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Striped Bass
Photo: USFWS Pacific Southwest Region, Public domain 
Sauger
Photo: USFWS Mountain-Prairie, Public domain 
Muskellunge
Photo: Andy Sloane, CC BY-SA 2.0 
Black Crappie
Photo: USFWS Mountain-Prairie, Public domain
Virginia lakes and reservoirs
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Byllesby Lake Fishing
DWR-listed lake water in Carroll County, 163 acres (DWR outline area).
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Carroll County
First notes on Byllesby Lake
Find Byllesby Lake, a lake of 163 acres (DWR outline area), in Carroll County. It sits about 8 miles from Galax.
DWR records 1 boat ramp that open onto it.
163acres, DWR outline area
1DWR ramp
1locality
Acres are the area of the generalized DWR Public Fishing Lakes outline, not a stated DWR figure. Virginia DWR Public Fishing Lakes layer (outline, motor rule, region number), read November 6, 2026. Census 2023 places.
Site
Motors, parking and more at Byllesby Lake
- Boat motors (DWR layer)Unlimited HP
- DWR region numberDWR Region 3
Each line repeats a field DWR keeps for Byllesby Lake; blank fields are left off.
Virginia DWR Public Fishing Lakes layer (outline, motor rule, region number), read November 6, 2026.
Access
Trailer ramps the DWR lists at Byllesby Lake
| Site | Recorded attributes | Owner | Location (DWR) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Byllesby Pool boat ramp | concreate ramp (no dock), 1 ramp, barrier-free, freshwater | Appalachian Power | From the Town of Riverhill, N on Rt 739 to the River |
Neighbouring boat ramps around Byllesby Lake
- Loafers Rest boat ramp on New RiverNew River, 3 miles north
- Ivanhoe boat ramp on New RiverNew River, 3 miles north
- Austinville boat ramp on New RiverNew River, 6 miles north
- Oldtown boat ramp on New RiverNew River, 7 miles south
- Riverside boat ramp on New RiverNew River, 8 miles southwest
- Baywood boat ramp on New RiverNew River, 12 miles southwest
Virginia DWR Boating Access Locations layer (attributes as recorded; lanes, fees and hours are not in the layer), read November 6, 2026.
Limits
Keep rules for Byllesby 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 |
At Byllesby Lake, start from the statewide rows and then read any water line.
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.
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Virginia lakes clustered near Byllesby Lake
On size, Claytor Lake heads the lakes around Byllesby Lake with 4,363 acres.
| Water | Distance | Size | DWR ramps | Trout stocking dates |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Byllesby Lake | this water | 163 acres (DWR outline area) | 1 | 0 |
| Hales Lake | 17 miles west | 3 acres (DWR outline area) | 0 | 31 |
| Gatewood Reservoir | 19 miles north | 162 acres | 0 | 0 |
| Rural Retreat Lake | 20 miles west | 90 acres | 1 | 31 |
| Lovill’s Creek Lake | 21 miles southeast | 55 acres | 1 | 0 |
| Claytor Lake | 22 miles northeast | 4,363 acres | 3 | 0 |
Virginia DWR waterbody pages and Public Fishing Lakes layer, NHD outline areas, DWR Boating Access Locations and stocking schedule; read November 6, 2026.
Nearby
Close to Byllesby Lake on the Commonwealth map
More Virginia lakes within reach of Byllesby Lake
- Hales Lake17 miles west
- Gatewood Reservoir19 miles north
- Rural Retreat Lake20 miles west
- Lovill’s Creek Lake21 miles southeast
- Claytor Lake22 miles northeast
Stores with hooks, line and lures around Byllesby Lake
- Backwoods Outdoor Supplybait and tackle shop, Hillsville, 9 miles
- New River Sports-Wythevillebait and tackle shop, Wytheville, 15 miles
- Rock House Marinamarina, Pulaski, 23 miles
A bed and a breakfast counter near Byllesby Lake
- Galax8 miles, City of Galax
- Hillsville11 miles, Carroll County
- Wytheville15 miles, Wythe County
- Independence15 miles, Grayson County
Locality pages that take in Byllesby Lake
- Carroll Countycounty seat Hillsville
Piscifun
Piscifun tackle that suits Byllesby Lake
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Fish photos
Commonwealth fish worth recognizing at Byllesby Lake
Photo: USFWS Pacific Southwest Region, Public domain
Photo: USFWS Mountain-Prairie, Public domain
Photo: Andy Sloane, CC BY-SA 2.0
Photo: USFWS Mountain-Prairie, Public domain
Answers
Questions on Byllesby Lake before the truck is loaded
Where in the Commonwealth is Byllesby Lake?
Our records place it in Carroll County, about 8 miles from Galax.
How big is Byllesby Lake?
It is listed at 163 acres (DWR outline area).
Does Byllesby Lake have a DWR launch?
One DWR site serves it, Byllesby Pool boat ramp.
Which fish does Virginia DWR name at Byllesby Lake?
DWR names no species for it; statewide rows still apply.
Is there a length limit on bass at Byllesby Lake?
The statewide digest row for largemouth and smallmouth bass reads: 5 per day in the aggregate (combined); No statewide length limits.
Can a visitor fish Byllesby Lake?
A Virginia freshwater license is $23 a year for residents and $47 for nonresidents 16 and older. DWR asks nothing of anglers under 16.
Is there a fishing pier on Byllesby Lake?
DWR records no fishing pier for it.
Which Virginia bait counter sits closest to Byllesby Lake?
Nearest in our list: Backwoods Outdoor Supply (about 9 miles away).
Rig up for Byllesby Lake before sunrise
Buy the Virginia license online before you go.