Claytor Lake Fishing
Pulaski and Carroll counties holds this reservoir, 4,363 acres.
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Claytor Lake, sized up for Virginia anglers
Pulaski and Carroll counties is home to Claytor Lake, a reservoir sized at 4,363 acres. Pulaski lies about 5 miles from the map point.
Trailers go in at 3 boat ramps DWR maps. DWR also maps 1 fishing pier for fishing from land. The 2026 digest names it with limits of its own. An operator pool reading, via NWS, is dated further down.
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.
What Virginia DWR writes about Claytor Lake
Claytor Lake, a 4,363-acre impoundment of the New River, stretches northeastward across the Pulaski County countryside for 21 miles. Possible catches from Claytor Lake range from bass to carp. Smallmouth, Largemouth, and Spotted Bass (collectively called “black bass”) are the “bread and butter” fishes of this lake. About 67 percent of the anglers at Claytor Lake fish for “black bass.” Alabama Bass are found in Claytor Lake.
How to reach Claytor Lake, per DWR
Access Points: Allisonia Rt. 693 Dublin Southeast on Rt. 660 of Dublin Harry DeHaven Park
The quoted text above belongs to Virginia DWR and is reproduced as its page prints it for Claytor Lake.
Virginia DWR waterbody page (updated 11/17/2023), read November 6, 2026.
For the smallmouth herePiscifun AlinoX 300 low profile baitcaster34% OFFSale $104.99 Facilities and boat motors on Claytor Lake
- Boat motors (DWR layer)Unlimited HP
- Facilities DWR marksfee, parking, accessible facilities, food concession, picnic tables, grills, restrooms, hiking trails, bike trails, fishing pier or platform, boat ramps, paddle access, camping
- DWR region numberDWR Region 3
DWR layers supply every row for Claytor Lake; nothing is guessed.
Virginia DWR Public Fishing Lakes layer (outline, motor rule, region number), read November 6, 2026. Virginia DWR waterbody page (updated 11/17/2023), read November 6, 2026.
DWR-listed fish at Claytor Lake
Which fish DWR rates at Claytor Lake
| Species group | DWR rating |
|---|---|
| Bass | best bet |
| Catfish | best bet |
| Panfish | present |
The fish shown for Claytor Lake are the ones DWR names on its page, trout layers, stocking schedule or record list, not a catch report.
Virginia DWR waterbody page (updated 11/17/2023), read November 6, 2026.
Launch sites around Claytor Lake
| Site | Recorded attributes | Owner | Location (DWR) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Allisonia boat ramp on Claytor Lake | concrete ramp (no dock), 1 ramp, barrier-free, freshwater | Pulaski County & DCR | At Allisonia, Rt 693 |
| Dublin boat ramp on Claytor Lake | concrete ramp (no dock), 2 ramps, barrier-free, freshwater | Pulaski County and DCR | Southeast on Rt 660 (7) of Dublin |
| Harry DeHaven boat ramp on Claytor Lake | dock and ramp, 2 ramps, barrier-free, freshwater | Pulaski County | From I-81,SonLittle River Dam Rd(5.5),WonPoor House Rd.(2.5)to Park,follow signs to ramp |
Piers and platforms on Claytor Lake
- Harry DeHaven Park on Claytor Lakefishing pier
Alternate DWR ramps when Claytor Lake overflows
- Claytor Dam boat ramp on New RiverNew River, 8 miles northeast
- Riverview Park on New RiverNew River, 8 miles northeast
- Peppers Ferry boat ramp on New RiverNew River, 12 miles northeast
- Whitethorne boat ramp on New RiverNew River, 14 miles northeast
Virginia DWR Boating Access Locations layer (attributes as recorded; lanes, fees and hours are not in the layer), read November 6, 2026. Virginia DWR Fishing Piers layer (name and water only), read November 6, 2026.
Pool reading for Claytor Lake
The Claytor Lake reading is a snapshot from the NWS gauge page.
Appalachian Power (AEP) pool as reported through the NOAA National Water Prediction Service gauge CLLV2, read November 6, 2026 (one dated reading, not live; feet as published, datum not printed).
Creel and length rules at Claytor 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 |
A water-specific line for Claytor Lake would override the statewide row.
Rule lines DWR prints for Claytor Lake
- Black Bass (Smallmouth, Largemouth & Spotted)
- Largemouth Bass and Smallmouth Bass: 5 per day in the aggregate
- Spotted Bass: No size or creel limit
- No Minimum Size Limit for Largemouth Bass
- No Smallmouth Bass less than 14 inches
- Striped Bass/Hybrid Striped Bass
- September 16 to June 30: 2 per day in the aggregate, minimum size limit 20 inches
- July 1 to September 15: 4 per day in the aggregate, no minimum size limit
- White Bass
- 5 per day, no length limit
- Bluegill/Sunfish
- 50 per day in aggregate
- No length limits
- Crappie
Virginia DWR waterbody page (updated 11/17/2023), read November 6, 2026.
Rules that differ on Claytor Lake
| Water as printed | Species | Rule as printed |
|---|---|---|
| Claytor Lake | Largemouth, Smallmouth Bass | No smallmouth less than 14 inches |
| Claytor Lake and its tributaries | Landlocked Striped Bass and Landlocked Striped Bass X White Bass Hybrids | September 16–June 30: 2 per day in the aggregate, no striped bass or hybrid bass less than 20 inches; July 1–September 15: 4 per day in the aggregate; no length limit |
| 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 |
Water-specific exceptions as printed, 2026 Freshwater Fishing in Virginia digest (eRegulations, linked from the Virginia DWR regulations page), 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.
State-record fish from Claytor Lake
| Species | Weight as printed | Date | Water as listed | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Common Carp | 45 lbs. 7 oz. | 10-15-2016 | Claytor Lake | |
| Hybrid Striped Bass | 15 lbs. 13 oz. | 3-16-2016 | Claytor Lake | |
| Spotted Bass | 4 lbs. 12 oz. | 1-1-2020 | Claytor Lake |
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.
Takeoffs and weigh-ins at Claytor Lake
Schedules and results for Claytor Lake live on a separate page.
Commonwealth lakes sitting near Claytor Lake
The largest neighbour of Claytor Lake in this table is Byllesby Lake, 163 acres (DWR outline area).
| Water | Distance | Size | DWR ramps | Trout stocking dates |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Claytor Lake | this water | 4,363 acres | 3 | 0 |
| Gatewood Reservoir | 10 miles west | 162 acres | 0 | 0 |
| Byllesby Lake | 22 miles southwest | 163 acres (DWR outline area) | 1 | 0 |
| Pandapas Pond | 22 miles northeast | 8 acres (DWR outline area) | 0 | 26 |
| Lovill’s Creek Lake | 30 miles south | 55 acres | 1 | 0 |
| Rural Retreat Lake | 35 miles west | 90 acres | 1 | 31 |
Virginia DWR waterbody pages and Public Fishing Lakes layer, NHD outline areas, DWR Boating Access Locations and stocking schedule; read November 6, 2026.
Within a tank of gas of Claytor Lake
Lakes in the same corner of Virginia as Claytor Lake
- Gatewood Reservoir10 miles west
- Byllesby Lake22 miles southwest
- Pandapas Pond22 miles northeast
- Lovill’s Creek Lake30 miles south
- Rural Retreat Lake35 miles west
Picking up minnows and bloodworms near Claytor Lake
- Rock House Marinamarina, Pulaski, 3 miles
- Greasy Creek Outfittersbait and tackle shop, Willis, 15 miles
- Backwoods Outdoor Supplybait and tackle shop, Hillsville, 15 miles
- New River Sports-Wythevillebait and tackle shop, Wytheville, 23 miles
Old Dominion towns a quick hop from Claytor Lake
- Pulaski5 miles, Pulaski County
- Dublin6 miles, Pulaski County
- Radford10 miles, City of Radford
- Hillsville18 miles, Carroll County
County and city guides tied to Claytor Lake
- Pulaski Countycounty seat Pulaski
- Carroll Countycounty seat Hillsville
Piscifun kit lined up for a day on Claytor Lake
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Old Dominion water near Claytor Lake, on camera
Photo: Chris Lawrence, CC BY-SA 2.0
Photo: Virginia State Parks, CC BY 2.0
Photo: DJ Patterson, CC BY-SA 2.0
Photo: Matt Walter, CC BY-SA 2.0
What a Virginia tackle counter hears about Claytor Lake
Which Virginia town makes the nearest base for Claytor Lake?
Its home locality is Pulaski and Carroll counties, about 5 miles from Pulaski.
Is Claytor Lake a big lake by Virginia standards?
Call it 4,363 acres.
How many DWR ramps serve Claytor Lake?
Allisonia boat ramp on Claytor Lake is among 3 boating access sites.
Which species does DWR list for Claytor Lake?
DWR sources name alewife, black crappie, bluegill, common carp, channel catfish, crappie and flathead catfish.
How many bass may I keep from Claytor Lake?
The statewide digest row for largemouth and smallmouth bass reads: 5 per day in the aggregate (combined); No statewide length limits. Its digest exception sits in the band above.
Does a teenager need a DWR license at Claytor Lake?
A Virginia freshwater license is $23 a year for residents and $47 for nonresidents 16 and older. Youth under 16 are exempt.
Does DWR map a pier on Claytor Lake?
DWR maps one fishing pier there: Harry DeHaven Park on Claytor Lake.
Where do anglers fishing Claytor Lake buy tackle?
Our list starts with Rock House Marina (about 3 miles away).
Does a USGS or NWS gauge cover Claytor Lake?
The last pool reading we collected was 1845.7 feet at 2026-11-06 12:00:00 UTC, via the NWS gauge page; it is not live.
Which record row names Claytor Lake?
Common Carp, 45 lbs. 7 oz., 2016, is on the DWR record list for this water (angler names are left out here).
Tow the johnboat over to Claytor Lake
License prices and special rules are on the regulations page.