Fishing in Russell County, Virginia
Government seat in Lebanon; 25,781 residents at the 2020 Census.
- 1lake pages
- 6DWR launches
- 2river pages
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How Russell County stacks up for a rod and reel
The 2020 Census counted 25,781 people across Russell County, with Lebanon as the seat. DWR layer points inside it carry the number for DWR Region 3.
Biggest among 1 local lake pages: Laurel Bed Lake. The boundary holds 6 boating access sites by the DWR access count. The DWR trout schedule holds 31 stocking dates naming 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.
Lakes and reservoirs filed under Russell County
| Lake | Area | Kind | DWR launches | Fish DWR names |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Laurel Bed Lake | 330 acres | lake | 1 | bluegill, brook trout, rainbow trout |
Few lake pages fall inside Russell County, so the nearest ones beyond it are measured from Lebanon.
| Lake | From Lebanon | Area | Kind | DWR launches | Fish DWR names |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hidden Valley Lake | 4 miles south | 61 acres | reservoir | 1 | black crappie, bluegill, channel catfish |
| South Holston Reservoir | 20 miles south | 7,580 acres | reservoir | 2 | black crappie, bluegill, channel catfish |
| Bark Camp Lake | 25 miles west | 61 acres | lake | 1 | black crappie, bluegill, bullhead |
| Flannagan Reservoir | 27 miles northwest | 1,143 acres | reservoir | 0 | bluegill, common carp, channel catfish |
| Beartree Lake | 27 miles southeast | 10 acres (DWR outline area) | lake | 0 | brook trout, rainbow trout |
| Hungry Mother Lake | 31 miles east | 108 acres | reservoir | 1 | common carp, channel catfish, crappie |
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.
A tally of DWR-listed fish around Russell County
Bars show how many lake pages within 50 miles of Lebanon name each fish; bluegill is first.
Species DWR names on waterbody pages and its fishing grid, counted per lake page within 50 miles; not a survey of fish numbers.
Current to cast in Russell County
- Big Cedar Creek1 stocked trout reach, wild trout survey class VI, 16.9 km
- Clinch River9 DWR launches, 2 USGS gauges
Unpaged Virginia streams in Russell County, as rows (6)
- Tumbling Creek, 03TUM-01Twild trout survey class II, 31.8 km
- Laurel Bed Creek1 stocked trout reach, wild trout survey class V, 2.9 km
- Copper Creekwild trout survey class VI, 5.8 km
- Mill Creek, 02MIF-01wild trout survey class V, 4.3 km
- Sinking Creek, 02SIN-01wild trout survey class VI, 3.8 km
- Red Creekwild trout survey class V, 3.6 km
Russell County USGS stations
| USGS gauge | Latest reading | Time (ET) |
|---|---|---|
| Clinch River At Cleveland, Va | 154 cfs, 1.69 ft gage height | Nov 13 10:45 pm |
US Geological Survey provisional data, retrieved Nov 13, 2026 11:33 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.
Trailer-ready DWR sites around Russell County
- Blackford Bridge boat ramp on Clinch RiverClinch River, concrete ramp (no dock), freshwater
- Carterton boat ramp on Clinch RiverClinch River, concrete ramp (no dock), freshwater
- Laurel Bed Lake boat rampLaurel Bed Lake, ramp and floating pier, 1 ramp, barrier-free, freshwater
- Nash's Ford boat ramp on Clinch RiverClinch River, concrete ramp (no dock), freshwater
- Puckett's Hole boat ramp on Clinch RiverClinch River, concrete ramp (no dock), freshwater
- St Paul boat ramp on Clinch RiverClinch River, concrete ramp (no dock), barrier-free, freshwater
Virginia DWR Boating Access Locations layer (attributes as recorded; lanes, fees and hours are not in the layer), read November 6, 2026.
Trout plan and stocking rows for Russell County
| Date | Water as listed | Category | Species |
|---|---|---|---|
| October 13, 2026 | Big Cedar Creek | A | Rainbow Trout |
| May 15, 2026 | Big Cedar Creek | A | Rainbow Trout |
| April 21, 2026 | Big Cedar Creek | A | Rainbow Trout |
| April 9, 2026 | Big Cedar Creek | A | Brook Trout |
| March 16, 2026 | Big Cedar Creek | A | Brown Trout |
| March 5, 2026 | Big Cedar Creek | A | Rainbow Trout |
| February 11, 2026 | Big Cedar Creek | A | Rainbow Trout |
| December 1, 2025 | Big Cedar Creek | A | Rainbow Trout |
| October 8, 2025 | Big Cedar Creek | A | Brook Trout |
| May 16, 2025 | Big Cedar Creek | A | Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout |
| April 15, 2025 | Big Cedar Creek | A | Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout |
| April 1, 2025 | Big Cedar Creek | A | Rainbow Trout |
| March 24, 2025 | Big Cedar Creek | A | Brown Trout |
| March 6, 2025 | Big Cedar Creek | A | Rainbow Trout |
| January 3, 2025 | Big Cedar Creek | A | Brown Trout |
| November 8, 2024 | Big Cedar Creek | A | Brown Trout |
| October 10, 2024 | Big Cedar Creek | A | Rainbow Trout |
| May 17, 2024 | Big Cedar Creek | A | Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout |
| April 22, 2024 | Big Cedar Creek | A | Brook Trout |
| April 4, 2024 | Big Cedar Creek | A | Rainbow Trout |
The 2026 stocking plan for Russell County
| Water | County or city as printed | Category | Category meaning | National forest |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Big Cedar Creek | Russell 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).
Keeper counts in force across Russell County
Freshwater in Russell County follows the statewide rows below unless the digest names a water as an exception. Budget $23 for the resident freshwater license, or $47 as a nonresident.
| 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 |
Russell County lakes the digest singles out (1)
| Water | Species | Rule as printed |
|---|---|---|
| Clinch River–within the boundaries of Scott, Wise, Russell or Tazewell counties | Largemouth, Smallmouth Bass | No largemouth or smallmouth bass less than 20 inches, only 1 per day longer than 20 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.
Heaviest Virginia catches by Russell County
| Species | Weight as printed | Water | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rock Bass | 2 lbs. 2 oz. | Laurel Bed Lake | 1986 |
| Sauger | 3 lbs. | Clinch River | 2010 |
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.
Stores and paid captains across Russell County
Bloodworms, line and lures in Russell County
- Bottom Dwellers Tackle Incbait and tackle shop, Cedar Bluff
- Taylor's Tacklebait and tackle shop, Honaker
Yellow Pages and chain store listings; guide and charter business listings (matched by the waters they list or their locality), read November 6, 2026.
Onward from Russell County
Communities within Russell County
- Lebanonpop. 3,159
- Honakerpop. 1,217
The counties and cities ringing Russell County
- Washington County15 miles southeast
- Dickenson County20 miles northwest
- City of Bristol22 miles south
- Buchanan County23 miles north
Piscifun tackle that suits Russell County
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Lakes, tidewater and stream riffles close to Russell County, in pictures
Photo: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Northeast Region, Public domain
Photo: Jason Riedy, CC BY 2.0
Photo: LookoutBelle, CC BY 2.0
Photo: Jason Riedy, CC BY 2.0
Replies for Russell County anglers
At which launches can a trailer back down within Russell County?
You can pick from 6 boating access sites, Blackford Bridge boat ramp on Clinch River among them.
What is the largest lake page inside Russell County?
Laurel Bed Lake, at 330 acres.
Which fish live in the lakes around Russell County, per DWR?
Bluegill leads the count of lake pages within 50 miles, then channel catfish, crappie and rainbow trout; DWR names them on its waterbody pages.
What tackle sellers do the listings show in Russell County?
The listings hold 2 here, such as Bottom Dwellers Tackle Inc.
Where is Russell County government business done?
Courthouse business happens in Lebanon.
What does DWR charge to fish in Russell County?
Budget $23 for the resident freshwater license, or $47 as a nonresident.
Which localities border Russell County?
Washington County, Dickenson County and City of Bristol sit closest on the map.
Which region does DWR data give Russell County?
DWR lakes, ramps or piers inside it carry the number for DWR Region 3.
Does the digest name lakes of Russell County separately?
The digest lists 1 water exception here, starting with Clinch River–within the boundaries of Scott, Wise, Russell or Tazewell counties; the table above shows each.
When did DWR last stock trout in Russell County?
The DWR schedule carries 31 stocking dates; the newest lists Rainbow Trout (October 13, 2026; category A) at Big Cedar Creek.
Which state records trace to water of Russell County?
Rock Bass, 2 lbs. 2 oz., 1986, from Laurel Bed Lake.
Spend a sunrise on the water in Russell County
Each launch name opens a directions link.