Swift Creek Lake Fishing
A Virginia reservoir in Chesterfield County, 156 acres.
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What a Virginia angler should know about Swift Creek Lake
Virginia records Swift Creek Lake as a reservoir of 156 acres in Chesterfield County. Count on around 5 miles to reach Brandermill.
It has 1 boat ramp in DWR boating access records.
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 Swift Creek Lake
Located in the heart of Pocahontas State Park in Chesterfield County, this 156-acre impoundment of Swift Creek provides an aesthetic angling resource for central Virginia. Because it gets relatively low fishing pressure, it is typically an enjoyable place to fish. The reservoir is very narrow for its size. It is open for fishing from dawn to dusk, virtually year-round. The park rents canoes, kayaks, rowboats, and paddleboats from Memorial Day through Labor Day at the Lake.
Parking, ramps and rules on site at Swift Creek Lake
Pocahontas State Park is on Beach Road (Route 655) west of Chester (south of Richmond); follow signs to the boat ramp.
Everything in quotation here is DWR wording about Swift Creek Lake, not ours.
Virginia DWR waterbody page (updated 11/17/2023), read November 6, 2026.
Engine limits and amenities at Swift Creek Lake
- Boat motors (DWR layer)Electric Motors Only
- DWR region numberDWR Region 1
Where DWR leaves a field empty for Swift Creek Lake, this list does too.
Virginia DWR Public Fishing Lakes layer (outline, motor rule, region number), read November 6, 2026.
The fish DWR records for Swift Creek Lake
At Swift Creek Lake 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.
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| Site | Recorded attributes | Owner | Location (DWR) |
|---|---|---|---|
| White Bank Park on Swift Creek Lake | dock and ramp, 1 ramp, barrier-free, freshwater | Colonial Heights | City of Colonial Heights |
Fallback Commonwealth launches near Swift Creek Lake
- Osborne boat ramp on Tidal James RiverTidal James River, 10 miles east
- Dutch Gap boat ramp on Tidal James RiverTidal James River, 11 miles east
- Lake Chesdin boat rampLake Chesdin, 12 miles south
- Huguenot Bridge boat ramp on James River (Upper and Middle)James River (Upper and Middle), 12 miles north
- Robious Park on James River (Upper and Middle)James River (Upper and Middle), 13 miles north
- Ancarrow's Landing on Tidal James RiverTidal James River, 13 miles northeast
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 Swift Creek 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 |
Statewide digest rows rule Swift Creek Lake wherever its own entries are silent.
The Swift Creek Lake regulations tab, as printed
- Fishing allowed during daylight hours.
- Largemouth bass:
- There is a 15-inch minimum size limit and 2-per-day creel limit.
- Sunfish:
- Creel limit of 50 per day.
- Crappie:
- Creel limit of 25 fish per day.
- Chain pickerel:
- Creel limit of 5 fish per day.
- Catfish:
- Creel limit of 20 fish per day.
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.
Swift Creek Lake weighed against Virginia neighbours
Lake Chesdin holds the most water near Swift Creek Lake: 3,100 acres.
| Water | Distance | Size | DWR ramps | Trout stocking dates |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Swift Creek Lake | this water | 156 acres | 1 | 0 |
| Lake Chesdin | 9 miles southwest | 3,100 acres | 1 | 0 |
| Lakeview Reservoir | 11 miles southeast | 42 acres | 0 | 0 |
| Shields Lake | 12 miles northeast | 7 acres | 0 | 18 |
| Swan Lake | 12 miles northeast | 13 acres | 0 | 0 |
| Dorey Park Lake | 14 miles east | 5 acres | 0 | 18 |
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 Swift Creek Lake
Nearby lakes worth a cast after Swift Creek Lake
- Lake Chesdin9 miles southwest
- Lakeview Reservoir11 miles southeast
- Shields Lake12 miles northeast
- Swan Lake12 miles northeast
- Dorey Park Lake14 miles east
Commonwealth tackle shops serving Swift Creek Lake
- Virginia Guide Bait Cobait and tackle shop, Chesterfield, 9 miles
- Whippernock Marinamarina, Sutherland, 10 miles
- Fin and Skin Taxidermy & Bait Shopbait and tackle shop, Henrico, 13 miles
- Fly Fish the Worldbait and tackle shop, Richmond, 13 miles
- Brenda's Bait & Tackle Shopbait and tackle shop, Petersburg, 14 miles
- Appomattox Boat Harbormarina, Prince George, 14 miles
Who to hire for a day on Swift Creek Lake
- Fishing Connectioncharter, Chester, (804) 748-3197
Where anglers bunk when fishing Swift Creek Lake
- Brandermill5 miles, Chesterfield County
- Rockwood5 miles, Chesterfield County
- Woodlake6 miles, Chesterfield County
- Meadowbrook6 miles, Chesterfield County
Swift Creek Lake, broken out by Virginia locality
- Chesterfield Countycounty seat Chesterfield
Piscifun reels for a Virginia day on Swift Creek Lake
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Sorting out the Swift Creek Lake species by sight
Photo: USFWS Mountain-Prairie, Public domain
Photo: Unknown author, CC BY-SA 2.5
Photo: USFWS Pacific Southwest Region, Public domain
Photo: USFWS Mountain-Prairie, Public domain
Straight replies on Swift Creek Lake from the Virginia rule books
Which county or city should I drive to for Swift Creek Lake?
Head to Chesterfield County, about 5 miles from Brandermill.
What surface figure do DWR or NHD give Swift Creek Lake?
Virginia sources give 156 acres.
Can a skiff on a trailer reach Swift Creek Lake from a public ramp?
A lone DWR access site, White Bank Park on Swift Creek Lake, serves it.
Does DWR list largemouth or smallmouth for Swift Creek Lake?
Start with black crappie, bluegill, bullhead, common carp, crappie, largemouth bass and redear sunfish; DWR names them.
What bass creel does the digest set for Swift Creek Lake?
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 Swift Creek Lake 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 Swift Creek Lake?
The DWR pier layer lists nothing here.
What store sells bait near Swift Creek Lake?
Virginia Guide Bait Co (about 9 miles away) is first on our list.
Make a dawn run to Swift Creek Lake
Virginia fees and limits sit on one page.