Fishing in Frederick County, Virginia
Government seat in Winchester; 91,419 residents at the 2020 Census.
- 3lake pages
- 1DWR launches
- 2river pages
Pick for troutPiscifun Carbon X ultralight spinning reel28% OFFSale $57.99 Photo of Winchester: m01229, CC BY 2.0
Old Dominion water in Frederick County, in a few lines
Winchester serves as the seat of Frederick County, home to 91,419 people at the last Census. Its own DWR lakes, ramps and piers are filed under DWR Region 4.
Of 3 lake pages reaching it, Lake Frederick spreads widest. DWR records show 1 boating access site across it. Pier fishing here includes 2 fishing piers recorded by DWR. 97 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.
For the trout herePiscifun Carbon XT ultralight spinning reel25% OFFSale $59.99 Dots for each Frederick County ramp, pier and lake
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 Frederick County
| Lake | Area | Kind | DWR launches | Fish DWR names |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lake Frederick | 117 acres | reservoir | 1 | black crappie, bluegill, channel catfish |
| Clearbrook Lake | 3 acres (DWR outline area) | lake | 0 | common carp, brook trout, brown trout |
| Wilkins Lake | 3 acres (DWR outline area) | lake | 0 | crappie, largemouth bass |
Measured from Winchester, these lake pages are the closest outside Frederick County.
| Lake | From Winchester | Area | Kind | DWR launches | Fish DWR names |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lake Thompson | 18 miles southeast | 10 acres | lake | 0 | brook trout, brown trout, rainbow trout |
| Sleeter Lake | 23 miles east | 101 acres | lake | 0 | black crappie, bluegill, chain pickerel |
| Woodstock Pond | 31 miles southwest | 8 acres | reservoir | 0 | black crappie, bluegill, crappie |
| Bealers Ferry Pond | 32 miles southwest | 8 acres | pond | 0 | bluegill, channel catfish, largemouth bass |
| Arrowhead Lake | 39 miles south | 39 acres | reservoir | 0 | bluegill, common carp, channel catfish |
| Lake Brittle | 39 miles southeast | 77 acres | reservoir | 1 | black crappie, bluegill, bullhead |
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 Frederick County
Out to 50 miles from Winchester, 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.
More lakes on the Frederick County roster
Frederick County holds 2 more DWR or NHD lakes with too few published facts for a page.
| Water | Kind | Area | Nearest town |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lake Holiday | lake | 239 acres (NHD outline area) | Winchester |
| Winchester Lake | lake | Winchester |
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.
Rivers and trout streams of Frederick County
- Hogue Creek1 stocked trout reach, 1 USGS gauge
- Paddy Run1 stocked trout reach, wild trout survey class III, 9.1 km
Additional flowing water through Frederick County (9)
- Opequon Creek, 07OPE-01wild trout survey class VI, 16.7 km
- Duck Run, 07DCK-01wild trout survey class II, 10.2 km
- Opequon Creek, 07OPE-01Twild trout survey class VI, 10.1 km
- Duck Run, 07DCK-01Twild trout survey class II, 9.9 km
- Meadow Brookwild trout survey class V, 8.2 km
- Redbud Runwild trout survey class III, 5.6 km
- Bear Garden Runwild trout survey class II, 5.3 km
- Clearbrook Runwild trout survey class VI, 3.8 km
- Richards Runwild trout survey class II, 3.0 km
Live USGS flow across Frederick County
| USGS gauge | Latest reading | Time (ET) |
|---|---|---|
| Hogue Creek Near Hayfield, Va | 4 cfs, 0.46 ft gage height | Nov 12 5:30 pm |
| Opequon Creek Near Berryville, Va | 8 cfs, 4.24 ft gage height | Nov 12 5:30 pm |
| Cedar Creek Near Winchester, Va | 16 cfs, 1.81 ft gage height | Nov 12 5:45 pm |
US Geological Survey provisional data, retrieved Nov 12, 2026 6:33 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.
DWR launches across Frederick County
- Lake Frederick boat rampLake Frederick, dock and ramp, 1 ramp, barrier-free, freshwater
Frederick County pier sites on the DWR layer
- Lake Frederick fishing pierLake Frederick, fishing pier
- Sherando Lake Recreation AreaSherando 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.
Stocked trout water in Frederick County
| Date | Water as listed | Category | Species |
|---|---|---|---|
| October 22, 2026 | Winchester Lake (Wilkins Lake) | A | Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout |
| October 22, 2026 | Clearbrook Lake | A | Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout |
| May 19, 2026 | Paddy Run | B | Brown Trout |
| May 8, 2026 | Clearbrook Lake (Kid's Day Event & Double Stocking) | A | Rainbow Trout |
| May 8, 2026 | Winchester Lake (Wilkins Lake) | A | Rainbow Trout |
| April 16, 2026 | Paddy Run | B | Brown Trout |
| April 1, 2026 | Winchester Lake (Wilkins Lake) | A | Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout |
| April 1, 2026 | Clearbrook Lake | A | Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout |
| April 1, 2026 | Hogue Creek | B | Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout |
| March 20, 2026 | Paddy Run | B | Rainbow Trout |
| March 10, 2026 | Winchester Lake (Wilkins Lake) | A | Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout |
| March 10, 2026 | Clearbrook Lake | A | Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout |
| March 10, 2026 | Hogue Creek | B | Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout |
| March 4, 2026 | Paddy Run | B | Rainbow Trout |
| February 24, 2026 | Hogue Creek | B | Rainbow Trout |
| February 24, 2026 | Clearbrook Lake | A | Rainbow Trout |
| February 24, 2026 | Winchester Lake (Wilkins Lake) | A | Rainbow Trout |
| January 7, 2026 | Winchester Lake (Wilkins Lake) | A | Rainbow Trout |
| January 7, 2026 | Clearbrook Lake | A | Rainbow Trout |
| January 7, 2026 | Paddy Run | B | Rainbow Trout |
Frederick County waters in the 2026 trout plan
| Water | County or city as printed | Category | Category meaning | National forest |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Clearbrook Lake | Frederick County | A | stocked 8 times between October 1 and May 31 | |
| Hogue Creek | Frederick County | B | stocked 5 times between October 1 and May 15 | |
| Paddy Run | Frederick County | B | stocked 5 times between October 1 and May 15 | yes |
| Wilkins Lake | Frederick County | A | stocked 8 times between October 1 and May 31 | |
| Old Cossey Pond | Frederick County | U | urban fishing waters, trout license required November 1 through April 30, stocked 5 times between November 1 and April 15 |
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).
Statewide creel rows applied to Frederick County
Start with the statewide table for Frederick 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 |
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. 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 Frederick County
The nearest record waters to Frederick County, all inside 70 miles, are below.
| Species | Weight as printed | Water | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brook Trout | 5 lbs. 15 oz. | Cub Run | 2019 |
| White Bass | 6 lbs. 13 oz. | Lake Orange | 1989 |
| Northern Pike | 31 lbs. 4 oz. | Motts Run Reservoir | 1994 |
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.
Frederick County bait counters and captains
Tackle stores in Frederick County
- Jake's Bait & Tacklebait and tackle shop, Winchester
- Sportsman's Warehouse, 190 Delco Plzsporting goods store, Winchester
Yellow Pages and chain store listings; guide and charter business listings (matched by the waters they list or their locality), read November 6, 2026.
Around Frederick County
Paged Virginia towns located in Frederick County
- Stephens Citypop. 2,016
- Middletownpop. 1,355
Localities next to Frederick County
- City of Winchester5 miles southeast
- Clarke County16 miles southeast
- Warren County21 miles south
- Shenandoah County29 miles southwest
Reels from Piscifun for the next trip to Frederick County
Piscifun and Amazon links are affiliate links; the site earns a commission on qualifying purchases.
Photo ID for the fish swimming at Frederick County
Photo: kmitschke, CC BY 2.0
Photo: USFWS Pacific Southwest Region, Public domain
Photo: USFWS Mountain-Prairie, Public domain
Photo: USFWS Mountain-Prairie, Public domain
The lakes and streams of Frederick County, answered
Which Frederick County launches sit on the DWR access layer?
There are 1 boating access site on DWR records, including Lake Frederick boat ramp.
What is the biggest reservoir with a page in Frederick County?
Lake Frederick, at 117 acres.
Which fish does DWR list for lakes near Frederick County?
Largemouth bass leads the count of lake pages within 50 miles, then bluegill, channel catfish and crappie; DWR names them on its waterbody pages.
Where can I restock hooks and line in Frederick County?
Jake's Bait & Tackle is one of 2 shops listed here.
Which Virginia town houses the Frederick County offices?
Winchester is the seat.
Which Virginia license covers a Frederick County trip?
A year of Virginia freshwater fishing costs residents $23 and nonresidents $47; anglers under 16 need none.
What locality pages sit beside Frederick County?
Going by distance, City of Winchester, Clarke County and Warren County come first.
Which DWR region number covers Frederick County?
DWR lakes, ramps or piers inside it carry the number for DWR Region 4.
What DWR piers does the layer show in Frederick County?
The DWR layer lists 2 fishing piers, such as Lake Frederick fishing pier.
Which waters of Frederick County show up on the trout schedule?
The DWR schedule carries 97 stocking dates; the newest lists Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout (October 22, 2026; category A) at Winchester Lake (Wilkins Lake).
Work the ponds and streams across Frederick County
Check the digest exceptions before keeping fish.