Sandy River Reservoir Fishing
A reservoir in Prince Edward County, 740 acres.
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The essentials of Sandy River Reservoir
In Prince Edward County, the reservoir known as Sandy River Reservoir covers 740 acres. The closest Census place is Farmville, about 6 miles away.
DWR boating access data shows 1 boat ramp on it. The pier layer adds 1 fishing pier. Statewide rows do not tell the whole story here; read its exception.
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.
How DWR describes Sandy River Reservoir
Sandy River Reservoir is a 740-acre water supply impoundment located slightly east of the town of Farmville in Prince Edward County. Sandy River Reservoir is one of the newest lakes in Virginia with construction completed in 1994 and fishing opened in 1996. The reservoir was built and is owned by the county of Prince Edward with fisheries management responsibilities belonging to the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources.
Getting to Sandy River Reservoir
The lake and facilities can be reached from U.S. 460 east of Farmville: take Route 640 (Monroe Church Rd.) south for 0.8 miles and turn left on Route 792, the reservoir access road. Sandy River Reservoir
These are DWR sentences on Sandy River Reservoir, cut to whole sentences.
Virginia DWR waterbody page (updated 11/17/2023), read November 6, 2026.
Motor rule and facilities at Sandy River Reservoir
- Boat motors (DWR layer)10 HP
- Facilities DWR marksparking, accessible facilities, restrooms, fishing pier or platform, boat ramps, paddle access
- DWR region numberDWR Region 2
Only the fields DWR fills in for Sandy River Reservoir appear here.
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.
Species DWR lists for Sandy River Reservoir
The DWR fishing outlook grid for Sandy River Reservoir
| Species group | DWR rating |
|---|---|
| Bass | best bet |
| Catfish | best bet |
| Panfish | best bet |
For Sandy River Reservoir, species come from DWR pages and trout records rather than from catches.
Virginia DWR waterbody page (updated 11/17/2023), read November 6, 2026.
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| Site | Recorded attributes | Owner | Location (DWR) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sandy River Reservoir boat ramp | 2 ramps, barrier-free, freshwater | Prince Edward County | Rt. 460 E, Farmville, S. Rt on 640 (1m) enter on left |
Walk-in fishing on Sandy River Reservoir
Virginia launches flanking Sandy River Reservoir
- Briery Creek boat rampBriery Creek Lake, 9 miles southwest
- Rte. 701 Landing – Briery CreekBriery Creek Lake, 10 miles southwest
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.
Cooler math for Sandy River Reservoir under Virginia rules
| 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 |
The 2026 statewide rows are the default on Sandy River Reservoir.
DWR page rule lines for Sandy River Reservoir
- Largemouth Bass
- 14–20 inch protected slot limit
- 5 fish per day creel limit
- No bass may be retained between 14 and 20 inches
- Only two bass longer than 20 inches may be retained
- Crappie
- 9 inch minimum length limit
- 25 fish per day creel limit
- Channel Catfish
- 15 inch minimum length limit
- 8 fish per day creel limit
- All Other Species
- Statewide regulations apply
- Outboard motor use restricted to 10 hp or less. The following are prohibited on this property: swimming, open air fires, trotlines, littering, sailboats, and jet skis.
Virginia DWR waterbody page (updated 11/17/2023), read November 6, 2026.
Water-specific limits at Sandy River Reservoir
| Water as printed | Species | Rule as printed |
|---|---|---|
| Briery Creek and Sandy River reservoirs | Crappie (black or white) | No crappie less than 9 inches |
Water-specific exceptions as printed, 2026 Freshwater Fishing in Virginia digest (eRegulations, linked from the Virginia DWR regulations page), 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.
Sandy River Reservoir among nearby lakes
Next to Sandy River Reservoir, Briery Creek Lake is the giant of the group at 845 acres.
| Water | Distance | Size | DWR ramps | Trout stocking dates |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sandy River Reservoir | this water | 740 acres | 1 | 0 |
| Wilck’s Lake | 7 miles northwest | 30 acres | 0 | 0 |
| Briery Creek Lake | 10 miles southwest | 845 acres | 2 | 0 |
| Modest Creek Lake | 16 miles south | 29 acres | 0 | 0 |
| Nottoway Falls Lake | 17 miles southeast | 60 acres | 1 | 0 |
| Bear Creek Lake | 19 miles north | 42 acres | 0 | 19 |
Virginia DWR waterbody pages and Public Fishing Lakes layer, NHD outline areas, DWR Boating Access Locations and stocking schedule; read November 6, 2026.
Just off Sandy River Reservoir, by road
Another Virginia impoundment after Sandy River Reservoir
- Wilck’s Lake7 miles northwest
- Briery Creek Lake10 miles southwest
- Modest Creek Lake16 miles south
- Nottoway Falls Lake17 miles southeast
- Bear Creek Lake19 miles north
Filling the bait bucket close to Sandy River Reservoir
- Rebel Sporting Goodsbait and tackle shop, Keysville, 14 miles
Places to stay near Sandy River Reservoir
- Farmville6 miles, Prince Edward County
- Crewe11 miles, Nottoway County
- Victoria19 miles, Lunenburg County
- Blackstone20 miles, Nottoway County
The Virginia counties and cities along Sandy River Reservoir
- Prince Edward Countycounty seat Farmville
Reels from Piscifun for the next trip to Sandy River Reservoir
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Lakes, tidewater and stream riffles close to Sandy River Reservoir, in pictures
Photo: Virginia State Parks, CC BY 2.0
Photo: Jim, CC BY-SA 2.0
Photo: ted, CC BY 2.0
Photo: Nannette Turner, CC BY 2.0
Sandy River Reservoir, asked and answered for Virginia anglers
How do I find Sandy River Reservoir on a Virginia map?
Point the map at Prince Edward County, about 6 miles from Farmville.
How many acres is Sandy River Reservoir?
Size on record: 740 acres.
Does DWR keep a public launch on Sandy River Reservoir?
Use Sandy River Reservoir boat ramp, the single DWR launch.
What swims in Sandy River Reservoir?
The DWR list includes black crappie, bluegill, chain pickerel, channel catfish, crappie, largemouth bass and redear sunfish.
How many largemouth can go home from Sandy River Reservoir?
The statewide digest row for largemouth and smallmouth bass reads: 5 per day in the aggregate (combined); No statewide length limits. Its own digest exception may change that; see the limits band.
What does DWR charge to fish Sandy River Reservoir?
A Virginia freshwater license is $23 a year for residents and $47 for nonresidents 16 and older. Anyone not yet 16 is excused from buying one.
Where can bank anglers fish Sandy River Reservoir?
DWR maps one fishing pier there: Sand River Res. fishing pier on Sandy River Reservoir.
What tackle store is handiest for Sandy River Reservoir trips?
Rebel Sporting Goods (about 14 miles away) heads the shop list.
Load the cooler for Sandy River Reservoir
Each 2026 Virginia fee and creel row is linked below.