James River State Park Lakes Fishing
This lake lies in Buckingham County, 1,440 acres.
Pick for crappiePiscifun Carbon X ultralight spinning reel28% OFFSale $57.99 Photo of James River: Tony Alter, CC BY 2.0
James River State Park Lakes in brief
James River State Park Lakes is a Virginia lake in Buckingham County, listed at 1,440 acres. The nearest community on the Census list is Amherst, some 13 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.
James River State Park Lakes in the words of Virginia DWR
James River State Park is most notable for its tremendous views and excellent access to the James River. The 1440-acre Park is one of the newest in the state and boasts three miles of James River frontage. What few Virginians probably realize is that James River State Park is also home to two small fishing ponds. These include Green Hill Pond (2 acres) and Taylor Pond (1 acre). Branch Pond (5 acres) was closed to fishing in 2021 after a dam failure drained the lake.
Finding the access at James River State Park Lakes
James River State Park is located in Buckingham County. From U.S. 60 West, turn right onto Route 605 at the James River Bridge. Travel seven miles, then turn left onto Route 606.
DWR wrote the passage above about James River State Park Lakes; check its page for updates.
Virginia DWR waterbody page (updated 11/17/2023), read November 6, 2026.
Site amenities DWR lists for James River State Park Lakes
- Boat motors (DWR layer)Electric Motors Only
- DWR region numberDWR Region 2
The rows on James River State Park Lakes mirror DWR records.
Virginia DWR Public Fishing Lakes layer (outline, motor rule, region number), read November 6, 2026.
Species on the DWR page for James River State Park Lakes
DWR wording drives the James River State Park Lakes species list; generic labels stay unlinked.
Virginia DWR waterbody page (updated 11/17/2023), read November 6, 2026.
For the crappie herePiscifun Carbon XT ultralight spinning reel25% OFFSale $59.99 Ramps onto James River State Park Lakes
There is no DWR ramp for James River State Park Lakes; ask the owner before towing.
More DWR launches near James River State Park Lakes
- Wingina boat ramp on James River (Upper and Middle)James River (Upper and Middle), 5 miles east
- Lake Nelson boat rampLake Nelson, 6 miles northwest
- Midway boat ramp on James River (Upper and Middle)James River (Upper and Middle), 6 miles northeast
- Bents Creek boat ramp on James River (Upper and Middle)James River (Upper and Middle), 7 miles south
- Howardsville boat ramp on James River (Upper and Middle)James River (Upper and Middle), 12 miles northeast
- Mill Creek boat rampMill Creek Reservoir, 15 miles west
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 James River State Park Lakes
| 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 James River State Park Lakes unless an exception below names it.
DWR regulation notes on James River State Park Lakes
- Black Bass
- (Smallmouth, Largemouth and Spotted)
- 5 per day in aggregate, only 1 greater then 22 inches
- No bass 14 to 22 inches
- Channel Catfish
- 5 fish per day
- 15 inch minimum length limit
- All other species are managed under statewide regulations.
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.
James River State Park Lakes next to its Virginia neighbours
If James River State Park Lakes feels crowded, Stonehouse Lake spreads across 41 acres.
| Water | Distance | Size | DWR ramps | Trout stocking dates |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| James River State Park Lakes | this water | 1,440 acres | 0 | 0 |
| Lake Nelson | 6 miles northwest | 40 acres | 1 | 0 |
| Slate River Reservoir | 16 miles east | 38 acres | 0 | 0 |
| Horsepen Lake | 17 miles southeast | 19 acres | 1 | 0 |
| Stonehouse Lake | 17 miles west | 41 acres | 1 | 0 |
| Thrasher Lake | 18 miles west | 36 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.
Around James River State Park Lakes, within a Virginia drive
Other Virginia reservoirs close to James River State Park Lakes
- Lake Nelson6 miles northwest
- Slate River Reservoir16 miles east
- Horsepen Lake17 miles southeast
- Stonehouse Lake17 miles west
- Thrasher Lake18 miles west
Where to buy bait before James River State Park Lakes
- TNT Outfittersbait and tackle shop, Spout Spring, 19 miles
Virginia towns close to James River State Park Lakes
- Amherst13 miles, Amherst County
- Appomattox19 miles, Appomattox County
- Madison Heights20 miles, Amherst County
- Lynchburg26 miles, City of Lynchburg
The localities James River State Park Lakes runs through
- Buckingham Countycounty seat Buckingham
Piscifun spinning gear for a day out on James River State Park Lakes
Piscifun and Amazon links are affiliate links; the site earns a commission on qualifying purchases.
Shorelines around James River State Park Lakes through a camera
Photo: sdreelin, CC BY-SA 2.0
Photo: Nannette Turner, CC BY 2.0
Photo: Bill McChesney, CC BY 2.0
Photo: Mackenzie Brooks, CC BY-SA 2.0
James River State Park Lakes: what Old Dominion anglers keep asking
Which Virginia locality holds James River State Park Lakes?
Look in Buckingham County, about 13 miles from Amherst.
Roughly how much water is James River State Park Lakes?
About 1,440 acres.
Which DWR access site suits a first trip to James River State Park Lakes?
None is mapped on it; the closest DWR ramp is Wingina boat ramp on James River (Upper and Middle), about 5 miles away.
What might bite for a Virginia angler at James River State Park Lakes?
DWR lists black crappie, bluegill, crappie, largemouth bass and redear sunfish.
Which digest bass row covers James River State Park Lakes?
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 James River State Park Lakes?
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 James River State Park Lakes?
No dedicated pier appears on DWR data.
Which shop is on the way to James River State Park Lakes?
Stop at TNT Outfitters (about 19 miles away).
Plan a Saturday on James River State Park Lakes
Check the digest, then pick a ramp.