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Claytor Lake 37 mi
Photo: Virginia State Parks, CC BY 2.0 
South Holston Reservoir 45 mi
Photo: LookoutBelle, CC BY 2.0 
Blacksburg 58 mi
Photo: Chris Lawrence, CC BY-SA 2.0 
Philpott Lake 62 mi
Photo: DJ Patterson, CC BY-SA 2.0
Virginia counties and cities
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Fishing in Grayson County, Virginia
Government seat in Independence; 15,333 residents at the 2020 Census.
- 1lake pages
- 6DWR launches
- 5river pages
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Fishing times todaySolunar periods, sunrise and moonrise for Grayson County, today and the next 7 days.Best fishing times today
Grayson County, Virginia
Old Dominion water in Grayson County, in a few lines
Independence serves as the seat of Grayson County, home to 15,333 people at the last Census. Its own DWR lakes, ramps and piers are filed under DWR Region 3. New River is shared with a neighbouring state under the digest.
Of 1 lake pages reaching it, Hales Lake spreads widest. DWR records show 6 boating access sites across it. 150 stocking dates on the DWR trout schedule list it.
1lake pages
6DWR launches
5river pages
150trout stocking dates
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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Dots for each Grayson 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.
Lakes
Lake pages inside Grayson County
| Lake | Area | Kind | DWR launches | Fish DWR names |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hales Lake | 3 acres (DWR outline area) | lake | 0 | brown trout, rainbow trout, tiger trout |
Measured from Independence, these lake pages are the closest outside Grayson County.
| Lake | From Independence | Area | Kind | DWR launches | Fish DWR names |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Byllesby Lake | 15 miles northeast | 163 acres (DWR outline area) | lake | 1 | |
| Rural Retreat Lake | 18 miles northwest | 90 acres | reservoir | 1 | bluegill, channel catfish, crappie |
| Hungry Mother Lake | 27 miles northwest | 108 acres | reservoir | 1 | common carp, channel catfish, crappie |
| Lovill’s Creek Lake | 28 miles east | 55 acres | reservoir | 1 | black crappie, bluegill, chain pickerel |
| Beartree Lake | 30 miles west | 10 acres (DWR outline area) | lake | 0 | brook trout, rainbow trout |
| Gatewood Reservoir | 33 miles northeast | 162 acres | reservoir | 0 | black crappie, bluegill, channel catfish |
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.
Species
Counting species on lake pages by Grayson County
Out to 50 miles from Independence, bluegill 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
Rivers and trout streams of Grayson County
- Chestnut Creek2 stocked trout reaches, 1 USGS gauge
- Big Wilson Creek2 stocked trout reaches
- Elk Creek10 stocked trout reaches
- Helton Creek6 stocked trout reaches, wild trout survey class II, 16.5 km
- New River18 DWR launches, 5 USGS gauges, shared with NC
Additional flowing water through Grayson County (63)
- Fox Creek6 stocked trout reaches
- Chestnut Creek, EF3 stocked trout reaches
- Cabin Creek2 stocked trout reaches
- Helton Creek, MF2 stocked trout reaches
- Little Wilson Creek2 stocked trout reaches
- Middle Fox Creek2 stocked trout reaches
- Fox Creek, 04FXC-01Twild trout survey class II, 19.8 km
- Fox Creek, 04FXC-01wild trout survey class II, 19.4 km
- Middle Fox Creek, 04MFX-01wild trout survey class III, 19.3 km
- Middle Fox Creek, 04MFX-01Twild trout survey class III, 16.3 km
- Wilburn Branch1 stocked trout reach, wild trout survey class I, 2.8 km
- Quebec Branch1 stocked trout reach, wild trout survey class I, 1.8 km
- Laurel Creek, 04LLL-01wild trout survey class III, 10.2 km
- Chestnut Creek, WF1 stocked trout reach
- Mill Creek1 stocked trout reach
- Big Wilson Creek, 04BWC-02wild trout survey class VI, 9.8 km
- Chestnut Creek, 04CST-01wild trout survey class III, 9.7 km
- Chestnut Creek, EF, 04CEF-01wild trout survey class II, 9.6 km
- Big Wilson Creek, 04BWC-01wild trout survey class II, 8.5 km
- Big Horse Creek, 04BHC-01wild trout survey class III, 8.4 km
- Jerry Creekwild trout survey class II, 7.8 km
- Guffey Creek, 04GUF-01wild trout survey class III, 7.5 km
- Mill Creek, 04MIR-01wild trout survey class II, 7.4 km
- Turkey Forkwild trout survey class III, 6.8 km
- Mill Creek, 04MIR-01Twild trout survey class II, 6.5 km
- Whitetop Creekwild trout survey class II, 6.5 km
- Elk Creek, NB, 04ECN-01wild trout survey class II, 6.3 km
- Panther Creekwild trout survey class VII, 6.3 km
- Laurel Creek, 04LLL-01Twild trout survey class III, 6.2 km
- Bournes Branchwild trout survey class II, 5.8 km
- Ripshin Creek, 04RPK-01wild trout survey class II, 5.7 km
- Little Helton Creekwild trout survey class II, 5.5 km
- Elk Creek, SB, 04ECS-01wild trout survey class VI, 5.2 km
- Corners Rock Branch, WF, 04CRW-01wild trout survey class III, 4.9 km
- Cabin Creek, 04CAB-02wild trout survey class I, 4.7 km
- Lewis Forkwild trout survey class I, 4.5 km
- Chestnut Creek, WF, 04CWF-01wild trout survey class III, 4.3 km
- Houndshell Branch, 03HOU-01wild trout survey class III, 4.2 km
- Little Wilson Creek, 04LWL-01wild trout survey class II, 4.0 km
- Helton Creek, MF, 04HMF-02wild trout survey class I, 3.9 km
- Mill Creek, 04MEL-01wild trout survey class VI, 3.7 km
- Baldwin Branch, 04BDW-01wild trout survey class II, 3.4 km
- Chestnut Creek, 04CST-01Twild trout survey class III, 3.3 km
- Opossum Creekwild trout survey class II, 3.3 km
- Solomon Branch, 04SLM-01wild trout survey class II, 3.2 km
- Byars Creekwild trout survey class II, 3.1 km
- Helton Creek, MF, 04HMF-01wild trout survey class I, 3.1 km
- Guffey Creek, 04GUF-01Twild trout survey class III, 3.0 km
- Brier Runwild trout survey class II, 2.3 km
- Cabin Creek, 04CAB-01wild trout survey class II, 2.3 km
- Ripshin Creek, 04RPK-01Twild trout survey class II, 2.3 km
- Burgess Creek, 04BUR-01wild trout survey class III, 2.1 km
- Elk Creek, NB, 04ECN-01Twild trout survey class II, 2.1 km
- Houndshell Branch, 03HOU-01Twild trout survey class III, 2.1 km
- Big Horse Creek, 04BHC-01Twild trout survey class III, 2.0 km
- High Trestle Branch, 03HTB-01wild trout survey class III, 1.9 km
- Corners Rock Branch, WF, 04CRW-01Twild trout survey class III, 1.6 km
- Big Wilson Creek, 04BWC-01Twild trout survey class II, 1.5 km
- Baker Branchwild trout survey class II, 1.4 km
- Solomon Branch, 04SLM-01Twild trout survey class II, 1.2 km
- Burgess Creek, 04BUR-01Twild trout survey class III, 1.1 km
- High Trestle Branch, 03HTB-01Twild trout survey class III, 0.5 km
- Elk Creek, SB, 04ECS-01Twild trout survey class VI, 0.3 km
Live USGS flow across Grayson County
| USGS gauge | Latest reading | Time (ET) |
|---|---|---|
| New River Near Galax, Va | 686 cfs, 1.14 ft gage height | Nov 12 5:30 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.
Access
DWR launches across Grayson County
- Baywood boat ramp on New RiverNew River, concrete ramp (no dock), freshwater
- Bridle Creek boat ramp on New RiverNew River, concrete ramp (no dock), freshwater
- Independence boat ramp on New RiverNew River, concrete ramp (no dock), freshwater
- Mouth of Wilson boat ramp on New RiverNew River, concrete ramp (no dock), freshwater
- Oldtown boat ramp on New RiverNew River, concrete ramp (no dock), freshwater
- Riverside boat ramp on New RiverNew River, concrete ramp (no dock), freshwater
Virginia DWR Boating Access Locations layer (attributes as recorded; lanes, fees and hours are not in the layer), read November 6, 2026.
Trout
Stocked trout water in Grayson County
| Date | Water as listed | Category | Species |
|---|---|---|---|
| October 16, 2026 | Helton Creek | B | Rainbow Trout |
| October 14, 2026 | Big Wilson Creek | A | Rainbow Trout |
| October 7, 2026 | Elk Creek | A | Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout, Tiger Trout |
| October 7, 2026 | Hales Lake | A | Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout, Tiger Trout |
| May 29, 2026 | Hales Lake | A | Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout, Tiger Trout |
| May 16, 2026 | Hales Lake | A | Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout, Tiger Trout |
| May 9, 2026 | Elk Creek | A | Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout, Tiger Trout |
| May 7, 2026 | Fox Creek | B | Rainbow Trout |
| May 7, 2026 | Middle Fox Creek | B | Rainbow Trout |
| May 5, 2026 | Helton Creek | B | Rainbow Trout |
| May 2, 2026 | Big Wilson Creek | A | Rainbow Trout |
| April 28, 2026 | Elk Creek | A | Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout, Tiger Trout |
| April 28, 2026 | Hales Lake | A | Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout, Tiger Trout |
| April 27, 2026 | Helton Creek | B | Rainbow Trout |
| April 23, 2026 | Big Wilson Creek | A | Rainbow Trout |
| April 14, 2026 | Fox Creek | B | Brook Trout |
| April 14, 2026 | Middle Fox Creek | B | Brook Trout |
| April 8, 2026 | Elk Creek | A | Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout |
| April 8, 2026 | Hales Lake | A | Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout |
| April 7, 2026 | Big Wilson Creek | A | Brook Trout |
Grayson County waters in the 2026 trout plan
| Water | County or city as printed | Category | Category meaning | National forest |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Big Wilson Creek | Grayson County | A | stocked 8 times between October 1 and May 31 | |
| Elk Creek | Grayson County | A | stocked 8 times between October 1 and May 31 | |
| Fox Creek | Grayson County | B | stocked 5 times between October 1 and May 15 | yes |
| Hales Lake | Grayson County | A | stocked 8 times between October 1 and May 31 | yes |
| Helton Creek | Grayson County | B | stocked 5 times between October 1 and May 15 | |
| Middle Fox Creek | Grayson County | B | stocked 5 times between October 1 and May 15 |
Delayed harvest and fly water of Grayson County
| Water | County or city as printed | Regulation | Trout license Oct 1 to Jun 15 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Big Wilson Creek | Grayson | 9 inch min | |
| Cabin Creek | Grayson | 9 inch min | |
| Little Wilson Creek | Grayson | 9 inch min | |
| Mill Creek | Grayson | 9 inch min | |
| Quebec Branch | Grayson | 9 inch min | |
| Wilburn Branch | Grayson | 9 inch min |
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 nearby
Bait counters a short drive from Grayson County
- New River Sports-Wythevillebait and tackle shop, Wytheville, 22 miles
- Backwoods Outdoor Supplybait and tackle shop, Hillsville, 23 miles
- Rock House Marinamarina, Pulaski, 38 miles
- Greasy Creek Outfittersbait and tackle shop, Willis, 40 miles
- Virginia Creeper Fly-Fishingbait and tackle shop, Abingdon, 43 miles
Yellow Pages and chain store listings; straight-line miles from Independence.
Regulations
Statewide creel rows applied to Grayson County
Start with the statewide table for Grayson 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 Grayson 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.
Records
State record catches tied to Grayson County
The nearest record waters to Grayson County, all inside 70 miles, are below.
| Species | Weight as printed | Water | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Musky (includes Tiger) | 45 lbs. 8 oz. | New River | 2007 |
| Smallmouth Bass | 8 lbs. 1 oz. | New River | 2003 |
| Walleye | 22 lbs. 8 oz. | New River | 1973 |
| Walleye | 15 lbs. 15 oz. | New River | 2000 |
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.
Nearby
Around Grayson County
Paged Virginia towns located in Grayson County
- Independencepop. 1,011
Localities next to Grayson County
- City of Galax17 miles east
- Wythe County19 miles northeast
- Smyth County22 miles northwest
- Carroll County28 miles east
Piscifun
Reels from Piscifun for the next trip to Grayson County
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Photos
Lakes, tidewater and stream riffles close to Grayson County, in pictures
Photo: Virginia State Parks, CC BY 2.0
Photo: LookoutBelle, CC BY 2.0
Photo: Chris Lawrence, CC BY-SA 2.0
Photo: DJ Patterson, CC BY-SA 2.0
Answers
The lakes and streams of Grayson County, answered
Which Grayson County launches sit on the DWR access layer?
There are 6 boating access sites on DWR records, including Baywood boat ramp on New River.
What is the biggest reservoir with a page in Grayson County?
Hales Lake, at 3 acres (DWR outline area).
Which fish does DWR list for lakes near Grayson County?
Bluegill leads the count of lake pages within 50 miles, then channel catfish, crappie and rainbow trout; DWR names them on its waterbody pages.
Where can I restock hooks and line in Grayson County?
None inside; the shops band lists the closest.
Which Virginia town houses the Grayson County offices?
Independence is the seat.
Which Virginia license covers a Grayson County trip?
A year of Virginia freshwater fishing costs residents $23 and nonresidents $47; anglers under 16 need none.
What locality pages sit beside Grayson County?
Going by distance, City of Galax, Wythe County and Smyth County come first.
Which DWR region number covers Grayson County?
DWR lakes, ramps or piers inside it carry the number for DWR Region 3.
Which waters of Grayson 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 Grayson County show up on the trout schedule?
The DWR schedule carries 150 stocking dates; the newest lists Rainbow Trout (October 16, 2026; category B) at Helton Creek.
Work the ponds and streams across Grayson County
Check the digest exceptions before keeping fish.