Lake Curtis Fishing
A lake in Stafford County, 91 acres.
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The essentials of Lake Curtis
In Stafford County, the lake known as Lake Curtis covers 91 acres. The closest Census place is Southern Gateway, about 7 miles away.
DWR boating access data shows 1 boat ramp on it. The pier layer adds 1 fishing pier.
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.
How DWR describes Lake Curtis
Lake Curtis is a 91-acre, Department-owned lake in Stafford County. The lake has an abundance of standing timber, providing fish with “structure.” It is on the boundary of Curtis Memorial Park, a facility that has tennis courts, a swimming pool, a golf course, grills, and picnic tables. Several new fishing pier “bulkheads” were recently added adjacent to the Department’s parking lot. The lake has excellent largemouth bass, bluegill, and channel catfish populations.
Getting to Lake Curtis
Lake Curtis can be reached from I-95 and Fredericksburg by taking Rt. 17 north to Rt. 616 north. Follow Rt. 616 to Rt. 622, then turn left (west) to reach the boat ramp. Information about the lake can be obtained by contacting the DWR Regional Office in Fredericksburg at 540-899-4169. Curtis Memorial Park can be reached by continuing on Rt. 622 and then left on Rt. 612.
These are DWR sentences on Lake Curtis, cut to whole sentences.
Virginia DWR waterbody page (updated 11/17/2023), read November 6, 2026.
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- Boat motors (DWR layer)Electric Motors Only
- Facilities DWR marksparking, accessible facilities, fishing pier or platform, boat ramps, electric motors only, paddle access
- DWR region numberDWR Region 4
Only the fields DWR fills in for Lake Curtis appear here.
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.
Species DWR lists for Lake Curtis
The DWR fishing outlook grid for Lake Curtis
| Species group | DWR rating |
|---|---|
| Bass | present |
| Catfish | present |
| Panfish | present |
For Lake Curtis, species come from DWR pages and trout records rather than from catches.
Virginia DWR waterbody page (updated 11/17/2023), read November 6, 2026.
DWR-mapped launches on Lake Curtis
| Site | Recorded attributes | Owner | Location (DWR) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lake Curtis boat ramp | dock and ramp, 1 ramp, barrier-free, freshwater | DWR | From Hartwood, Rt 612 North (2.7); R on Rt 622 (.5) |
Walk-in fishing on Lake Curtis
- Lake Curtis fishing pierfishing pier
Virginia launches flanking Lake Curtis
- Hunting Run boat ramp on Rapidan River (Trout Section)Rapidan River (Trout Section), 7 miles southwest
- Rocky Pen Park on Lake MooneyLake Mooney, 7 miles south
- Elys Ford boat ramp on Rapidan River (Trout Section)Rapidan River (Trout Section), 8 miles southwest
- Motts boat ramp on Motts Run ReservoirMotts Run Reservoir, 8 miles south
- City Docks boat ramp on Tidal Rappahannock RiverTidal Rappahannock River, 11 miles southeast
- Kelly's Ford boat ramp on Upper Rappahannock RiverUpper Rappahannock River, 12 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 DWR Fishing Piers layer (name and water only), read November 6, 2026.
Cooler math for Lake Curtis under Virginia rules
| 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 |
The 2026 statewide rows are the default on Lake Curtis.
DWR page rule lines for Lake Curtis
- Largemouth Bass
- The daily bag limit for bass is five per day.
- Sunfish
- There is no size limit for sunfish (bluegill, redear etc.) in Lake Curtis. Anglers can harvest 50 sunfish (combined) per day.
- Crappie
- Black may be harvested without size restriction from Lake Curtis. The daily limit is 25 per day in aggregate.
- Channel Catfish
- There is a 15 inch minimum size limit, anglers are limited to 8 fish per day.
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.
Lake Curtis among nearby lakes
Next to Lake Curtis, Lake Mooney is the giant of the group at 520 acres.
| Water | Distance | Size | DWR ramps | Trout stocking dates |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lake Curtis | this water | 91 acres | 1 | 0 |
| Abel Reservoir | 5 miles southeast | 185 acres | 0 | 0 |
| Lake Mooney | 6 miles south | 520 acres | 1 | 0 |
| Hunting Run Reservoir | 8 miles southwest | 420 acres | 0 | 0 |
| Motts Run Reservoir | 8 miles south | 160 acres | 1 | 0 |
| Phelps Pond | 10 miles west | 4 acres (DWR outline area) | 0 | 0 |
Virginia DWR waterbody pages and Public Fishing Lakes layer, NHD outline areas, DWR Boating Access Locations and stocking schedule; read November 6, 2026.
Just off Lake Curtis, by road
Another Virginia impoundment after Lake Curtis
- Abel Reservoir5 miles southeast
- Lake Mooney6 miles south
- Hunting Run Reservoir8 miles southwest
- Motts Run Reservoir8 miles south
- Phelps Pond10 miles west
Filling the bait bucket close to Lake Curtis
- Sportsman's Warehouse, 3708 Plank Rdsporting goods store, Fredericksburg, 10 miles
- Willow Landing Marinamarina, Stafford, 10 miles
- Holiday Harbor Marinamarina, Stafford, 11 miles
- Hope Springs Marinamarina, Stafford, 11 miles
- Low Main Marinamarina, Locust Grove, 12 miles
- Ken's Tackle Shopbait and tackle shop, Fredericksburg, 12 miles
Places to stay near Lake Curtis
- Southern Gateway7 miles, Stafford County
- Stafford Courthouse8 miles, Stafford County
- Falmouth9 miles, Stafford County
- Aquia Harbour10 miles, Stafford County
The Virginia counties and cities along Lake Curtis
- Stafford Countycounty seat Stafford
Reels from Piscifun for the next trip to Lake Curtis
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Lakes, tidewater and stream riffles close to Lake Curtis, in pictures
Photo: David Tansey, CC BY 2.0
Photo: Doug Kerr, CC BY-SA 2.0
Photo: Wilbur Ince, CC BY 2.0
Photo: Blake Patterson, CC BY 2.0
Lake Curtis, asked and answered for Virginia anglers
How do I find Lake Curtis on a Virginia map?
Point the map at Stafford County, about 7 miles from Southern Gateway.
How many acres is Lake Curtis?
Size on record: 91 acres.
Does DWR keep a public launch on Lake Curtis?
Use Lake Curtis boat ramp, the single DWR launch.
What swims in Lake Curtis?
The DWR list includes bluegill, channel catfish and largemouth bass.
How many largemouth can go home from Lake Curtis?
The statewide digest row for largemouth and smallmouth bass reads: 5 per day in the aggregate (combined); No statewide length limits.
What does DWR charge to fish Lake Curtis?
A Virginia freshwater license is $23 a year for residents and $47 for nonresidents 16 and older. Anyone not yet 16 is excused from buying one.
Where can bank anglers fish Lake Curtis?
DWR maps one fishing pier there: Lake Curtis fishing pier.
What tackle store is handiest for Lake Curtis trips?
Sportsman's Warehouse (about 10 miles away) heads the shop list.
Load the cooler for Lake Curtis
Each 2026 Virginia fee and creel row is linked below.