Lake Orange Fishing
Public lake fishing in Orange County, 124 acres.
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Lake Orange, the short version
Covering 124 acres, Lake Orange is a lake in Orange County. Ice, gas and groceries wait in Orange, roughly 5 miles off.
The DWR access layer counts 1 boat ramp here. Bank anglers get 1 fishing pier on the DWR 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.
The DWR waterbody page on Lake Orange
Lake Orange is a 124-acre Department-owned public fishing lake in Orange County that was impounded in 1964 and opened to fishing in 1967. The lake is located a few miles east of Orange, VA and offers a scenic setting surrounded by gently rolling farmland and hardwood forests. Access to the lake is off of the main lake peninsula on the western side where the boat ramp, concession, fishing pier, parking lot, picnic facilities and plenty of great shoreline access can be found.
Directions and facilities at Lake Orange
From the town of Orange, go east on Rt. 20. Turn right on Rt. 629 and then left on Rt. 739 to the lake.
The DWR text on Lake Orange appears unedited above.
Virginia DWR waterbody page (updated 11/17/2023), read November 6, 2026.
What DWR marks as available at Lake Orange
- Boat motors (DWR layer)Electric Motors Only
- Facilities DWR marksparking, accessible facilities, food concession, picnic tables, grills, restrooms, fishing pier or platform, boat ramps, electric motors only, paddle access
- DWR region numberDWR Region 4
These Lake Orange entries come from DWR layers, word for word where possible.
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.
What swims in Lake Orange, per DWR
Best bets DWR marks at Lake Orange
| Species group | DWR rating |
|---|---|
| Bass | present |
| Catfish | present |
| Panfish | present |
Nothing here for Lake Orange is an angler report; it is what DWR names.
Virginia DWR waterbody page (updated 11/17/2023), read November 6, 2026.
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| Site | Recorded attributes | Owner | Location (DWR) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lake Orange boat ramp | dock and ramp, 1 ramp, barrier-free, freshwater | DWR | From Orange, Rt 20 East (2.2); R on Rt 629 (2); L on Rt 739 (.6) |
Shore casting spots DWR maps at Lake Orange
- Lake Orange fishing pierfishing pier
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.
Size and creel at Lake Orange
| 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 |
Unless the digest singles out Lake Orange for a species, the statewide row decides.
What the DWR page lists under rules for Lake Orange
- Largemouth Bass
- There is a 16″ to 22″ protective slot limit on Largemouth Bass in Lake Orange. Anglers can harvest five Largemouth Bass per day. Anglers are encouraged to harvest bass in the 8 to 12 inch range to prevent stockpiling of the bass population. Bass between 16″ and 22″ must be released. Only 1 fish larger than 22″ may be harvested.
- Black Crappie
- There is a 9 inch minimum size limit on black crappie in Lake Orange. Anglers can harvest 25 Black Crappie per day.
- Walleye
- 18 inch minimum size limit in Lake Orange. Anglers can harvest 5 Walleye per day.
- Sunfish
- There is no size limit for sunfish (Bluegill, Redear Sunfish, etc.) in Lake Orange. Anglers can harvest 50 sunfish (combined) per day.
- Channel Catfish
- 15 inch minimum size limit for Channel Catfish in Lake Orange. Anglers can harvest 8 Channel Catfish per day.
- Other regulations:
- Camping, swimming, sailboats, hunting, trotlines and fishing tournaments involving prizes are prohibited.
- Gill nets, seines and gasoline motors are prohibited except for official Department duties.
- Cast nets are permitted for catching gizzard shad.
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 records caught at Lake Orange
| Species | Weight as printed | Date | Water as listed | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| White Bass | 6 lbs. 13 oz. | 7-31-1989 | Lake Orange |
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.
Sizing Lake Orange against nearby impoundments
Among the five nearest lake pages, Lake Anna is the biggest at 9,600 acres.
| Water | Distance | Size | DWR ramps | Trout stocking dates |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lake Orange | this water | 124 acres | 1 | 0 |
| Lake Gordonsville (Bowler’s Mill) | 14 miles southwest | 75 acres | 0 | 0 |
| Lake Culpeper | 16 miles north | 255 acres | 0 | 0 |
| Northeast Creek Reservoir | 17 miles south | 187 acres | 0 | 0 |
| Mountain Run | 17 miles north | 75 acres | 1 | 0 |
| Lake Anna | 21 miles southeast | 9,600 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.
Old Dominion stops around Lake Orange
Other impoundments a short drive from Lake Orange
- Lake Gordonsville (Bowler’s Mill)14 miles southwest
- Lake Culpeper16 miles north
- Northeast Creek Reservoir17 miles south
- Mountain Run17 miles north
- Lake Anna21 miles southeast
Bloodworm and minnow counters en route to Lake Orange
- Angler's Landingfly shop, Orange, under a mile
- Dockside Realty at Lake Annamarina, Mineral, 15 miles
- High Point Marinamarina, Mineral, 15 miles
- Sturgeon Creek Marina Incmarina, Spotsylvania, 16 miles
- Low Main Marinamarina, Locust Grove, 17 miles
- Lake Anna Beach Marinamarina, Bumpass, 23 miles
Towns that make a good base for Lake Orange
- Orange5 miles, Orange County
- Gordonsville11 miles, Orange County
- Louisa15 miles, Louisa County
- Lake of the Woods16 miles, Orange County
Each locality touching Lake Orange, linked
- Orange Countycounty seat Orange
A Piscifun spread to take to Lake Orange
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Photo ID for the fish swimming at Lake Orange
Photo: USFWS Mountain-Prairie, Public domain
Photo: Craig Chew-Moulding, CC BY-SA 2.0
Photo: USFWS Mountain-Prairie, Public domain
Photo: Andy Sloane, CC BY-SA 2.0
Sorting out Lake Orange, question by question
Which part of Virginia is Lake Orange in?
Set the GPS for Orange County, about 5 miles from Orange.
What size is Lake Orange?
It spans 124 acres.
Which Commonwealth ramp puts a bass boat on Lake Orange?
The DWR list has just Lake Orange boat ramp.
Which fish does a Virginia angler find in Lake Orange?
Expect black crappie, bluegill, common carp, chain pickerel, channel catfish, crappie and largemouth bass, per DWR.
Do I measure bass at Lake Orange?
The statewide digest row for largemouth and smallmouth bass reads: 5 per day in the aggregate (combined); No statewide length limits.
Which license should I carry at Lake Orange?
A Virginia freshwater license is $23 a year for residents and $47 for nonresidents 16 and older. Anglers under 16 need none.
Is Lake Orange worth a trip with no boat on the trailer?
DWR maps one fishing pier there: Lake Orange fishing pier.
Does any listed bait store serve Lake Orange?
Try Angler's Landing (under a mile away).
Does the DWR record list include Lake Orange?
White Bass, 6 lbs. 13 oz., 1989, is on the DWR record list for this water (angler names are left out here).
Head out to Lake Orange this season
Read the creel rows before the bow leaves the ramp.