Cowpasture River Fishing
Bath County holds this river.
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The Cowpasture River, the short version
The Cowpasture River is a Virginia river running through Bath County. From the mapped point, Clifton Forge is about 27 miles distant.
Check 1 USGS gauge for today. The trout layer marks 1 stocked reach for catchable stocking.
Virginia DWR waterbody pages, Stocked Trout Reaches and Cold Water Stream Survey layers and Boating Access Locations; USGS gauges; read November 6, 2026.
For the trout herePiscifun Carbon XT ultralight spinning reel25% OFFSale $59.99 Gauge numbers posted for the Cowpasture River
| USGS gauge | Latest reading | Time (ET) |
|---|---|---|
| Cowpasture River Near Clifton Forge, Va | 96 cfs, 1.46 ft gage height | Nov 8 6:30 pm |
US Geological Survey provisional data, retrieved Nov 8, 2026 7:32 pm ET. Provisional readings can be revised.
At Cowpasture River, the panel shows unreviewed USGS data.
| USGS site | Name |
|---|---|
| 02016000 | COWPASTURE RIVER NEAR CLIFTON FORGE, VA |
USGS instantaneous values, provisional.
What swims in the Cowpasture River, per DWR
Every fish shown for Cowpasture River has a DWR source.
Virginia DWR waterbody page (updated 11/17/2023), read November 6, 2026.
Launch sites on the Cowpasture River
There is no DWR ramp on Cowpasture River; check landowner rules before wading.
Virginia DWR Boating Access Locations layer (attributes as recorded; lanes, fees and hours are not in the layer), read November 6, 2026.
Stocking category and reaches on the Cowpasture River
| Reach | Locality | Category | Species stocked | Heritage Day | National forest |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cowpasture River | Bath | A (stocked 8 times between October 1 and May 31) | rainbow, brown, brook | yes |
DWR codes 1 reach of Cowpasture River as category A. National forest reaches appear here.
Virginia DWR Stocked Trout Reaches and Stocked Trout Lakes layers (category, species, heritage day), read November 6, 2026.
Designated stocked trout waters require a trout license October 1 to June 15; urban waters November 1 to April 30 (as printed).
When DWR hatchery trout reached the Cowpasture River
| Date | Water as listed | Category | Species |
|---|---|---|---|
| October 20, 2026 | Cowpasture River | A | Brown Trout |
| May 26, 2026 | Cowpasture River | A | Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout, Tiger Trout |
| April 24, 2026 | Cowpasture River | A | Brown Trout, Tiger Trout |
| March 12, 2026 | Cowpasture River | A | Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout, Brook Trout |
| February 23, 2026 | Cowpasture River | A | Rainbow Trout |
| January 6, 2026 | Cowpasture River | A | Brown Trout |
| December 4, 2025 | Cowpasture River | A | Rainbow Trout |
| November 19, 2025 | Cowpasture River | A | Rainbow Trout |
| October 1, 2025 | Cowpasture River | A | Rainbow Trout |
| May 28, 2025 | Cowpasture River | A | Rainbow Trout, Brook Trout, Tiger Trout |
| April 3, 2025 | Cowpasture River | A | Brook Trout, Tiger Trout |
| March 17, 2025 | Cowpasture River | A | Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout, Brook Trout |
Stocking dates per season on Cowpasture River: 2026-27 1 date; 2025-26 8 dates; 2024-25 8 dates; 2023-24 8 dates.
The 2026 catchable trout plan for the Cowpasture River
| Water as printed | Locality as printed | Category | Meaning | National forest |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cowpasture River | Bath County | A | stocked 8 times between October 1 and May 31 | yes |
Virginia DWR trout stocking schedule (date, county, water, category and species as listed; DWR prints no numbers or sizes), read November 6, 2026. 2026 Catchable Trout Stocking Plan (category letters as printed), read November 6, 2026.
Digest size and creel, Cowpasture 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 |
The statewide digest rows above apply on Cowpasture River unless an exception names it.
- Maps & Directions
- Black Bass (Smallmouth And Largemouth):
- 5 Per Day In Aggregate No Length Limit
- Sunfish:
- 50 Per Day In Aggregate. No Length Limit
- Rock Bass:
- 25 Per Day. No Length Limit
- Muskellunge:
- 1 Per Day. Minimum Size 40 Inches
- Trout:
- 6 Per Day. Minimum Size 7 Inches
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. Designated stocked trout waters also need the $23 trout license from October 1 to June 15.
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.
Five Virginia streams close to the Cowpasture River
| Stream | Distance | DWR access sites | USGS gauges | Stocked reaches |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cowpasture River | this stream | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Spring Run | under a mile northwest | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Bullpasture River | 4 miles north | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Muddy Run | 10 miles southwest | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Little Back Creek | 14 miles west | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Falls Hollow | 16 miles east | 0 | 0 | 1 |
Virginia DWR Boating Access Locations and Stocked Trout Reaches, USGS gauges; read November 6, 2026.
Around Cowpasture River, within a Virginia drive
Other Virginia reservoirs close to Cowpasture River
- Bath County Recreation Ponds13 miles
- Braley Pond17 miles
- Douthat Lake22 miles
- Elkhorn Lake22 miles
Virginia towns close to Cowpasture River
- Clifton Forge27 miles, Alleghany County
- Lexington28 miles, City of Lexington
- Staunton28 miles, City of Staunton
The localities Cowpasture River runs through
- Bath Countycounty seat Warm Springs
Other Virginia rivers near the Cowpasture River
- Spring Rununder a mile
- Bullpasture River4 miles
- Muddy Run10 miles
- Little Back Creek14 miles
- Falls Hollow16 miles
Piscifun spinning gear for a day out on Cowpasture River
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Shorelines around Cowpasture River through a camera
Photo: Will Fisher, CC BY-SA 2.0
Photo: sdreelin, CC BY-SA 2.0
Photo: Doug Kerr, CC BY-SA 2.0
Photo: Mackenzie Brooks, CC BY-SA 2.0
Questions on the Cowpasture River before the truck is loaded
Where does the Cowpasture River flow in Virginia?
Look in Bath County, about 27 miles from Clifton Forge.
Where do floats start on the Cowpasture River?
No mapped DWR access is near.
Which fish does DWR name in the Cowpasture River?
DWR names bluegill, brook trout, brown trout, bullhead, common carp, muskellunge and pumpkinseed.
Is the Cowpasture River trout water?
The trout layer marks 1 reach, category A. Designated stocked trout waters require a trout license October 1 to June 15; urban waters November 1 to April 30 (as printed).
Which bass rule applies on the Cowpasture River?
The statewide digest row for largemouth and smallmouth bass reads: 5 per day in the aggregate (combined); No statewide length limits.
Does a freshwater license cover the Cowpasture River?
A Virginia freshwater license is $23 a year for residents and $47 for nonresidents 16 and older. Designated stocked trout waters also need the $23 trout license from October 1 to June 15. No license is needed under 16.
Is there a live gauge on the Cowpasture River?
1 USGS gauge report it above.
Which shop is on the way to the Cowpasture River?
Nothing on the shop list is close.
Strap the kayak down for the Cowpasture River
Check the digest before you go.