Laurel Bed Lake Fishing
Public lake fishing in Russell County, 330 acres.
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Laurel Bed Lake, the short version
Covering 330 acres, Laurel Bed Lake is a lake in Russell County. Ice, gas and groceries wait in Saltville, roughly 6 miles off.
The DWR access layer counts 1 boat ramp here.
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 Laurel Bed Lake
Laurel Bed is a Department-owned lake located in Russell County on the Clinch Mountain Wildlife Management Area. This 330-acre lake rests on the top of Clinch Mountain at 3600 feet of elevation. It is surrounded by second growth hemlock and mixed hardwoods, and provides a spectacular setting with scenery rivaling that found at an Adirondack or Canadian natural lake. Liming projects have improved the lake’s pH to suitable levels, and have allowed the restoration of a brook trout fishery.
Directions and facilities at Laurel Bed Lake
From I-81 take Rt. 107 from Chilhowie to Saltville. Turn left on Rt. 91, then right at traffic light on to Rt. 634. Go to Allison Gap, take a left on Rt. 613, then a right on to Rt. 747. Turn right in to the Clinch Mountain Wildlife Management Area.
The DWR text on Laurel Bed Lake appears unedited above.
Virginia DWR waterbody page (updated 11/17/2023), read November 6, 2026.
For the brook trout herePiscifun Carbon XT ultralight spinning reel25% OFFSale $59.99 What DWR marks as available at Laurel Bed Lake
- Boat motors (DWR layer)Electric Motors Only
- Facilities DWR marksparking, accessible facilities, hiking trails, bike trails, fishing pier or platform, boat ramps, paddle access, primitive camping only
- DWR region numberDWR Region 3
These Laurel Bed Lake 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 Laurel Bed Lake, per DWR
Best bets DWR marks at Laurel Bed Lake
| Species group | DWR rating |
|---|---|
| Bass | best bet |
| Trout | present |
| Panfish | best bet |
Nothing here for Laurel Bed Lake is an angler report; it is what DWR names.
Virginia DWR waterbody page (updated 11/17/2023), read November 6, 2026.
Boat ramps serving Laurel Bed Lake
| Site | Recorded attributes | Owner | Location (DWR) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Laurel Bed Lake boat ramp | ramp and floating pier, 1 ramp, barrier-free, freshwater | DWR | From Saltville, Rt 634 North (.3); L on Rt 613 to Rt 747 in Clinch Mt. WMA |
Ramps worth knowing close to Laurel Bed Lake
- Saltville boat ramp on North Fork Holston RiverNorth Fork Holston River, 5 miles southeast
- Blackford Bridge boat ramp on Clinch RiverClinch River, 8 miles west
- Puckett's Hole boat ramp on Clinch RiverClinch River, 11 miles west
Virginia DWR Boating Access Locations layer (attributes as recorded; lanes, fees and hours are not in the layer), read November 6, 2026.
Size and creel at Laurel Bed Lake
| 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 Laurel Bed Lake for a species, the statewide row decides.
What the DWR page lists under rules for Laurel Bed Lake
- Fishing Hours
- Fishing is allowed 24 hours a day.
- Smallmouth Bass
- 14-to-19-inch protected slot limit.
- Bass may be harvested smaller than 14 inches and larger than 19 inches. 5 per day, with only one fish larger than 19 inches.
- Trout
- 10-inch minimum
- 6 fish/day
- Because fingerling trout are stocked, anglers DO NOT need a trout-fishing license.
- Rock Bass
- No Daily Limit
- No Length Limit
- Other Regulations
- Gasoline motor use is limited to 9.9 HP or less.
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 Laurel Bed Lake
| Species | Weight as printed | Date | Water as listed | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rock Bass | 2 lbs. 2 oz. | 5-17-1986 | Laurel Bed Lake |
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 Laurel Bed Lake against nearby impoundments
Among the five nearest lake pages, Hungry Mother Lake is the biggest at 108 acres.
| Water | Distance | Size | DWR ramps | Trout stocking dates |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Laurel Bed Lake | this water | 330 acres | 1 | 0 |
| Hungry Mother Lake | 17 miles east | 108 acres | 1 | 0 |
| Hidden Valley Lake | 17 miles southwest | 61 acres | 1 | 0 |
| Lincolnshire Lake | 21 miles northeast | 29 acres (DWR outline area) | 0 | 31 |
| Lake Witten | 21 miles northeast | 52 acres | 0 | 31 |
| Beartree Lake | 22 miles south | 10 acres (DWR outline area) | 0 | 22 |
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 Laurel Bed Lake
Other impoundments a short drive from Laurel Bed Lake
- Hungry Mother Lake17 miles east
- Hidden Valley Lake17 miles southwest
- Lincolnshire Lake21 miles northeast
- Lake Witten21 miles northeast
- Beartree Lake22 miles south
Bloodworm and minnow counters en route to Laurel Bed Lake
- Bottom Dwellers Tackle Incbait and tackle shop, Cedar Bluff, 3 miles
- Virginia Creeper Fly-Fishingbait and tackle shop, Abingdon, 19 miles
- Taylor's Tacklebait and tackle shop, Honaker
Towns that make a good base for Laurel Bed Lake
- Saltville6 miles, Smyth County
- Richlands9 miles, Tazewell County
- Cedar Bluff9 miles, Tazewell County
- Honaker10 miles, Russell County
Each locality touching Laurel Bed Lake, linked
- Russell Countycounty seat Lebanon
A Piscifun spread to take to Laurel Bed Lake
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Photo ID for the fish swimming at Laurel Bed Lake
Photo: USFWS Midwest Region, Public domain
Photo: Yellowstone National Park, Public domain
Photo: USFWS Mountain-Prairie, Public domain
Photo: Andy Sloane, CC BY-SA 2.0
Sorting out Laurel Bed Lake, question by question
Which part of Virginia is Laurel Bed Lake in?
Set the GPS for Russell County, about 6 miles from Saltville.
What size is Laurel Bed Lake?
It spans 330 acres.
Which Commonwealth ramp puts a bass boat on Laurel Bed Lake?
The DWR list has just Laurel Bed Lake boat ramp.
Which fish does a Virginia angler find in Laurel Bed Lake?
Expect bluegill, brook trout, rainbow trout, rock bass and smallmouth bass, per DWR.
Do I measure bass at Laurel Bed Lake?
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 Laurel Bed Lake?
A Virginia freshwater license is $23 a year for residents and $47 for nonresidents 16 and older. Anglers under 16 need none.
Is Laurel Bed Lake worth a trip with no boat on the trailer?
The pier layer is empty for this water.
Does any listed bait store serve Laurel Bed Lake?
Try Bottom Dwellers Tackle Inc (about 3 miles away).
Does the DWR record list include Laurel Bed Lake?
Rock Bass, 2 lbs. 2 oz., 1986, is on the DWR record list for this water (angler names are left out here).
Head out to Laurel Bed Lake this season
Read the creel rows before the bow leaves the ramp.