Lake Kilby Fishing
DWR-listed lake water in City of Suffolk, 222 acres.
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First notes on Lake Kilby
Find Lake Kilby, a lake of 222 acres, in City of Suffolk. It sits about 2 miles from Suffolk.
Ramps, fish and Virginia limits come next.
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 Kilby
Lake Kilby is the oldest of the Portsmouth water supply lakes. It is a colonial era millpond. The upper half of this 222-acre is a dense and very scenic cypress swamp. The water is dark-tannin stained and slightly acidic. Under these conditions, fishes such as flier, warmouth, chain pickerel, and black crappie flourish. Other sport fishes in Kilby include bluegill, redear (stocked by VDWR in 1970s), and largemouth bass.
For Lake Kilby, the block above is copied from the DWR waterbody page.
Virginia DWR waterbody page (updated 11/17/2023), read November 6, 2026.
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- Boat motors (DWR layer)10 HP
- DWR region numberDWR Region 1
Each line repeats a field DWR keeps for Lake Kilby; blank fields are left off.
Virginia DWR Public Fishing Lakes layer (outline, motor rule, region number), read November 6, 2026.
Fish Virginia DWR names at Lake Kilby
Every fish listed for Lake Kilby 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 Kilby
DWR maps no boating access site on Lake Kilby; the closest ones follow.
Neighbouring boat ramps around Lake Kilby
- Western Branch boat ramp on Lake PrinceLake Prince, 6 miles north
- Butler Lake boat ramp on Lone Star LakesLone Star Lakes, 10 miles north
Virginia DWR Boating Access Locations layer (attributes as recorded; lanes, fees and hours are not in the layer), read November 6, 2026.
Keep rules for Lake Kilby
| 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 Kilby, start from the statewide rows and then read any water line.
Regulations tab on the DWR page for Lake Kilby
- Gas motors (up to 10 horsepower) are allowed
- Portsmouth boat permits are required (contact City of Portsmouth for information regarding the permits)
- Bank fishing is prohibited
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 Kilby
On size, Western Branch Reservoir heads the lakes around Lake Kilby with 1,265 acres.
| Water | Distance | Size | DWR ramps | Trout stocking dates |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lake Kilby | this water | 222 acres | 0 | 0 |
| Lake Meade | 2 miles northeast | 512 acres | 0 | 0 |
| Speight’s Run | 2 miles west | 197 acres | 0 | 0 |
| Lake Cohoon | 3 miles northwest | 510 acres | 0 | 0 |
| Lake Prince | 6 miles northwest | 946 acres | 1 | 0 |
| Western Branch Reservoir | 6 miles north | 1,265 acres | 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.
Close to Lake Kilby on the Commonwealth map
More Virginia lakes within reach of Lake Kilby
- Lake Meade2 miles northeast
- Speight’s Run2 miles west
- Lake Cohoon3 miles northwest
- Lake Prince6 miles northwest
- Western Branch Reservoir6 miles north
Stores with hooks, line and lures around Lake Kilby
- Harbor View Partners, 2602 Nansemond Pkwymarina, Suffolk, 6 miles
- Harbor View Partners, 106 Sharpe Drmarina, Suffolk, 15 miles
- Gregs Bait Shackbait and tackle shop, Portsmouth, 15 miles
- G Daddy's Bait & Tacklebait and tackle shop, Carrollton, 15 miles
- Nautical Boatsmarina, Portsmouth, 17 miles
- Shipwright Marinamarina, Portsmouth, 17 miles
A bed and a breakfast counter near Lake Kilby
- Suffolk2 miles, City of Suffolk
- Windsor9 miles, Isle of Wight County
- Carrollton16 miles, Isle of Wight County
- Portsmouth17 miles, City of Portsmouth
Locality pages that take in Lake Kilby
- City of Suffolkindependent city
Piscifun tackle that suits Lake Kilby
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Commonwealth fish worth recognizing at Lake Kilby
Photo: USFWS Mountain-Prairie, Public domain
Photo: USFWS Pacific Southwest Region, Public domain
Photo: USFWS Mountain-Prairie, Public domain
Photo: Andy Sloane, CC BY-SA 2.0
Questions on Lake Kilby before the truck is loaded
Where in the Commonwealth is Lake Kilby?
Our records place it in City of Suffolk, about 2 miles from Suffolk.
How big is Lake Kilby?
It is listed at 222 acres.
Does Lake Kilby have a DWR launch?
No DWR ramp here; Western Branch boat ramp on Lake Prince lies about 6 miles off.
Which fish does Virginia DWR name at Lake Kilby?
DWR names black crappie, bluegill, chain pickerel, crappie and largemouth bass.
Is there a length limit on bass at Lake Kilby?
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 Kilby?
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 Kilby?
DWR records no fishing pier for it.
Which Virginia bait counter sits closest to Lake Kilby?
Nearest in our list: Harbor View Partners (about 6 miles away).
Rig up for Lake Kilby before sunrise
Buy the Virginia license online before you go.