Lake Keokee Fishing
DWR-listed reservoir water in Lee County, 92 acres.
Pick for largemouth bassPiscifun Chaos Pro CNC baitcasting reel25% OFFSale $97.99 Photo of John W. Flannagan Reservoir: Jason Riedy, CC BY 2.0
First notes on Lake Keokee
Find Lake Keokee, a reservoir of 92 acres, in Lee County. It sits about 4 miles from Big Stone Gap.
DWR records 1 boat ramp that open onto it. Shore casters have 1 fishing pier to try.
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.
DWR notes on fishing Lake Keokee
Lake Keokee is a 92-acre impoundment located in Lee County. The lake is surrounded by National Forest lands. The lake offers fishing for largemouth bass, bluegill, redear sunfish, and channel catfish. Flooded standing timber is the dominant habitat type for this lake. Navigation routes were cleared while the lake was drawn down in 2003 and 2018, but boaters should still use caution.
For Lake Keokee, the block above is copied from the DWR waterbody page.
Virginia DWR waterbody page (updated 11/17/2023), read November 6, 2026.
For the largemouth bass herePiscifun AlinoX 300 low profile baitcaster34% OFFSale $104.99 Motors, parking and more at Lake Keokee
- Boat motors (DWR layer)Electric Motors Only
- Facilities DWR marksparking, accessible facilities, restrooms, hiking trails, bike trails, fishing pier or platform, boat ramps, electric motors only, paddle access, primitive camping only
- DWR region numberDWR Region 3
Each line repeats a field DWR keeps for Lake Keokee; blank fields are left off.
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.
Fish Virginia DWR names at Lake Keokee
Where Lake Keokee shines, per DWR
| Species group | DWR rating |
|---|---|
| Bass | present |
| Catfish | present |
| Panfish | best bet |
Every fish listed for Lake Keokee has a DWR source behind it.
Virginia DWR waterbody page (updated 11/17/2023), read November 6, 2026.
Trailer ramps the DWR lists at Lake Keokee
| Site | Recorded attributes | Owner | Location (DWR) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lake Keokee boat ramp | concrete ramp (no dock), 1 ramp, barrier-free, freshwater | USFS | Rt. 624 South of Keokee |
Fishing Lake Keokee without a boat
- Keokee Lake fishing pierfishing pier
Neighbouring boat ramps around Lake Keokee
- Clinchport boat rampClinch River, 14 miles southeast
- Poteet Ferry boat ramp on Powell RiverPowell River, 14 miles southwest
- Rexrena (Copper Creek) boat ramp on Clinch RiverClinch River, 15 miles southeast
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.
Keep rules for Lake Keokee
| 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 |
At Lake Keokee, start from the statewide rows and then read any water line.
Regulations tab on the DWR page for Lake Keokee
- Catfish must be at least 18 inches to harvest and the daily limit for catfish is 5 fish/day.
- Statewide creel limits apply for all other species.
- Gasoline motor use is prohibited.
- A National Forest Stamp is required to fish Lake Keokee.
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.
Virginia lakes clustered near Lake Keokee
On size, South Holston Reservoir heads the lakes around Lake Keokee with 7,580 acres.
| Water | Distance | Size | DWR ramps | Trout stocking dates |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lake Keokee | this water | 92 acres | 1 | 0 |
| Bark Camp Lake | 18 miles east | 61 acres | 1 | 31 |
| North Fork Pound Reservoir | 22 miles northeast | 154 acres | 0 | 0 |
| Flannagan Reservoir | 36 miles northeast | 1,143 acres | 0 | 0 |
| Hidden Valley Lake | 43 miles east | 61 acres | 1 | 0 |
| South Holston Reservoir | 52 miles east | 7,580 acres | 2 | 0 |
Virginia DWR waterbody pages and Public Fishing Lakes layer, NHD outline areas, DWR Boating Access Locations and stocking schedule; read November 6, 2026.
Close to Lake Keokee on the Commonwealth map
More Virginia lakes within reach of Lake Keokee
- Bark Camp Lake18 miles east
- North Fork Pound Reservoir22 miles northeast
- Flannagan Reservoir36 miles northeast
- Hidden Valley Lake43 miles east
- South Holston Reservoir52 miles east
Stores with hooks, line and lures around Lake Keokee
- Colgard Outdoor Sportsbait and tackle shop, Norton, 15 miles
- Eastern Fishing and Rental Toolsbait and tackle shop, Norton, 16 miles
A bed and a breakfast counter near Lake Keokee
- Big Stone Gap5 miles, Wise County
- Appalachia5 miles, Wise County
- Pennington Gap12 miles, Lee County
- Norton14 miles, City of Norton
Locality pages that take in Lake Keokee
- Lee Countycounty seat Jonesville
Piscifun tackle that suits Lake Keokee
Piscifun and Amazon links are affiliate links; the site earns a commission on qualifying purchases.
Commonwealth fish worth recognizing at Lake Keokee
Photo: USFWS Pacific Southwest Region, Public domain
Photo: USFWS Mountain-Prairie, CC BY 2.0
Photo: Andy Sloane, CC BY-SA 2.0
Photo: USFWS Mountain-Prairie, Public domain
Questions on Lake Keokee before the truck is loaded
Where in the Commonwealth is Lake Keokee?
Our records place it in Lee County, about 4 miles from Big Stone Gap.
How big is Lake Keokee?
It is listed at 92 acres.
Does Lake Keokee have a DWR launch?
One DWR site serves it, Lake Keokee boat ramp.
Which fish does Virginia DWR name at Lake Keokee?
DWR names bluegill, channel catfish, largemouth bass and redear sunfish.
Is there a length limit on bass at Lake Keokee?
The statewide digest row for largemouth and smallmouth bass reads: 5 per day in the aggregate (combined); No statewide length limits.
Can a visitor fish Lake Keokee?
A Virginia freshwater license is $23 a year for residents and $47 for nonresidents 16 and older. DWR asks nothing of anglers under 16.
Is there a fishing pier on Lake Keokee?
DWR maps one fishing pier there: Keokee Lake fishing pier.
Which Virginia bait counter sits closest to Lake Keokee?
Nearest in our list: Colgard Outdoor Sports (about 15 miles away).
Rig up for Lake Keokee before sunrise
Buy the Virginia license online before you go.