blue Spring Run, 10BSP-01wild trout survey class II, 9.6 km
- Snake Runwild trout survey class II, 9.6 km
- Karnes Creek, 10CNC-01wild trout survey class II, 9.0 km
- Shawvers Run, 10SHV-01Twild trout survey class II, 8.9 km
- Jerrys Run, 10JED-02wild trout survey class VIII, 8.5 km
- Christleys Run, 10CSY-01wild trout survey class III, 6.8 km
- Crow Runwild trout survey class II, 6.4 km
- Miller Branchwild trout survey class VI, 6.4 km
- Simpson Creek, NBwild trout survey class II, 6.3 km
- Falling Spring Creek, 10FAS-01wild trout survey class II, 5.9 km
- Smith Creek, 10SMH-01wild trout survey class V, 5.6 km
- Mill Branch, 10MIB-01wild trout survey class II, 5.5 km
- Jerrys Run, 10JED-01wild trout survey class IV, 5.2 km
- Roaring Run, 10RGR-01wild trout survey class V, 5.1 km
- Sweet Springs Creekwild trout survey class V, 5.1 km
- Dry Run, 10DYU-01wild trout survey class IV, 4.7 km
- Downy Branchwild trout survey class III, 4.6 km
- Sugar Run, 10SGX-01Twild trout survey class II, 4.6 km
- Piney Branch, 10PNE-01Twild trout survey class II, 4.5 km
- Piney Mountain Branchwild trout survey class VI, 4.5 km
- Dolly Ann Hollowwild trout survey class II, 4.1 km
- Tygers Creekwild trout survey class VII, 4.1 km
- Piney Branch, 10PNE-01wild trout survey class II, 3.8 km
- Jerrys Run, 10JED-01Twild trout survey class IV, 3.4 km
- Nelse Branch, 10NEB-01wild trout survey class II, 3.1 km
- Lick Run, 10LCK-01Twild trout survey class II, 3.0 km
- Little Crow Runwild trout survey class II, 2.9 km
- Cedar Creek, 10CRE-01wild trout survey class III, 2.7 km
- Dunlap Creekwild trout survey class V, 2.0 km, 1 USGS gauge
- Nelse Branch, 10NEB-01Twild trout survey class II, 2.0 km
- Sugar Run, 10SGX-01wild trout survey class II, 1.5 km
- Indian Draft, 10IDR-01Twild trout survey class III, 1.3 km
- Indian Draft, 10IDR-01wild trout survey class III, 0.9 km
- Lick Run, 10LCK-01wild trout survey class II, 0.6 km
Live USGS flow across Alleghany County
| USGS gauge | Latest reading | Time (ET) |
|---|---|---|
| Jackson River Bl Gathright Dam Nr Hot Spgs, Va | 167 cfs, 8.77 ft gage height | Nov 13 7:30 pm |
| Jackson River At Falling Spring, Va | 3.43 ft gage height | Nov 13 7:30 pm |
| Dunlap Creek Near Covington, Va | 19 cfs, 1.47 ft gage height | Nov 13 7:30 pm |
| Jackson River Bl Dunlap Creek At Covington, Va | 167 cfs, 4.67 ft gage height | Nov 13 7:30 pm |
| Potts Creek Near Covington, Va | 27 cfs, 2.06 ft gage height | Nov 13 7:30 pm |
| Cowpasture River Near Clifton Forge, Va | 90 cfs, 1.43 ft gage height | Nov 13 7:30 pm |
US Geological Survey provisional data, retrieved Nov 13, 2026 8:32 pm ET. Provisional readings can be revised.
DWR waterbody pages, DWR Stocked Trout Reaches and Cold Water Stream Survey layers (wild trout classes and kilometres as recorded), DWR launches and USGS gauges (live readings); read November 6, 2026.
DWR launches across Alleghany County
- Clifton Forge boat ramp on Jackson RiverJackson River, concrete ramp (no dock), 1 ramp, barrier-free, freshwater
- Covington Access on Jackson RiverJackson River, concrete ramp (no dock), 1 ramp, barrier-free
- Island Ford II boat ramp on Jackson RiverJackson River, concrete ramp (no dock), freshwater
- Lake Moomaw (Coles Point)Lake Moomaw, concrete ramp (no dock), 1 ramp, barrier-free, freshwater
- Low Moor boat ramp on Jackson RiverJackson River, concrete ramp (no dock), freshwater
Alleghany County pier sites on the DWR layer
- Coles Point on Lake MoomawLake Moomaw, fishing pier
- Johnson Spring fishing pier on Lake MoomawLake Moomaw, fishing pier
Virginia DWR Boating Access Locations layer (attributes as recorded; lanes, fees and hours are not in the layer), read November 6, 2026. Virginia DWR Fishing Piers layer (name and water only), read November 6, 2026.
Stocked trout water in Alleghany County
| Date | Water as listed | Category | Species |
|---|---|---|---|
| October 29, 2026 | Clifton Forge Reservoir | A | Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout, Tiger Trout |
| April 30, 2026 | Pounding Mill Creek | B | Brook Trout |
| April 30, 2026 | Clifton Forge Reservoir | A | Rainbow Trout, Brook Trout |
| April 23, 2026 | Pounding Mill Creek | B | Brook Trout |
| April 23, 2026 | Clifton Forge Reservoir | A | Brook Trout |
| April 9, 2026 | Wilson Creek (Lower)- Double stocking | C | Brown Trout |
| April 6, 2026 | Pounding Mill Creek | B | Brook Trout |
| April 6, 2026 | Smith Creek | C | Brook Trout |
| April 6, 2026 | Clifton Forge Reservoir | A | Brook Trout |
| March 16, 2026 | Pounding Mill Creek | B | Brook Trout |
| March 16, 2026 | Smith Creek | C | Brook Trout |
| March 16, 2026 | Clifton Forge Reservoir | A | Brook Trout |
| March 9, 2026 | Wilson Creek (Lower) | C | Rainbow Trout |
| March 6, 2026 | Clifton Forge Reservoir | A | Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout |
| February 26, 2026 | Clifton Forge Reservoir | A | Brook Trout |
| February 26, 2026 | Pounding Mill Creek | B | Brook Trout |
| February 26, 2026 | Smith Creek | C | Brook Trout |
| November 25, 2025 | Clifton Forge Reservoir | A | Rainbow Trout |
| October 14, 2025 | Clifton Forge Reservoir | A | Rainbow Trout |
| May 16, 2025 | Clifton Forge Reservoir | A | Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout, Brook Trout |
Alleghany County waters in the 2026 trout plan
| Water | County or city as printed | Category | Category meaning | National forest |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Clifton Forge Reservoir | Alleghany County | A | stocked 8 times between October 1 and May 31 | yes |
| Pounding Mill Creek | Alleghany County | B | stocked 5 times between October 1 and May 15 | yes |
| Smith Creek | Alleghany County | C | stocked 3 times between October 1 and April 30 | yes |
| Wilson Creek | Alleghany County | C | stocked 3 times between October 1 and April 30 |
Delayed harvest and fly water of Alleghany County
| Water | County or city as printed | Regulation | Trout license Oct 1 to Jun 15 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jackson River (Tailwater) | Alleghany | Special slot | |
| Smith Creek | Alleghany | Catch and Release |
Virginia DWR trout stocking schedule (date, county, water, category and species as listed; DWR prints no numbers or sizes), read November 6, 2026 2026 Catchable Trout Stocking Plan (category letters as printed), read November 6, 2026. Special regulation trout waters as printed (page updated August 17, 2026), 2026 Freshwater Fishing in Virginia digest (eRegulations, linked from the Virginia DWR regulations page), read November 6, 2026. Designated stocked trout waters require a trout license October 1 to June 15; urban waters November 1 to April 30 (as printed).
Bait counters a short drive from Alleghany County
- Journey Outdoorsbait and tackle shop, Lexington, 29 miles
- Sportsman's Warehouse, 3550 Ferncliff Ave NWsporting goods store, Roanoke, 33 miles
- Indian Pointe Marinamarina, Hardy, 46 miles
- Tj's Sporting Goodsbait and tackle shop, Moneta, 47 miles
- Halesford Harbour Boat Rentalsbait and tackle shop, Moneta, 47 miles
Yellow Pages and chain store listings; straight-line miles from Covington.
Statewide creel rows applied to Alleghany County
Start with the statewide table for Alleghany County, then check any water the digest lists by name. A year of Virginia freshwater fishing costs residents $23 and nonresidents $47; anglers under 16 need none.
| Species | Where it applies | Creel | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| Largemouth, Smallmouth Bass | statewide | 5 per day in the aggregate (combined) | No statewide length limits |
| Alabama, Spotted Bass | statewide | No statewide daily limit | No statewide length limit |
| Landlocked Striped Bass and Landlocked Striped Bass X White Bass Hybrids | statewide | 4 per day in the aggregate | No fish less than 20 inches |
| Striped Bass | Anadromous (coastal) striped bass above the fall line in all coastal rivers of the Chesapeake Bay and Crane Lake (City of Suffolk) | Creel and length limits shall be as set by the Virginia Marine Resources Commission for recreational fishing in tidal waters | no length limit printed |
| Striped Bass | Striped bass in the Meherrin, Nottoway, Blackwater (Chowan Drainage), North Landing and Northwest rivers and their tributaries plus Back Bay | No possession | no length limit printed |
| Walleye, Saugeye | statewide | 5 per day in the aggregate | No walleye or saugeye less than 18 inches |
| Sauger | statewide | 2 per day | No statewide length limits |
| White Bass | statewide | 5 per day | No statewide length limits |
| Chain Pickerel and Northern Pike | statewide | 5 per day | No statewide length limits |
| Muskellunge | statewide | 1 per day | No muskellunge less than 40 inches |
| Bluegill (bream) and other sunfish excluding Crappie, Rock Bass (redeye) and Roanoke Bass | statewide | 50 per day in the aggregate (combined) | No statewide length limits |
| Crappie (black or white) | statewide | 25 per day in the aggregate (combined) | No statewide length limits |
| Rock Bass (redeye) | statewide | 25 per day in the aggregate with Roanoke bass | No statewide length limits |
| Roanoke Bass | statewide | 25 per day in the aggregate with rock bass | No statewide length limits |
| Perch (yellow and white) | statewide | No statewide daily limit | No statewide length limit |
| Trout | statewide | 6 per day | 7 inch minimum size |
| Channel, White, and Flathead | statewide | 20 per day | No length limits |
| Blue | statewide | 20 per day | No statewide length limits |
| Hickory Shad | Above and below the fall line in all coastal rivers of the Chesapeake Bay and their tributaries | Creel and length limits shall be the same as those set by the Virginia Marine Resources Comm. in tidal rivers | no length limit printed |
| Hickory Shad | Meherrin River below Emporia Dam, Nottoway River, Blackwater River (Chowan Drainage), North Landing and Northwest rivers, and their tributaries plus Back Bay | 10 per day | No length limits |
| Anadromous (coastal) Alewife and Blueback Herring | Above and below the fall line in all coastal rivers of the Chesapeake Bay and their tributaries | Creel and length limits shall be the same as those set by the Virginia Marine Resources Comm. for these species in tidal rivers | no length limit printed |
| Other native or naturalized nongame fish | statewide | 20 per day | No length limits |
| Threatened and endangered species | statewide | No possession | no length limit printed |
| Grass Carp | statewide | No statewide daily limit | No statewide length limit |
| Longnose Gar | statewide | July 1 to April 14: 5 per day | April 15 to June 30: 1 per day No statewide length limits |
| Bowfin | statewide | July 1 to April 14: 5 per day | April 15 to June 30: 1 per day No statewide length limits |
| Northern Snakehead | statewide | No statewide daily limit | No statewide length limit |
| Spotted Sea Trout | Back Bay and tributaries, including Brinson’s Inlet Lake (Lake Tecumseh), and the North Landing River and its tributaries | 4 per day, no fish less than 14 inches | no length limit printed |
| Red Drum | Back Bay and tributaries, including Brinson’s Inlet Lake (Lake Tecumseh), and the North Landing River and its tributaries | 1 per day between 18 and 27 inches | no length limit printed |
| Grey Trout | Back Bay and tributaries, including Brinson’s Inlet Lake (Lake Tecumseh), and the North Landing River and its tributaries | 1 per day, no fish less than 12 inches | no length limit printed |
Named-water rules across Alleghany County (3)
| Water | Species | Rule as printed |
|---|---|---|
| New 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, | Largemouth, Smallmouth Bass | No largemouth or smallmouth bass 14 to 22 inches, only 1 per day longer than 22 inches |
| Claytor Lake and the New River upstream to Fries Dam in Grayson County | Walleye, Saugeye | 2 walleye per day; no walleye 19 to 28 inches |
| New River-Claytor Dam downstream to VA-WV state line | Muskellunge | 1 per day June 1–last day of February: No muskellunge 40 to 48 inches March 1–May 31: No muskellunge less than 48 inches |
Statewide creel and length limits as printed (page updated August 17, 2026), 2026 Freshwater Fishing in Virginia digest (eRegulations, linked from the Virginia DWR regulations page), read November 6, 2026. Water-specific exceptions as printed, 2026 Freshwater Fishing in Virginia digest (eRegulations, linked from the Virginia DWR regulations page), read November 6, 2026. Virginia license fees in the 2026 Freshwater Fishing in Virginia digest (licenses run one year from purchase unless noted), read November 6, 2026.
State record catches tied to Alleghany County
| Species | Weight as printed | Water | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chain Pickerel | 7 lbs. 12 oz. | Douthat Lake | 1974 |
| Fallfish | 3 lbs. 13 oz. | Jackson River | 2025 |
State Record Freshwater Fish as of 9-2-2025 (keeper: Virginia DWR (State Record Freshwater Fish list as of 9-2-2025); angler names left off here), read November 6, 2026.
Around Alleghany County
Paged Virginia towns located in Alleghany County
- Clifton Forgepop. 3,555
Localities next to Alleghany County
- City of Covington1 mile east
- Botetourt County19 miles southeast
- Bath County25 miles northeast
- Craig County25 miles southwest
Reels from Piscifun for the next trip to Alleghany County
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Photo ID for the fish swimming at Alleghany County
Photo: USFWS Mountain-Prairie, Public domain
Photo: USFWS Mountain-Prairie, CC BY 2.0
Photo: Andy Sloane, CC BY-SA 2.0
Photo: USFWS Mountain-Prairie, Public domain
The lakes and streams of Alleghany County, answered
Which Alleghany County launches sit on the DWR access layer?
There are 5 boating access sites on DWR records, including Clifton Forge boat ramp on Jackson River.
What is the biggest reservoir with a page in Alleghany County?
Douthat Lake, at 50 acres.
Which fish does DWR list for lakes near Alleghany County?
Largemouth bass leads the count of lake pages within 50 miles, then bluegill, crappie and brook trout; DWR names them on its waterbody pages.
Where can I restock hooks and line in Alleghany County?
None inside; the shops band lists the closest.
Which Virginia town houses the Alleghany County offices?
Covington is the seat.
Which Virginia license covers a Alleghany County trip?
A year of Virginia freshwater fishing costs residents $23 and nonresidents $47; anglers under 16 need none.
What locality pages sit beside Alleghany County?
Going by distance, City of Covington, Botetourt County and Bath County come first.
Which DWR region number covers Alleghany County?
DWR lakes, ramps or piers inside it carry the number for DWR Region 4.
What DWR piers does the layer show in Alleghany County?
The DWR layer lists 2 fishing piers, such as Coles Point on Lake Moomaw.
Which waters of Alleghany County have limits of their own?
The digest lists 3 water exceptions here, starting with New River–Fields Dam (Grayson County) downstream to the VA-WV state line and its tributari; the table above shows each.
Which waters of Alleghany County show up on the trout schedule?
The DWR schedule carries 73 stocking dates; the newest lists Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout, Tiger Trout (October 29, 2026; category A) at Clifton Forge Reservoir.
Is a state record held by water in Alleghany County?
Chain Pickerel, 7 lbs. 12 oz., 1974, from Douthat Lake.
Work the ponds and streams across Alleghany County
Check the digest exceptions before keeping fish.