Lake Mooney Fishing
A Virginia reservoir in Stafford County, 520 acres.
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What a Virginia angler should know about Lake Mooney
Virginia records Lake Mooney as a reservoir of 520 acres in Stafford County. Count on around 3 miles to reach Southern Gateway.
It has 1 boat ramp in DWR boating access records.
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.
The DWR description of Lake Mooney
This new 520-acre reservoir opened to public fishing on July 1, 2017. The fish community has matured to the point that angling can be supported. The lake experienced a protracted filling operation and finally reached full pool in early 2016. The lake name (originally Rocky Pen Reservoir for its impounded stream) was changed to honor the late Stafford Sheriff’s Office Deputy Jason Mooney.
Parking, ramps and rules on site at Lake Mooney
Take Route 17 north from Fredericksburg, turn left onto Banks Ford Parkway, and right on Greenbank Road. Stafford Parks and Recreation access is at 500 Greenbank Road, Falmouth, VA 22406.
Everything in quotation here is DWR wording about Lake Mooney, not ours.
Virginia DWR waterbody page (updated 11/17/2023), read November 6, 2026.
Engine limits and amenities at Lake Mooney
- Facilities DWR marksparking, boat ramps, electric motors only, paddle access
- DWR region numberDWR Region 4
Where DWR leaves a field empty for Lake Mooney, this list does too.
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.
The fish DWR records for Lake Mooney
DWR best-bet ratings for Lake Mooney
| Species group | DWR rating |
|---|---|
| Bass | present |
| Catfish | present |
| Panfish | present |
At Lake Mooney this list follows DWR labels only; no survey or angler reports went into it.
Virginia DWR waterbody page (updated 11/17/2023), read November 6, 2026.
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| Site | Recorded attributes | Owner | Location (DWR) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rocky Pen Park on Lake Mooney | concrete ramp (no dock), 1 ramp, freshwater | Stafford County | Frp, I95, go W on Rt. 17, turn S. on Sanford Dr. fo 2.1 mi. turn lft on Greenbank Rd. |
Fallback Commonwealth launches near Lake Mooney
- Motts boat ramp on Motts Run ReservoirMotts Run Reservoir, 3 miles south
- Hunting Run boat ramp on Rapidan River (Trout Section)Rapidan River (Trout Section), 4 miles west
- Lake Curtis boat rampLake Curtis, 6 miles north
- City Docks boat ramp on Tidal Rappahannock RiverTidal Rappahannock River, 7 miles southeast
- Elys Ford boat ramp on Rapidan River (Trout Section)Rapidan River (Trout Section), 7 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 keep counts for Lake Mooney
| 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 |
Statewide digest rows rule Lake Mooney wherever its own entries are silent.
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 Mooney weighed against Virginia neighbours
Hunting Run Reservoir holds the most water near Lake Mooney: 420 acres.
| Water | Distance | Size | DWR ramps | Trout stocking dates |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lake Mooney | this water | 520 acres | 1 | 0 |
| Motts Run Reservoir | 2 miles south | 160 acres | 1 | 0 |
| Hunting Run Reservoir | 5 miles west | 420 acres | 0 | 0 |
| Abel Reservoir | 5 miles northeast | 185 acres | 0 | 0 |
| Old Cossey Pond | 6 miles southeast | 3 acres | 0 | 19 |
| Lake Curtis | 6 miles north | 91 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.
Neighbouring stops for Lake Mooney
Nearby lakes worth a cast after Lake Mooney
- Motts Run Reservoir2 miles south
- Hunting Run Reservoir5 miles west
- Abel Reservoir5 miles northeast
- Old Cossey Pond6 miles southeast
- Lake Curtis6 miles north
Commonwealth tackle shops serving Lake Mooney
- Sportsman's Warehouse, 3708 Plank Rdsporting goods store, Fredericksburg, 4 miles
- Ken's Tackle Shopbait and tackle shop, Fredericksburg, 7 miles
- Low Main Marinamarina, Locust Grove, 11 miles
- Willow Landing Marinamarina, Stafford, 12 miles
- Hope Springs Marinamarina, Stafford, 12 miles
- Holiday Harbor Marinamarina, Stafford, 12 miles
Where anglers bunk when fishing Lake Mooney
- Southern Gateway3 miles, Stafford County
- Falmouth5 miles, Stafford County
- Fredericksburg5 miles, City of Fredericksburg
- Stafford Courthouse9 miles, Stafford County
Lake Mooney, broken out by Virginia locality
- Stafford Countycounty seat Stafford
Piscifun reels for a Virginia day on Lake Mooney
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Sorting out the Lake Mooney species by sight
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
Straight replies on Lake Mooney from the Virginia rule books
Which county or city should I drive to for Lake Mooney?
Head to Stafford County, about 3 miles from Southern Gateway.
What surface figure do DWR or NHD give Lake Mooney?
Virginia sources give 520 acres.
Can a skiff on a trailer reach Lake Mooney from a public ramp?
A lone DWR access site, Rocky Pen Park on Lake Mooney, serves it.
Does DWR list largemouth or smallmouth for Lake Mooney?
Start with black crappie, bluegill, channel catfish, crappie, largemouth bass and redear sunfish; DWR names them.
What bass creel does the digest set for Lake Mooney?
The statewide digest row for largemouth and smallmouth bass reads: 5 per day in the aggregate (combined); No statewide length limits.
Which Virginia license does Lake Mooney call for?
A Virginia freshwater license is $23 a year for residents and $47 for nonresidents 16 and older. Virginians under 16 fish without paying.
Where do Virginia bank casters set up on Lake Mooney?
The DWR pier layer lists nothing here.
What store sells bait near Lake Mooney?
Sportsman's Warehouse (about 4 miles away) is first on our list.
Make a dawn run to Lake Mooney
Virginia fees and limits sit on one page.