Clinch River Fishing
A river through Russell and Scott counties.
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What a Virginia angler should know about the Clinch River
The Clinch River crosses Russell and Scott counties. Gate City lies roughly 9 miles away.
DWR boating access data shows 9 access sites on it. Live numbers come from 2 USGS gauges.
Virginia DWR waterbody pages, Stocked Trout Reaches and Cold Water Stream Survey layers and Boating Access Locations; USGS gauges; read November 6, 2026.
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The Clinch River is the crown of the mountain empire flowing southwestward from its origin near the town of Tazewell, the Clinch travels some 135 miles, reaching portions of Tazewell, Russell, Wise, and Scott counties on its way to the Tennessee state line. In a cast of Virginia rivers that portray history and natural wealth, the Clinch has a story and a character all its own.
These sentences on Clinch River belong to Virginia DWR.
Virginia DWR waterbody page (updated 11/17/2023), read November 6, 2026.
Live Virginia gauge readout for the Clinch River
| USGS gauge | Latest reading | Time (ET) |
|---|---|---|
| Clinch River At Cleveland, Va | 176 cfs, 1.76 ft gage height | Nov 8 6:45 pm |
| Clinch River At Speers Ferry, Va | 353 cfs, 3.01 ft gage height | Nov 8 7:15 pm |
US Geological Survey provisional data, retrieved Nov 8, 2026 7:32 pm ET. Provisional readings can be revised.
Provisional USGS data feed the Clinch River panel.
| USGS site | Name |
|---|---|
| 03524000 | CLINCH RIVER AT CLEVELAND, VA |
| 03527000 | CLINCH RIVER AT SPEERS FERRY, VA |
USGS instantaneous values, provisional.
The fish DWR records for the Clinch River
The Clinch River list repeats DWR names; generic labels stay unlinked.
Virginia DWR waterbody page (updated 11/17/2023), read November 6, 2026.
Getting onto the Clinch River
| Site | Recorded attributes | Owner | Location (DWR) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Blackford Bridge boat ramp on Clinch River | concrete ramp (no dock), freshwater | TVA | From Honaker on Rt 80 South (1.4); L on Rt 641 (.03) |
| Carterton boat ramp on Clinch River | concrete ramp (no dock), freshwater | TVA | From Castlewood in the community of Carterton, Rt615 N(1.9);RonRt628(3.3);R on Rt614(1) |
| Clinchport boat ramp | gravel access, freshwater | TVA | From Clinchport take Rt 65 north (2.3); landing on the right |
| Dungannon boat ramp on Clinch River | gravel access, freshwater | TVA | From Dungannon, Rt 65 at Ruritan Park |
| Nash's Ford boat ramp on Clinch River | concrete ramp (no dock), freshwater | TVA | From Honaker, Rt 645 West (8.3); L on Rt 798 (.2) |
| Puckett's Hole boat ramp on Clinch River | concrete ramp (no dock), freshwater | TVA | From Honaker, Rt. 645 West (2.2); L on Rt 651 (1); R on Rt 652 (2.3) |
| Rexrena (Copper Creek) boat ramp on Clinch River | hand launch, freshwater | DWR | From Gate City, head west along US-23 N/US-421 N/US-58 W. After traveling approximately |
| St Paul boat ramp on Clinch River | concrete ramp (no dock), barrier-free, freshwater | TVA | Located in St Paul at Town Park |
| State Line boat ramp on Clinch River | concrete ramp (no dock), freshwater | TVA | From Clinchport, SR 58 East (1.6); R on SR 625 (9) |
Virginia launches flanking Clinch River
- Lake Keokee boat rampLake Keokee, 14 miles northwest
Virginia DWR Boating Access Locations layer (attributes as recorded; lanes, fees and hours are not in the layer), read November 6, 2026.
Virginia creel and length for the Clinch River
| 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 |
On Clinch River, statewide rows hold where no exception speaks.
- Bass
- 20 inches minimum
- 1 fish/day
- All bass less than 20 inches must be released.
- Musky
- 30 inches minimum
- Other Species
- Statewide creel limits apply
Virginia DWR waterbody page (updated 11/17/2023), read November 6, 2026.
Local digest rules on Clinch River
| Water as printed | Species | Rule as printed |
|---|---|---|
| Clinch River–within the boundaries of Scott, Wise, Russell or Tazewell counties | Largemouth, Smallmouth Bass | No largemouth or smallmouth bass less than 20 inches, only 1 per day longer than 20 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.
State-record fish out of the Clinch River
| Species | Weight as printed | Date | Water as listed | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sauger | 3 lbs. | 4-24-2010 | Clinch River |
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.
The Clinch River next to nearby creeks and rivers
| Stream | Distance | DWR access sites | USGS gauges | Stocked reaches |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Clinch River | this stream | 9 | 2 | 0 |
| Stock Creek | 9 miles north | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Big Moccasin Creek | 11 miles east | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Big Stony Creek | 12 miles northeast | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| South Fork Powell River | 13 miles north | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Powell River | 15 miles west | 3 | 2 | 2 |
Virginia DWR Boating Access Locations and Stocked Trout Reaches, USGS gauges; read November 6, 2026.
Just off Clinch River, by road
Another Virginia impoundment after Clinch River
- Lake Keokee14 miles
- Bark Camp Lake18 miles
Filling the bait bucket close to Clinch River
- Wally's Sporting Goodsbait and tackle shop, Gate City, 13 miles
- Colgard Outdoor Sportsbait and tackle shop, Norton, 20 miles
- Eastern Fishing and Rental Toolsbait and tackle shop, Norton, 21 miles
- Bottom Dwellers Tackle Incbait and tackle shop, Cedar Bluff
- Taylor's Tacklebait and tackle shop, Honaker
Places to stay near Clinch River
- Gate City9 miles, Scott County
- Weber City11 miles, Scott County
- Big Stone Gap13 miles, Wise County
The Virginia counties and cities along Clinch River
- Russell Countycounty seat Lebanon
- Scott Countycounty seat Gate City
Virginia streams near the Clinch River
- Stock Creek9 miles
- Big Moccasin Creek11 miles
- Big Stony Creek12 miles
- South Fork Powell River13 miles
- Powell River15 miles
Reels from Piscifun for the next trip to Clinch River
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Lakes, tidewater and stream riffles close to Clinch River, in pictures
Photo: Jason Riedy, CC BY 2.0
Photo: LookoutBelle, CC BY 2.0
Photo: Jason Riedy, CC BY 2.0
Sorting out the Clinch River, question by question
Where does the Clinch River show up on a Virginia road map?
Head for Russell and Scott counties, about 9 miles from Gate City.
Is there a DWR ramp on the Clinch River?
Blackford Bridge boat ramp on Clinch River is among 9 access sites.
Which fish does DWR tie to the Clinch River?
Expect black crappie, bluegill, common carp, crappie, flathead catfish, longnose gar and largemouth bass, per DWR.
Are there wild trout in the Clinch River?
DWR lists no trout reach on it.
How many bass may go home from the Clinch River?
The statewide digest row for largemouth and smallmouth bass reads: 5 per day in the aggregate (combined); No statewide length limits. A digest exception for it is printed in the limits band.
What does DWR charge to fish the Clinch River?
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 do I check flow on the Clinch River?
The panel above draws on 2 USGS gauges.
What tackle store is handiest for the Clinch River trips?
Wally's Sporting Goods (about 13 miles away) heads the list.
Which record-list fish did the Clinch River give up?
Sauger, 3 lbs., 2010, is on the DWR record list for this water (no angler names here).
Wet-wade the Clinch River before the leaves turn
Every 2026 fee is one click away.