Flannagan Reservoir Fishing
Public reservoir fishing in Dickenson County, 1,143 acres.
Pick for channel catfishPiscifun LumiCat II catfish rod48% OFFSale $114.99 Photo: Jason Riedy, CC BY 2.0
Flannagan Reservoir, the short version
Covering 1,143 acres, Flannagan Reservoir is a reservoir in Dickenson County. The deepest spot DWR reports is 166 feet. Ice, gas and groceries wait in Clintwood, roughly 6 miles off.
Bank anglers get 2 fishing piers on the DWR pier layer. A digest exception covers it, printed below. The level band carries a dated NWS pool reading.
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.
The DWR waterbody page on Flannagan Reservoir
Flannagan Reservoir is a 1,143-acre impoundment located in Dickenson County. The reservoir was built to provide flood control, pollution abatement, fish and wildlife habitat, and recreational opportunities. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers completed construction of the dam and project in 1964. The project was named for Ninth District Congressman John W. Flannagan. Fifty miles of beautiful shoreline consisting of mature hardwood forest interspersed with spectacular rock bluffs surround this deep, clear reservoir.
Directions and facilities at Flannagan Reservoir
From Haysi, take Route 63 to Route 614 (right turn at a Marathon station), then take Route739 (straight when 614 turns left) and travel toward John W. Flannagan Dam. The pier is located at the Spillway Launch Ramp, which is a left turn at the tennis courts. The intersection of Routes 63 and 614 should be marked with a trailblazer sign that reads “John W. Flannagan Dam”.
The DWR text on Flannagan Reservoir appears unedited above.
Virginia DWR waterbody page (updated 11/17/2023), read November 6, 2026.
What DWR marks as available at Flannagan Reservoir
- Boat motors (DWR layer)Unlimited HP
- Facilities DWR marksfee, parking, accessible facilities, picnic tables, grills, restrooms, fishing pier or platform, boat ramps, paddle access, camping
- DWR region numberDWR Region 3
These Flannagan Reservoir entries come from DWR layers, word for word where possible.
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.
What swims in Flannagan Reservoir, per DWR
Best bets DWR marks at Flannagan Reservoir
| Species group | DWR rating |
|---|---|
| Bass | best bet |
| Catfish | present |
| Panfish | present |
Nothing here for Flannagan Reservoir is an angler report; it is what DWR names.
Virginia DWR waterbody page (updated 11/17/2023), read November 6, 2026.
For the channel catfish herePiscifun Chaos XS round baitcaster36% OFFSale $57.99 Boat ramps serving Flannagan Reservoir
The DWR access layer has nothing on Flannagan Reservoir itself.
Shore casting spots DWR maps at Flannagan Reservoir
- Spillway Launch Ramp on Flannagan Reservoirfishing pier
- Cranesnest Launch Ramp on Flannagan Reservoirfishing pier
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.
Dated gauge figures for Flannagan Reservoir
One dated pool value for Flannagan Reservoir appears above.
USACE Huntington District pool as reported through the NOAA National Water Prediction Service gauge FLAV2, read November 6, 2026 (one dated reading, not live; feet as published, datum not printed).
Size and creel at Flannagan Reservoir
| 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 |
Unless the digest singles out Flannagan Reservoir for a species, the statewide row decides.
What the DWR page lists under rules for Flannagan Reservoir
- Black bass
- Largemouth Bass and Smallmouth Bass: 5 per day in the aggregate (combined).
- Spotted Bass: No size or creel limit.
- No Largemouth Bass less than 12 inches.
- No Smallmouth Bass less than 15 inches.
- Hybrid striped bass
- There is a 20-inch minimum size limit on hybrid striped bass in Flannagan Reservoir. All hybrid striped bass less than 20 inches long must be released unharmed. Anglers can keep four hybrids per day.
- Walleye
- There is an 18-inch minimum size limit on walleye in Flannagan Reservoir. All walleye less than 18 inches must be released. Anglers can keep five walleye per day.
- Crappie
- There is a 10-inch minimum size limit on crappie in Flannagan Reservoir. All crappie less than 10 inches long must be released. Anglers can keep 25 crappie per day.
- Sunfish
- There is no size limit for sunfish (bluegill, redear, etc.) in Flannagan Reservoir. Anglers can keep 50 sunfish per day.
- Catfish
Virginia DWR waterbody page (updated 11/17/2023), read November 6, 2026.
Local exceptions at Flannagan Reservoir
| Water as printed | Species | Rule as printed |
|---|---|---|
| Flannagan Reservoir | Largemouth, Smallmouth Bass | No largemouth bass less than 12 inches; no smallmouth bass less than 15 inches |
| Flannagan and South Holston reservoirs | Crappie (black or white) | No crappie less than 10 inches; South Holston Res. — 15 per day in the aggregate (combined) |
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.
Virginia records caught at Flannagan Reservoir
| Species | Weight as printed | Date | Water as listed | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spotted Bass | 6 lbs. 10 oz. | 3-31-1976 | Flannagan Reservoir | retired category |
| Yellow Perch | 3 lbs. | 3-8-2010 | Flannagan Reservoir |
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.
Sizing Flannagan Reservoir against nearby impoundments
Among the five nearest lake pages, Laurel Bed Lake is the biggest at 330 acres.
| Water | Distance | Size | DWR ramps | Trout stocking dates |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flannagan Reservoir | this water | 1,143 acres | 0 | 0 |
| North Fork Pound Reservoir | 17 miles southwest | 154 acres | 0 | 0 |
| Bark Camp Lake | 25 miles south | 61 acres | 1 | 31 |
| Hidden Valley Lake | 30 miles southeast | 61 acres | 1 | 0 |
| Laurel Bed Lake | 35 miles southeast | 330 acres | 1 | 0 |
| Lake Keokee | 36 miles southwest | 92 acres | 1 | 0 |
Virginia DWR waterbody pages and Public Fishing Lakes layer, NHD outline areas, DWR Boating Access Locations and stocking schedule; read November 6, 2026.
Old Dominion stops around Flannagan Reservoir
Other impoundments a short drive from Flannagan Reservoir
- North Fork Pound Reservoir17 miles southwest
- Bark Camp Lake25 miles south
- Hidden Valley Lake30 miles southeast
- Laurel Bed Lake35 miles southeast
- Lake Keokee36 miles southwest
Bloodworm and minnow counters en route to Flannagan Reservoir
- Eastern Fishing and Rental Toolsbait and tackle shop, Norton, 22 miles
- Colgard Outdoor Sportsbait and tackle shop, Norton, 23 miles
Towns that make a good base for Flannagan Reservoir
- Clintwood6 miles, Dickenson County
- Coeburn19 miles, Wise County
- Wise20 miles, Wise County
- Norton24 miles, City of Norton
Each locality touching Flannagan Reservoir, linked
- Dickenson Countycounty seat Clintwood
A Piscifun spread to take to Flannagan Reservoir
Piscifun and Amazon links are affiliate links; the site earns a commission on qualifying purchases.
Photo ID for the fish swimming at Flannagan Reservoir
Photo: ted_rocket, CC BY-SA 2.0
Photo: USFWS Mountain-Prairie, Public domain
Photo: USFWS Pacific Southwest Region, Public domain
Photo: USFWS Mountain-Prairie, Public domain
Sorting out Flannagan Reservoir, question by question
Which part of Virginia is Flannagan Reservoir in?
Set the GPS for Dickenson County, about 6 miles from Clintwood.
What size is Flannagan Reservoir?
It spans 1,143 acres; DWR lists 166 feet as its deepest water.
Which Commonwealth ramp puts a bass boat on Flannagan Reservoir?
Mapped launches are far off; carry in a kayak where allowed.
Which fish does a Virginia angler find in Flannagan Reservoir?
Expect bluegill, common carp, channel catfish, crappie, flathead catfish, hybrid striped bass and rock bass, per DWR.
Do I measure bass at Flannagan Reservoir?
The statewide digest row for largemouth and smallmouth bass reads: 5 per day in the aggregate (combined); No statewide length limits. Check the water-specific line in the limits band too.
Which license should I carry at Flannagan Reservoir?
A Virginia freshwater license is $23 a year for residents and $47 for nonresidents 16 and older. Anglers under 16 need none.
Is Flannagan Reservoir worth a trip with no boat on the trailer?
Spillway Launch Ramp on Flannagan Reservoir is one of 2 fishing piers.
Does any listed bait store serve Flannagan Reservoir?
Try Eastern Fishing and Rental Tools (about 22 miles away).
Where does a Virginia angler read the water height at Flannagan Reservoir?
The last pool reading we collected was 1388.83 feet at 2026-11-06 19:30:00 UTC, via the NWS gauge page; it is not live.
Does the DWR record list include Flannagan Reservoir?
Spotted Bass, 6 lbs. 10 oz., 1976, is on the DWR record list for this water (angler names are left out here).
Head out to Flannagan Reservoir this season
Read the creel rows before the bow leaves the ramp.