Ragged Mountain Reservoir Fishing
A Virginia reservoir in Albemarle County, 170 acres.
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What a Virginia angler should know about Ragged Mountain Reservoir
Virginia records Ragged Mountain Reservoir as a reservoir of 170 acres in Albemarle County. Count on around 2 miles to reach University of Virginia.
The bands below cover getting on the water and the limits.
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 Ragged Mountain Reservoir
Ragged Mountain Reservoir Home Lakes Ragged Mountain Reservoir Important Notices for this Waterbody Notice Ragged Mountain Reservoir Area Closures Due to a construction project by Rivanna Water and Sewer Authority, boating access will be closed but bank fishing is still permitted. See this press release for details. Overview
Everything in quotation here is DWR wording about Ragged Mountain Reservoir, not ours.
Virginia DWR waterbody page (updated 11/17/2023), read November 6, 2026.
Engine limits and amenities at Ragged Mountain Reservoir
- Boat motors (DWR layer)Electric Motors Only
- DWR region numberDWR Region 4
Where DWR leaves a field empty for Ragged Mountain Reservoir, this list does too.
Virginia DWR Public Fishing Lakes layer (outline, motor rule, region number), read November 6, 2026.
The fish DWR records for Ragged Mountain Reservoir
DWR best-bet ratings for Ragged Mountain Reservoir
| Species group | DWR rating |
|---|---|
| Bass | present |
| Panfish | best bet |
At Ragged Mountain Reservoir 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.
Backing down a trailer at Ragged Mountain Reservoir
You will not find Ragged Mountain Reservoir on the DWR boating access list.
Fallback Commonwealth launches near Ragged Mountain Reservoir
- Lake Albemarle boat rampAlbemarle Lake, 5 miles northwest
- Beaver Creek Lake boat rampBeaver Creek Reservoir, 6 miles northwest
- Ruritan Lake boat ramp on Fluvanna RuritanFluvanna Ruritan, 14 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 keep counts for Ragged Mountain Reservoir
| 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 Ragged Mountain Reservoir wherever its own entries are silent.
The Ragged Mountain Reservoir regulations tab, as printed
- Maps & Directions
- Facilities
- Once two lakes, this now 170 acre lake is the water supply reservoir for the City of Charlottesville. It contains largemouth bass and bluegill and is open from sunrise to sunset. Access and parking are limited and there is no boat ramp. Boats must be carried to the lake, and gasoline motors are prohibited.
- Take Route 702 off Route 29 to get to the access area.
- Maps & Directions
- Access Site:
- Map
- Catfish: 5 fish per day limit, 18-inch minimum size limit (all catfish under 18 inches must be released)
- Muskellunge: one fish per day limit, 40-inch minimum size limit (all musky under 40 inches must be released)
- Statewide creel and size limits for all species apply.
- Gasoline motors are prohibited; no boat landing, carry-in watercraft only
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.
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Rivanna Reservoir holds the most water near Ragged Mountain Reservoir: 450 acres.
| Water | Distance | Size | DWR ramps | Trout stocking dates |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ragged Mountain Reservoir | this water | 170 acres | 0 | 0 |
| Albemarle Lake | 5 miles northwest | 35 acres | 1 | 0 |
| Beaver Creek Reservoir | 6 miles northwest | 104 acres | 1 | 0 |
| Rivanna Reservoir | 7 miles northeast | 450 acres | 0 | 0 |
| Walnut Creek | 8 miles south | 45 acres | 0 | 0 |
| Mint Springs | 10 miles west | 4 acres (DWR outline area) | 0 | 50 |
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 Ragged Mountain Reservoir
Nearby lakes worth a cast after Ragged Mountain Reservoir
- Albemarle Lake5 miles northwest
- Beaver Creek Reservoir6 miles northwest
- Rivanna Reservoir7 miles northeast
- Walnut Creek8 miles south
- Mint Springs10 miles west
Commonwealth tackle shops serving Ragged Mountain Reservoir
- Great Outdoort Provision Companybait and tackle shop, Charlottesville, 4 miles
- Albemarle Anglerfly shop, Charlottesville, 4 miles
- South River Fly Shopfly shop, Waynesboro, 18 miles
- Tycoon Tackle Incbait and tackle shop, Waynesboro, 18 miles
Where anglers bunk when fishing Ragged Mountain Reservoir
- University of Virginia2 miles, Albemarle County
- Charlottesville4 miles, City of Charlottesville
- Pantops6 miles, Albemarle County
- Crozet8 miles, Albemarle County
Ragged Mountain Reservoir, broken out by Virginia locality
- Albemarle Countycounty seat Charlottesville
Piscifun reels for a Virginia day on Ragged Mountain Reservoir
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Sorting out the Ragged Mountain Reservoir species by sight
Photo: USFWS Pacific Southwest Region, Public domain
Photo: USFWS Mountain-Prairie, Public domain
Photo: Andy Sloane, CC BY-SA 2.0
Photo: USFWS Mountain-Prairie, Public domain
Straight replies on Ragged Mountain Reservoir from the Virginia rule books
Which county or city should I drive to for Ragged Mountain Reservoir?
Head to Albemarle County, about 2 miles from University of Virginia.
What surface figure do DWR or NHD give Ragged Mountain Reservoir?
Virginia sources give 170 acres.
Can a skiff on a trailer reach Ragged Mountain Reservoir from a public ramp?
Nothing on it is mapped; Lake Albemarle boat ramp is 5 miles away.
Does DWR list largemouth or smallmouth for Ragged Mountain Reservoir?
No species are named for it in DWR data.
What bass creel does the digest set for Ragged Mountain Reservoir?
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 Ragged Mountain Reservoir 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 Ragged Mountain Reservoir?
The DWR pier layer lists nothing here.
What store sells bait near Ragged Mountain Reservoir?
Great Outdoort Provision Company (about 4 miles away) is first on our list.
Make a dawn run to Ragged Mountain Reservoir
Virginia fees and limits sit on one page.