Fishing in Wise County, Virginia
Government seat in Wise; 36,130 residents at the 2020 Census.
- 1lake pages
- 0DWR launches
- 3river pages
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Wise County for fishing, in summary
At the 2020 count Wise County had 36,130 residents and ran its business from Wise. Within its lines, DWR data lists DWR Region 3.
North Fork Pound Reservoir is the largest of 1 local lakes with a page. DWR trout stocking data lists 118 stocking dates for its streams and lakes.
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.
Impoundments that fall in Wise County
| Lake | Area | Kind | DWR launches | Fish DWR names |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| North Fork Pound Reservoir | 154 acres | reservoir | 0 | bluegill, common carp, channel catfish |
Past the Wise County line come these lake pages, each with its distance from Wise.
| Lake | From Wise | Area | Kind | DWR launches | Fish DWR names |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bark Camp Lake | 8 miles southeast | 61 acres | lake | 1 | black crappie, bluegill, bullhead |
| Lake Keokee | 18 miles southwest | 92 acres | reservoir | 1 | bluegill, channel catfish, largemouth bass |
| Flannagan Reservoir | 20 miles northeast | 1,143 acres | reservoir | 0 | bluegill, common carp, channel catfish |
| Hidden Valley Lake | 29 miles east | 61 acres | reservoir | 1 | black crappie, bluegill, channel catfish |
| South Holston Reservoir | 42 miles southeast | 7,580 acres | reservoir | 2 | black crappie, bluegill, channel catfish |
| Laurel Bed Lake | 43 miles east | 330 acres | lake | 1 | bluegill, brook trout, rainbow trout |
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.
Wise County area lakes sorted by fish
Each bar counts lake pages within 50 miles of Wise where DWR names the fish; bluegill comes up most often.
Species DWR names on waterbody pages and its fishing grid, counted per lake page within 50 miles; not a survey of fish numbers.
Waters of Wise County without their own page
These 2 waters of Wise County stay listed until DWR publishes more about them.
| Water | Kind | Area | Nearest town |
|---|---|---|---|
| Big Cherry Reservoir | reservoir | 104 acres (NHD outline area) | Big Stone Gap |
| High Knob Lake | lake | 2 acres (DWR outline area) | Norton |
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.
Wise County creeks and rivers
- Powell River2 stocked trout reaches, 3 DWR launches, 2 USGS gauges
- Clear Creek1 stocked trout reach, wild trout survey class VIII, 6.5 km
- South Fork Powell River1 stocked trout reach
Further named Virginia creeks in Wise County (2)
- Pound/N.F. Pound River1 stocked trout reach
- Burns Creekwild trout survey class VIII, 5.4 km
Wise County stream gauges, live
| USGS gauge | Latest reading | Time (ET) |
|---|---|---|
| Powell River At Big Stone Gap, Va | 37 cfs, 2.15 ft gage height | Nov 12 6:15 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.
Dated NWS pool figures in Wise County
| Lake | Pool | Operator | Reading time |
|---|---|---|---|
| North Fork Pound Reservoir | 1607.73 ft | USACE Huntington District | 2026-11-06 19:30:00 UTC |
Read each pool figure as a snapshot with its time stamp.
USACE Huntington District pool as reported through the NOAA National Water Prediction Service gauge POUV2, read November 6, 2026 (one dated reading, not live; feet as published, datum not printed).
Hatchery trout deliveries to Wise County
| Date | Water as listed | Category | Species |
|---|---|---|---|
| November 4, 2026 | Bear Creek Reservoir (Wise Res.) | B | Rainbow Trout |
| October 6, 2026 | Middle Fork Powell River (Appalachia) | A | Rainbow Trout |
| October 6, 2026 | South Fork Powell River | A | Rainbow Trout |
| October 5, 2026 | Pound River / N. Fork Pound River | DH | Rainbow Trout |
| October 1, 2026 | Middle Fork of Powell River | DH | Rainbow Trout |
| May 29, 2026 | Middle Fork Powell River (Appalachia) | A | Rainbow Trout |
| May 8, 2026 | Bear Creek Reservoir (Wise Res.) | B | Rainbow Trout |
| May 2, 2026 | South Fork Powell River | A | Rainbow Trout |
| April 22, 2026 | Middle Fork Powell River (Appalachia) | A | Rainbow Trout |
| April 22, 2026 | South Fork Powell River | A | Rainbow Trout |
| April 10, 2026 | Bear Creek Reservoir (Wise Res.) | B | Brook Trout, Tiger Trout |
| April 10, 2026 | Clear Creek | C | Brook Trout |
| April 8, 2026 | Middle Fork Powell River (Appalachia) | A | Brook Trout |
| April 8, 2026 | Middle Fork of Powell River | DH | Brook Trout |
| April 3, 2026 | South Fork Powell River | A | Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout, Brook Trout |
| April 2, 2026 | Pound River / N. Fork Pound River | DH | Rainbow Trout |
| March 26, 2026 | Middle Fork Powell River (Appalachia) | A | Rainbow Trout |
| March 26, 2026 | South Fork Powell River | A | Rainbow Trout |
| March 19, 2026 | Bear Creek Reservoir (Wise Res.) | B | Rainbow Trout |
| March 11, 2026 | Middle Fork Powell River (Appalachia) | A | Rainbow Trout |
Trout plan listings for Wise County
| Water | County or city as printed | Category | Category meaning | National forest |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bear Creek Res. (Wise Res.) | Wise County | B | stocked 5 times between October 1 and May 15 | |
| Clear Creek | Wise County | C | stocked 3 times between October 1 and April 30 | yes |
| Middle Fork Powell River | Wise County | A | stocked 8 times between October 1 and May 31 | |
| Middle Fork Powell River | Wise County | DH | Delayed Harvest, special regulations, stocked 3 times | |
| Pound River/N.Fk. Pound River | Wise County | DH | Delayed Harvest, special regulations, stocked 3 times | |
| South Fork Powell River | Wise County | A | stocked 8 times between October 1 and May 31 |
Wise County trout streams with their own rules
| Water | County or city as printed | Regulation | Trout license Oct 1 to Jun 15 |
|---|---|---|---|
| High Knob Lake | Wise | 14 inch / 2 per day | |
| Middle Fork Powell River | Wise | Delayed Harvest | yes |
| North Fork Pound River | Wise | Delayed Harvest | yes |
| Pound River | Wise | Delayed Harvest | yes |
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 across the boundary from Wise County
- Eastern Fishing and Rental Toolsbait and tackle shop, Norton, 2 miles
- Colgard Outdoor Sportsbait and tackle shop, Norton, 3 miles
- Wally's Sporting Goodsbait and tackle shop, Gate City, 26 miles
- Mountain Sports LTDbait and tackle shop, Bristol, 33 miles
- Just Fish'nbait and tackle shop, Bristol, 34 miles
Yellow Pages and chain store listings; straight-line miles from Wise.
Creel and length rows that cover Wise County
Statewide creel and length rows cover Wise County except where the digest singles out a water. Residents buy the yearly freshwater license at $23; out-of-state anglers spend $47.
| 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.
Record weights from water of Wise County
No water of Wise County appears on the record list, but these nearby ones do.
| Species | Weight as printed | Water | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spotted Bass | 6 lbs. 10 oz. | Flannagan Reservoir | 1976 |
| Yellow Perch | 3 lbs. | Flannagan Reservoir | 2010 |
| Sauger | 3 lbs. | Clinch River | 2010 |
| Sauger | 5 lbs. 8 oz. | South Holston Reservoir | 1972 |
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.
Neighbouring pages for Wise County
Town listings for Wise County
- Big Stone Gappop. 5,254
- Wisepop. 2,971
- Coeburnpop. 1,598
- Appalachiapop. 1,432
Neighbours of Wise County
- City of Norton3 miles south
- Scott County18 miles south
- Dickenson County19 miles northeast
- Russell County29 miles east
A Piscifun spread to take to Wise County
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Shorelines around Wise County through a camera
Photo: Virginia State Parks, CC BY 2.0
Photo: Jason Riedy, CC BY 2.0
Photo: LookoutBelle, CC BY 2.0
Photo: Jason Riedy, CC BY 2.0
Wise County fishing, asked and answered
Can the public launch a boat inside Wise County?
There is no DWR-recorded launch inside it.
Which Wise County lake has the most surface?
North Fork Pound Reservoir, at 154 acres.
What species does DWR name on lakes around Wise County?
Bluegill leads the count of lake pages within 50 miles, then channel catfish, crappie and largemouth bass; DWR names them on its waterbody pages.
Where does a Wise County angler buy bait?
Bait here comes from stores over the line.
In which town are the Wise County offices?
The seat is Wise.
What does a visitor pay to fish in Wise County?
Residents buy the yearly freshwater license at $23; out-of-state anglers spend $47.
Which Virginia counties and cities are close to Wise County?
Look at City of Norton, Scott County and Dickenson County next.
Does DWR number a region for Wise County?
DWR lakes, ramps or piers inside it carry the number for DWR Region 3.
Is trout water in Wise County stocked?
The DWR schedule carries 118 stocking dates; the newest lists Rainbow Trout (November 4, 2026; category B) at Bear Creek Reservoir (Wise Res.).
Fish Wise County over a long weekend
River pages carry USGS gauges that update on their own.