Fishing in Franklin County, Virginia
Government seat in Rocky Mount; 54,477 residents at the 2020 Census.
- 3lake pages
- 5DWR launches
- 3river pages
Pick for troutPiscifun Carbon X ultralight spinning reel28% OFFSale $57.99 Photo of Smith Mountain Lake: NatalieMaynor, CC BY 2.0
The angling picture for Franklin County
Franklin County keeps its government seat in Rocky Mount and had 54,477 residents in the 2020 Census. DWR points here are numbered DWR Region 2.
3 lakes here carry a page, and Smith Mountain Lake covers the most surface. Count 5 boating access sites here on the DWR boating access layer. The DWR pier layer adds 1 fishing pier for fishing off a deck. The trout schedule shows 61 stocking dates tied to 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.
For the trout herePiscifun Carbon XT ultralight spinning reel25% OFFSale $59.99 The fishing map of Franklin County
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.
Reservoirs in Franklin County worth backing a trailer into
| Lake | Area | Kind | DWR launches | Fish DWR names |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Smith Mountain Lake | 20,600 acres | reservoir | 6 | channel catfish, crappie, flathead catfish |
| Philpott Lake | 2,880 acres | reservoir | 0 | alewife, black crappie, channel catfish |
| Franklin County Park Pond | 2 acres (DWR outline area) | pond | 0 | brook trout, brown trout, rainbow trout |
Beyond the Franklin County line, these lake pages are the shortest drives from Rocky Mount.
| Lake | From Rocky Mount | Area | Kind | DWR launches | Fish DWR names |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Martinsville Reservoir | 18 miles south | 175 acres | reservoir | 0 | black crappie, bluegill, channel catfish |
| Fairy Stone Lake | 19 miles southwest | 168 acres | reservoir | 0 | bluegill, crappie, largemouth bass |
| Lake Burton | 22 miles southeast | 76 acres | reservoir | 1 | black crappie, bluegill, bullhead |
| Leesville Reservoir | 22 miles east | 3,400 acres | reservoir | 2 | black crappie, blue catfish, bluegill |
| Liberty Lake | 29 miles northeast | 2 acres | lake | 0 | brook trout, brown trout, rainbow trout |
| Abbott Lake | 34 miles northeast | 24 acres | reservoir | 0 | bluegill, bullhead, smallmouth 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.
Fish named most on lakes near Franklin County
Tally the lake pages up to 50 miles from Rocky Mount by species and largemouth bass leads.
Species DWR names on waterbody pages and its fishing grid, counted per lake page within 50 miles; not a survey of fish numbers.
Smaller named water in Franklin County
1 more named lakes and ponds of Franklin County appear only in this list for now.
| Water | Kind | Area | Nearest town |
|---|---|---|---|
| Woody’s Pond | pond |
Virginia DWR Public Fishing Lakes layer (outline, motor rule, region number), read November 6, 2026. Acres are the NHD outline area of the mapped lake (USGS National Hydrography Dataset), not a DWR figure.
Franklin County river and creek listings
- Smith River4 stocked trout reaches, 5 USGS gauges
- Pigg River1 stocked trout reach, 2 DWR launches, 1 USGS gauge
- Runnett Bag Creek2 stocked trout reaches, wild trout survey class II, 8.3 km
Creeks in Franklin County that stay on this list (17)
- Shooting Creekwild trout survey class II, 11.8 km
- Green Creek, 05GCR-01wild trout survey class II, 11.4 km
- Green Creek, 05GCR-01Twild trout survey class II, 11.4 km
- Pigg River, SP, 05PSP-01wild trout survey class VI, 8.5 km
- Blackwater River, NFwild trout survey class VI, 8.1 km
- Pigg River, 05PGG-01wild trout survey class II, 6.6 km
- Blackwater River, SF, 05BSF-01wild trout survey class VII, 6.2 km
- Pigg River, 05PGG-01Twild trout survey class II, 5.7 km
- Roaring Run, 05RRI-01wild trout survey class II, 5.2 km
- Otter Creek, 05OER-01wild trout survey class V, 5.1 km
- Maggodee Creekwild trout survey class VI, 4.9 km
- Blackwater River, SF, 05BSF-01Twild trout survey class VII, 4.8 km
- Gourd Creekwild trout survey class VI, 4.3 km
- Daniels Runwild trout survey class III, 3.8 km
- Roaring Run, 05RUN-01wild trout survey class II, 3.6 km
- Brogan Branchwild trout survey class II, 2.8 km
- Pigg River, SP, 05PSP-01Twild trout survey class VI, 2.1 km
Live discharge inside Franklin County
| USGS gauge | Latest reading | Time (ET) |
|---|---|---|
| Blackwater River Near Rocky Mount, Va | 33 cfs, 1.76 ft gage height | Nov 12 6:45 pm |
US Geological Survey provisional data, retrieved Nov 12, 2026 7:33 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.
Weather Service pool readings for Franklin County
| Lake | Pool | Operator | Reading time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Philpott Lake | 970.59 ft | USACE Wilmington District | 2026-11-06 20:10:00 UTC |
Snapshot pools only, each tagged with when it was read.
USACE Wilmington District pool as reported through the NOAA National Water Prediction Service gauge PTTV2, read November 6, 2026 (one dated reading, not live; feet as published, datum not printed).
Commonwealth ramps and landings inside Franklin County
- Lynch Memorial Park on Pigg RiverPigg River, gravel access, 1 ramp, barrier-free, freshwater
- Oak Grove boat ramp on Smith Mountain LakeSmith Mountain Lake, dock and ramp, 2 ramps, barrier-free, freshwater
- Penhook boat ramp on Smith Mountain LakeSmith Mountain Lake, 2 ramps, barrier-free, freshwater
- Scruggs boat ramp on Smith Mountain LakeSmith Mountain Lake, 1 ramp, barrier-free, freshwater
- Waid Recreation Area on Pigg RiverPigg River, hand launch (boat slide), 1 ramp, barrier-free, freshwater
Pier listings in Franklin County
- Smith Mountain Lake Community ParkSmith Mountain Lake, 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.
Trout stocking dates logged in Franklin County
| Date | Water as listed | Category | Species |
|---|---|---|---|
| October 9, 2026 | Pigg River (stocked for youth event on 10/5) | A | Rainbow Trout, Brook Trout |
| May 8, 2026 | Pigg River | A | Rainbow Trout, Brook Trout |
| May 8, 2026 | Runnett Bag Creek | B | Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout, Brook Trout, Tiger Trout |
| April 24, 2026 | Pigg River | A | Rainbow Trout, Brook Trout |
| April 24, 2026 | Runnett Bag Creek | B | Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout, Brook Trout |
| April 14, 2026 | Franklin County Park Pond | Rainbow Trout | |
| April 9, 2026 | Franklin County Park Pond | Rainbow Trout | |
| April 3, 2026 | Pigg River | A | Rainbow Trout, Brook Trout |
| April 1, 2026 | Franklin County Park Pond | Rainbow Trout | |
| March 27, 2026 | Pigg River | A | Rainbow Trout, Brook Trout |
| March 3, 2026 | Pigg River | A | Rainbow Trout, Brook Trout |
| March 3, 2026 | Runnett Bag Creek | B | Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout, Brook Trout, Tiger Trout |
| January 14, 2026 | Pigg River | A | Rainbow Trout |
| January 14, 2026 | Runnett Bag Creek | B | Rainbow Trout |
| November 20, 2025 | Pigg River | A | Rainbow Trout |
| November 20, 2025 | Runnett Bag Creek | B | Rainbow Trout |
| October 10, 2025 | Pigg River (stocked for youth event on 10/5) | A | Rainbow Trout, Brook Trout |
| May 6, 2025 | Pigg River | A | Rainbow Trout, Brook Trout |
| May 6, 2025 | Runnett Bag Creek | B | Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout, Brook Trout, Tiger Trout |
| April 17, 2025 | Franklin County Park Pond | Rainbow Trout |
Planned 2026 trout water in Franklin County
| Water | County or city as printed | Category | Category meaning | National forest |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Runnett Bag Creek | Franklin County | B | stocked 5 times between October 1 and May 15 | |
| Pigg River | Franklin County | A | stocked 8 times between October 1 and May 31 |
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. Designated stocked trout waters require a trout license October 1 to June 15; urban waters November 1 to April 30 (as printed).
The 2026 digest table for Franklin County
For Franklin County, the statewide rows come first and water exceptions override them. DWR sells the annual freshwater license for $23 to residents and $47 to anglers who live elsewhere.
| 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 |
Water-by-water digest changes in Franklin County (4)
| Water | Species | Rule as printed |
|---|---|---|
| Smith Mt. Lake and its tributaries below Niagara Dam | Largemouth, Smallmouth Bass | Only 2 of 5 largemouth or smallmouth bass less than 14 inches |
| Smith Mountain Lake and its tributaries, including the Roanoke River upstream to Niagara Dam | Landlocked Striped Bass and Landlocked Striped Bass X White Bass Hybrids | 2 per day in the aggregate (combined); November 1–May 31: No striped bass 30 to 40 inches; June 1–October 31: No length limit |
| Nottoway, Meherrin, Blackwater (Franklin County), Blackwater (Chowan), Falling and Smith rivers and their tributaries | Rock Bass (redeye) | 5 per day in the aggregate (combined) with Roanoke bass No rock bass less than 8 inches |
| Nottoway, Meherrin, and Blackwater (Franklin County), Blackwater (Chowan), Falling and Smith rivers and their tributaries | Roanoke Bass | 5 per day in the aggregate (combined) with rock bass No Roanoke bass less than 8 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.
Record-class fish near Franklin County
| Species | Weight as printed | Water | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brown Trout | 18 lbs. 11 oz. | Smith River | 1979 |
| Coho Salmon | 8 lbs. 12 oz. | Philpott Lake | 1971 |
| Lake Trout | 5 lbs. 6 oz. | Philpott Lake | 1966 |
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.
Blastoffs and weigh-ins around Franklin County
Of 20 posted trail and club events in Franklin County, 8 remain.
| Date | Event | Water | Organizer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nov. 22, 2026 | CATT Smith Mountain Lake Fall Qualifier #3 | Smith Mountain Lake | Carolina Anglers Team Trail (CATT) |
| Dec. 6, 2026 | CATT Smith Mountain Lake Fall Qualifier #4 | Smith Mountain Lake | Carolina Anglers Team Trail (CATT) |
| Dec. 13, 2026 | CATT Smith Mountain Lake Fall Final | Smith Mountain Lake | Carolina Anglers Team Trail (CATT) |
| Feb. 27, 2027 | Fishers of Men Virginia West – Classic – Phillpot Lake | Phillpot Lake | Fishers of Men National Tournament Trail |
| April 3, 2027 | 2027 Phoenix Bass Fishing League Virginia Division at Smith Mountain Lake | Smith Mountain Lake | Major League Fishing (MLF) Phoenix Bass Fishing League |
| April 10, 2027 | Fishers of Men Virginia West – Legacy – Smith Mtn Lake | Smith Mtn Lake | Fishers of Men National Tournament Trail |
| April 24, 2027 | Fishers of Men Virginia West – Classic – Smith Mtn Lake | Smith Mtn Lake | Fishers of Men National Tournament Trail |
| May 15, 2027 | Fishers of Men Virginia West – Legacy – Philpot Lake | Philpot Lake | Fishers of Men National Tournament Trail |
| Nov. 1, 2026 | CATT VA – Smith Mountain Division 2026-11-01 | Smith Mountain Lake | Carolina Anglers Team Trail (CATT) |
| Oct. 25, 2026 | CATT VA – Smith Mountain Division 2026-10-25 | Smith Mountain Lake | Carolina Anglers Team Trail (CATT) |
| Oct. 18, 2026 | CATT BassKings (individual) 2026-10-18 | Smith Mountain Lake | Carolina Anglers Team Trail (CATT) |
| Oct. 4, 2026 | CATT BassKings (individual) 2026-10-04 | Smith Mountain Lake | Carolina Anglers Team Trail (CATT) |
Organizer schedule and results pages (DWR publishes no tournament calendar); checked November 2026.
Tackle shops and guides for Franklin County
Franklin County tackle counters
- Franklin Outdoorsbait and tackle shop, Rocky Mount
- Gills Creek Marina & Lodgebait and tackle shop, Wirtz
- SML Tackle Shackbait and tackle shop, Moneta
- Crazy Horse Marinamarina, Moneta
- Indian Pointe Marinamarina, Hardy
- Magnum Point Marinamarina, Union Hall
- Penhook Boat Dockmarina, Penhook
Yellow Pages and chain store listings; guide and charter business listings (matched by the waters they list or their locality), read November 6, 2026.
Past the edges of Franklin County
Lodging towns spread across Franklin County
- Rocky Mountpop. 4,903
- North Shorepop. 3,332
Close localities to Franklin County
- City of Roanoke20 miles north
- City of Martinsville21 miles south
- City of Salem22 miles northwest
- Floyd County26 miles west
Piscifun spinning gear for a day out on Franklin County
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Sorting out the Franklin County species by sight
Photo: Argyleist, CC BY 2.0
Photo: USFWS Mountain-Prairie, CC BY 2.0
Photo: Andy Sloane, CC BY-SA 2.0
Photo: USFWS Mountain-Prairie, Public domain
Fishing Franklin County: common questions
How many DWR launches does Franklin County have?
DWR access data has 5 boating access sites, such as Lynch Memorial Park on Pigg River.
Which Franklin County lake stretches widest?
Smith Mountain Lake, at 20,600 acres.
Which species top the DWR lists near Franklin County?
Largemouth bass leads the count of lake pages within 50 miles, then bluegill, crappie and channel catfish; DWR names them on its waterbody pages.
Where do I find bait inside Franklin County?
It has 7 listed, Franklin Outdoors among them.
Which Virginia town hosts the courts of Franklin County?
Its offices are in Rocky Mount.
What license covers fishing in Franklin County?
DWR sells the annual freshwater license for $23 to residents and $47 to anglers who live elsewhere.
Which counties and cities ring Franklin County?
The nearest locality pages are City of Roanoke, City of Martinsville and City of Salem.
Is Franklin County in a numbered DWR region?
DWR lakes, ramps or piers inside it carry the number for DWR Region 2.
Which Franklin County spots suit boatless anglers?
DWR shows 1 fishing pier, including Smith Mountain Lake Community Park.
Do bass trails hold events on water of Franklin County?
20 events on file; the next is CATT Smith Mountain Lake Fall Qualifier #3 on Smith Mountain Lake, Nov. 22, 2026.
Do any waters of Franklin County carry digest exceptions?
The digest lists 4 water exceptions here, starting with Smith Mt. Lake and its tributaries below Niagara Dam; the table above shows each.
Does DWR stock trout in Franklin County?
The DWR schedule carries 61 stocking dates; the newest lists Rainbow Trout, Brook Trout (October 9, 2026; category A) at Pigg River (stocked for youth event on 10/5).
Did a Virginia record fish come from Franklin County?
Brown Trout, 18 lbs. 11 oz., 1979, from Smith River.
Hook up the boat and head for Franklin County
Open a lake for its launches and special rules.