Skidmore Reservoir Fishing
Rockingham County holds this reservoir, 118 acres.
Pick for troutPiscifun Carbon X ultralight spinning reel28% OFFSale $57.99 Photo of South Fork Shenandoah River: crudmucosa, CC BY 2.0
Skidmore Reservoir, sized up for Virginia anglers
Rockingham County is home to Skidmore Reservoir, a reservoir sized at 118 acres. Dayton lies about 15 miles from the map point.
Scroll on for access points and what may go home.
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.
What Virginia DWR writes about Skidmore Reservoir
If you would like to fish in one of the most beautiful places in the Commonwealth, then Skidmore Reservoir is the place for you. This 118-acre city of Harrisonburg reservoir is located in the George Washington and Jefferson National Forests. It is deep and contains clear, cold water, which is required for year round trout habitat. Therefore, the lake is managed as a “put and grow” trout lake through annual fingerling brook trout stocking.
The quoted text above belongs to Virginia DWR and is reproduced as its page prints it for Skidmore Reservoir.
Virginia DWR waterbody page (updated 11/17/2023), read November 6, 2026.
For the trout herePiscifun Carbon XT ultralight spinning reel25% OFFSale $59.99 Facilities and boat motors on Skidmore Reservoir
- Boat motors (DWR layer)Electric Motors Only
- Facilities DWR marksparking, hiking trails, boat ramps, horsepower limit, electric motors only, paddle access, camping, primitive camping only
- DWR region numberDWR Region 4
- Stocked trout lakecategory SR
DWR layers supply every row for Skidmore Reservoir; nothing is guessed.
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. Virginia DWR Stocked Trout Reaches and Stocked Trout Lakes layers (category, species, heritage day), read November 6, 2026.
DWR-listed fish at Skidmore Reservoir
Which fish DWR rates at Skidmore Reservoir
| Species group | DWR rating |
|---|---|
| Bass | present |
| Catfish | present |
| Trout | best bet |
| Panfish | present |
The fish shown for Skidmore Reservoir are the ones DWR names on its page, trout layers, stocking schedule or record list, not a catch report.
Virginia DWR waterbody page (updated 11/17/2023), read November 6, 2026.
Launch sites around Skidmore Reservoir
Skidmore Reservoir lacks a DWR-mapped ramp; small craft may still launch where the owner allows.
Virginia DWR Boating Access Locations layer (attributes as recorded; lanes, fees and hours are not in the layer), read November 6, 2026.
Creel and length rules at Skidmore 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 |
A water-specific line for Skidmore Reservoir would override the statewide row.
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.
Commonwealth lakes sitting near Skidmore Reservoir
The largest neighbour of Skidmore Reservoir in this table is Slate Lick Lake, 10 acres.
| Water | Distance | Size | DWR ramps | Trout stocking dates |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Skidmore Reservoir | this water | 118 acres | 0 | 0 |
| Hone Quarry | 7 miles south | 6 acres | 0 | 31 |
| Briery Branch Lake | 8 miles south | 9 acres | 0 | 31 |
| Slate Lick Lake | 10 miles east | 10 acres | 0 | 18 |
| Hearthstone Lake | 12 miles south | 7 acres | 0 | 23 |
| Todd Lake | 14 miles south | 5 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.
Within a tank of gas of Skidmore Reservoir
Lakes in the same corner of Virginia as Skidmore Reservoir
- Hone Quarry7 miles south
- Briery Branch Lake8 miles south
- Slate Lick Lake10 miles east
- Hearthstone Lake12 miles south
- Todd Lake14 miles south
Picking up minnows and bloodworms near Skidmore Reservoir
- Heartland Outfittersbait and tackle shop, Dayton, 15 miles
- Bridgewater Rod & Reelbait and tackle shop, Bridgewater, 16 miles
- Dubby's Fishing & Huntingbait and tackle shop, Harrisonburg, 16 miles
- Mossy Creek Fly Fishingfly shop, Harrisonburg, 17 miles
Old Dominion towns a quick hop from Skidmore Reservoir
- Dayton15 miles, Rockingham County
- Bridgewater16 miles, Rockingham County
- Harrisonburg17 miles, City of Harrisonburg
- Broadway19 miles, Rockingham County
County and city guides tied to Skidmore Reservoir
- Rockingham Countycounty seat Harrisonburg
Piscifun kit lined up for a day on Skidmore Reservoir
Piscifun and Amazon links are affiliate links; the site earns a commission on qualifying purchases.
Old Dominion water near Skidmore Reservoir, on camera
Photo: Doug Kerr, CC BY-SA 2.0
Photo: Bill McChesney, CC BY 2.0
Photo: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Norfolk District, CC BY 2.0
Photo: m01229, CC BY 2.0
What a Virginia tackle counter hears about Skidmore Reservoir
Which Virginia town makes the nearest base for Skidmore Reservoir?
Its home locality is Rockingham County, about 15 miles from Dayton.
Is Skidmore Reservoir a big lake by Virginia standards?
Call it 118 acres.
How many DWR ramps serve Skidmore Reservoir?
Nothing is mapped nearby, so check with the owner.
Which species does DWR list for Skidmore Reservoir?
DWR sources name bluegill, brook trout, bullhead, channel catfish, crappie, largemouth bass and pumpkinseed.
How many bass may I keep from Skidmore Reservoir?
The statewide digest row for largemouth and smallmouth bass reads: 5 per day in the aggregate (combined); No statewide length limits.
Does a teenager need a DWR license at Skidmore Reservoir?
A Virginia freshwater license is $23 a year for residents and $47 for nonresidents 16 and older. Youth under 16 are exempt.
Does DWR map a pier on Skidmore Reservoir?
No DWR pier is mapped; ramp areas are the usual bank spots.
Where do anglers fishing Skidmore Reservoir buy tackle?
Our list starts with Heartland Outfitters (about 15 miles away).
Tow the johnboat over to Skidmore Reservoir
License prices and special rules are on the regulations page.