Banister Lake Fishing
This reservoir lies in Halifax County, 400 acres.
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Banister Lake in brief
Banister Lake is a Virginia reservoir in Halifax County, listed at 400 acres. The nearest community on the Census list is Halifax, some 2 miles distant.
Read on for ramps, species and the cooler rules.
Acres as stated on the Virginia DWR waterbody page, read November 6, 2026. Virginia DWR Public Fishing Lakes layer (outline, motor rule, region number), read November 6, 2026. Census 2023 places.
Banister Lake in the words of Virginia DWR
Banister Lake is a 400-acre impoundment in Halifax County, Virginia. The lake is a mainstream impoundment of the Banister River and serves as a drinking water supply for the Town of Halifax. Banister offers anglers fishing opportunities close to the towns of Halifax and South Boston. Habitat in the lake consists of natural woody debris and some aquatic vegetation.
Finding the access at Banister Lake
Banister Lake is located on Route 501 near the town of Halifax.
DWR wrote the passage above about Banister Lake; check its page for updates.
Virginia DWR waterbody page (updated 11/17/2023), read November 6, 2026.
Site amenities DWR lists for Banister Lake
- DWR region numberDWR Region 2
The rows on Banister Lake mirror DWR records.
Virginia DWR Public Fishing Lakes layer (outline, motor rule, region number), read November 6, 2026.
Species on the DWR page for Banister Lake
DWR wording drives the Banister Lake species list; generic labels stay unlinked.
Virginia DWR waterbody page (updated 11/17/2023), read November 6, 2026.
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There is no DWR ramp for Banister Lake; ask the owner before towing.
More DWR launches near Banister Lake
- Lake Connor boat ramp on Lake ConnerLake Conner, 12 miles northeast
- Clarkton Bridge boat ramp on Staunton RiverStaunton River, 14 miles north
- Watkins Bridge boat ramp on Staunton RiverStaunton River, 15 miles northeast
- Clover boat ramp on Staunton RiverStaunton River, 15 miles east
Virginia DWR Boating Access Locations layer (attributes as recorded; lanes, fees and hours are not in the layer), read November 6, 2026.
Virginia limits in force on Banister Lake
| Species as printed | Applies to | 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 |
Those statewide digest rows govern Banister Lake unless an exception below names it.
DWR regulation notes on Banister Lake
- Largemouth Bass
- 12 inches minimum
- 5 per day
- Sunfish
- 50 per day
- No Length Limit
- Crappie
- 25 per day
- No Length Limit
- Channel Catfish
- 8 per day
- 15 inches minimum
- All Other Species
- Statewide Limits Apply
Virginia DWR waterbody page (updated 11/17/2023), read November 6, 2026.
A Virginia freshwater license is $23 a year for residents and $47 for nonresidents 16 and older.
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.
Banister Lake next to its Virginia neighbours
If Banister Lake feels crowded, Buggs Island Lake (Kerr Reservoir) spreads across 48,900 acres.
| Water | Distance | Size | DWR ramps | Trout stocking dates |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Banister Lake | this water | 400 acres | 0 | 0 |
| Lake Conner | 12 miles northeast | 100 acres | 1 | 0 |
| Lake Burton | 33 miles west | 76 acres | 1 | 0 |
| Leesville Reservoir | 35 miles northwest | 3,400 acres | 2 | 0 |
| Briery Creek Lake | 38 miles northeast | 845 acres | 2 | 0 |
| Buggs Island Lake (Kerr Reservoir) | 39 miles east | 48,900 acres | 0 | 0 |
Virginia DWR waterbody pages and Public Fishing Lakes layer, NHD outline areas, DWR Boating Access Locations and stocking schedule; read November 6, 2026.
Around Banister Lake, within a Virginia drive
Other Virginia reservoirs close to Banister Lake
- Lake Conner12 miles northeast
- Lake Burton33 miles west
- Leesville Reservoir35 miles northwest
- Briery Creek Lake38 miles northeast
- Buggs Island Lake (Kerr Reservoir)39 miles east
Where to buy bait before Banister Lake
- Clarksville Marina Incmarina, Clarksville, 25 miles
Virginia towns close to Banister Lake
- Halifax2 miles, Halifax County
- South Boston5 miles, Halifax County
- Brookneal18 miles, Campbell County
- Clarksville24 miles, Mecklenburg County
The localities Banister Lake runs through
- Halifax Countycounty seat Halifax
Piscifun spinning gear for a day out on Banister Lake
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Shorelines around Banister Lake through a camera
Photo: ted, CC BY 2.0
Photo: Virginia State Parks, CC BY 2.0
Photo: NatalieMaynor, CC BY 2.0
Photo: Nannette Turner, CC BY 2.0
Banister Lake: what Old Dominion anglers keep asking
Which Virginia locality holds Banister Lake?
Look in Halifax County, about 2 miles from Halifax.
Roughly how much water is Banister Lake?
About 400 acres.
Which DWR access site suits a first trip to Banister Lake?
None is mapped on it; the closest DWR ramp is Lake Connor boat ramp on Lake Conner, about 12 miles away.
What might bite for a Virginia angler at Banister Lake?
DWR lists bluegill, chain pickerel, channel catfish, crappie, largemouth bass and redear sunfish.
Which digest bass row covers Banister Lake?
The statewide digest row for largemouth and smallmouth bass reads: 5 per day in the aggregate (combined); No statewide length limits.
Does a Virginia freshwater license cover Banister Lake?
A Virginia freshwater license is $23 a year for residents and $47 for nonresidents 16 and older. Under-16 anglers are exempt.
Can a bank angler work the shoreline of Banister Lake?
No dedicated pier appears on DWR data.
Which shop is on the way to Banister Lake?
Stop at Clarksville Marina Inc (about 25 miles away).
Plan a Saturday on Banister Lake
Check the digest, then pick a ramp.