Lake Chesdin Fishing
This reservoir lies in Dinwiddie County, 3,100 acres.
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Lake Chesdin in brief
Lake Chesdin is a Virginia reservoir in Dinwiddie County, listed at 3,100 acres. The nearest community on the Census list is Matoaca, some 10 miles distant.
Boaters can use 1 boat ramp from the DWR list. There are 1 fishing pier on the DWR fishing pier layer.
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.
Lake Chesdin in the words of Virginia DWR
Lake Chesdin is a 3,100-acre water supply reservoir on the Chesterfield-Dinwiddie County line administered by the Appomattox River Water Authority. Lake Chesdin is a very productive lake that offers excellent largemouth bass fishing, good crappie fishing (both black and white) in spring and fall, and a great channel catfish fishery. Recent walleye and striped bass stockings have provided anglers with additional fishing opportunities.
Finding the access at Lake Chesdin
From Richmond, take I-95 South to the Temple Ave exit in Colonial Heights, then turn left at light onto Temple Ave Westbound, turn left onto U.S. 1/301 South, follow approximately 1 mile turn right onto Dupuy Ave follow Dupuy Ave to light at Rt. 36. Turn right onto Rt. 36 West/River Road and follow through Matoaca to the private boat ramp on the North shore at Seven Springs Marina.
DWR wrote the passage above about Lake Chesdin; check its page for updates.
Virginia DWR waterbody page (updated 11/17/2023), read November 6, 2026.
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- Boat motors (DWR layer)Unlimited HP
- DWR region numberDWR Region 1
The rows on Lake Chesdin mirror DWR records.
Virginia DWR Public Fishing Lakes layer (outline, motor rule, region number), read November 6, 2026.
Species on the DWR page for Lake Chesdin
DWR wording drives the Lake Chesdin species list; generic labels stay unlinked.
Virginia DWR waterbody page (updated 11/17/2023), read November 6, 2026.
Ramps onto Lake Chesdin
| Site | Recorded attributes | Owner | Location (DWR) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lake Chesdin boat ramp | dock and ramp, 2 ramps, barrier-free, freshwater | DWR | From Petersburg,Rt460W(.4);R on Rt226(.2);R on Rt600(.9);L on Rt601(3.5);R on Rt776(.6) |
Bank fishing spots on Lake Chesdin
- Lake Chesdin fishing pierfishing pier
More DWR launches near Lake Chesdin
- Wilcox Lake boat rampWilcox Lake, 14 miles east
- White Bank Park on Swift Creek LakeSwift Creek Lake, 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 DWR Fishing Piers layer (name and water only), read November 6, 2026.
Virginia limits in force on Lake Chesdin
| 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 Lake Chesdin unless an exception below names it.
DWR regulation notes on Lake Chesdin
- Largemouth Bass, Spotted Bass, and Smallmouth Bass
- No length limits
- 5 per day in the aggregate
- Bluegill / Sunfish
- No length limits
- 50 per day in the aggregate
- Striped Bass
- 4 per day
- No Fish Less Than 20 Inches
- Channel Catfish
- No length limits
- 20 per day
- Crappie
- No length limits
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.
State marks set at Lake Chesdin
| Species | Weight as printed | Date | Water as listed | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Channel Catfish | 32 lbs. | 4-28-1980 | Lake Chesdin | retired category |
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.
Bass events at Lake Chesdin
Upcoming takeoffs and sourced weigh-ins for Lake Chesdin share a page.
Lake Chesdin next to its Virginia neighbours
If Lake Chesdin feels crowded, Nottoway Lake spreads across 188 acres.
| Water | Distance | Size | DWR ramps | Trout stocking dates |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lake Chesdin | this water | 3,100 acres | 1 | 0 |
| Swift Creek Lake | 9 miles northeast | 156 acres | 1 | 0 |
| Lakeview Reservoir | 12 miles east | 42 acres | 0 | 0 |
| Wilcox Lake | 14 miles east | 26 acres (DWR outline area) | 1 | 0 |
| Nottoway Lake | 20 miles west | 188 acres | 1 | 0 |
| Amelia Lake | 20 miles northwest | 100 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 Lake Chesdin, within a Virginia drive
Other Virginia reservoirs close to Lake Chesdin
- Swift Creek Lake9 miles northeast
- Lakeview Reservoir12 miles east
- Wilcox Lake14 miles east
- Nottoway Lake20 miles west
- Amelia Lake20 miles northwest
Where to buy bait before Lake Chesdin
- Whippernock Marinamarina, Sutherland, 3 miles
- Virginia Guide Bait Cobait and tackle shop, Chesterfield, 10 miles
- Brenda's Bait & Tackle Shopbait and tackle shop, Petersburg, 13 miles
- Appomattox Boat Harbormarina, Prince George, 15 miles
- Fish Tales & Bait Tacklebait and tackle shop, Hopewell, 19 miles
- James River Tackle Cobait and tackle shop, Hopewell, 19 miles
Virginia towns close to Lake Chesdin
- Matoaca10 miles, Chesterfield County
- Woodlake11 miles, Chesterfield County
- Brandermill12 miles, Chesterfield County
- Ettrick12 miles, Chesterfield County
The localities Lake Chesdin runs through
- Dinwiddie Countycounty seat Dinwiddie
Piscifun spinning gear for a day out on Lake Chesdin
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Shorelines around Lake Chesdin through a camera
Photo: Jim, CC BY-SA 2.0
Photo: schizoform, CC BY 2.0
Photo: Virginia State Parks, CC BY 2.0
Photo: ted, CC BY 2.0
Lake Chesdin: what Old Dominion anglers keep asking
Which Virginia locality holds Lake Chesdin?
Look in Dinwiddie County, about 10 miles from Matoaca.
Roughly how much water is Lake Chesdin?
About 3,100 acres.
Which DWR access site suits a first trip to Lake Chesdin?
DWR maps one: Lake Chesdin boat ramp.
What might bite for a Virginia angler at Lake Chesdin?
DWR lists black crappie, blue catfish, bluegill, bullhead, channel catfish, crappie and flathead catfish.
Which digest bass row covers Lake Chesdin?
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 Lake Chesdin?
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 Lake Chesdin?
DWR maps one fishing pier there: Lake Chesdin fishing pier.
Which shop is on the way to Lake Chesdin?
Stop at Whippernock Marina (about 3 miles away).
Which Virginia record row names Lake Chesdin?
Channel Catfish, 32 lbs., 1980, is on the DWR record list for this water (angler names are left out here).
Plan a Saturday on Lake Chesdin
Check the digest, then pick a ramp.