Rivanna River Fishing
Moving water in Fluvanna and Albemarle counties.
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First notes on the Rivanna River
Fluvanna and Albemarle counties carries the Rivanna River, a river. Budget about 2 miles of driving to Lake Monticello.
DWR maps 2 access sites along its banks. It has 1 USGS gauge reporting live.
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 The DWR description of the Rivanna River
The Rivanna, which is an abbreviation for “River Anna”, was named after the Queen of England. It’s an appropriate moniker for one of Virginia’s prettiest small rivers that has a regal history, including the honor of being the State’s first governmentally-designated Scenic River. The headwaters of the Rivanna lie in the foothills and mountains west of Charlottesville, actually reaching the Eastern border of Shenandoah National Park.
Access notes DWR gives for Rivanna River
Rivanna River Public Landings Float (PDF) Darden Towe Park to Riverview Park Distance: 2.0 miles Skill Level: Novice Darden Towe Park off of Route 20 in Charlottesville has a fair canoe launch that consists of a sandy bank. The take-out at Riverview Park on Chesapeake Street in Charlottesville consists of a wooden staircase up the bank.
The quoted passages are Virginia DWR wording about Rivanna River, unedited.
Virginia DWR waterbody page (updated 11/17/2023), read November 6, 2026.
USGS stage and discharge, Rivanna River
| USGS gauge | Latest reading | Time (ET) |
|---|---|---|
| Rivanna River At Palmyra, Va | 117 cfs, 2.49 ft gage height | Nov 8 9:20 pm |
US Geological Survey provisional data, retrieved Nov 8, 2026 9:33 pm ET. Provisional readings can be revised.
The live Rivanna River figures await USGS review.
| USGS site | Name |
|---|---|
| 02034000 | RIVANNA RIVER AT PALMYRA, VA |
USGS instantaneous values, provisional.
Fish DWR names on the Rivanna River
Fish listed for Rivanna River come from DWR pages, trout layers, the stocking schedule or the record list; this is not a catch report.
Virginia DWR waterbody page (updated 11/17/2023), read November 6, 2026.
DWR access points along the Rivanna River
| Site | Recorded attributes | Owner | Location (DWR) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crofton boat ramp on Rivanna River | concrete ramp (no dock), 1 ramp, freshwater | DWR | From Zion Crossroads, Rt 15 South (4); R on Rt 616 (2.1); L on Rt 600 (1.5) |
| Palmyra boat ramp on Rivanna River | concrete ramp (no dock), freshwater | DWR | From Town of Palmyra, Rt 53 |
Alternate DWR ramps when Rivanna River overflows
- Ruritan Lake boat ramp on Fluvanna RuritanFluvanna Ruritan, 5 miles southwest
- Scottsville boat ramp on James River (Upper and Middle)James River (Upper and Middle), 14 miles southwest
- Hardware River boat ramp on James River (Upper and Middle)James River (Upper and Middle), 14 miles southwest
- Columbia boat ramp on James River (Upper and Middle)James River (Upper and Middle), 14 miles southeast
- New Canton boat ramp on James River (Upper and Middle)James River (Upper and Middle), 14 miles south
Virginia DWR Boating Access Locations layer (attributes as recorded; lanes, fees and hours are not in the layer), read November 6, 2026.
Virginia limits in force on the Rivanna 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 |
An exception for Rivanna River would override the row above.
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.
The Rivanna River and its closest Virginia neighbours
| Stream | Distance | DWR access sites | USGS gauges | Stocked reaches |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rivanna River | this stream | 2 | 1 | 0 |
| Moormans River | 29 miles northwest | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Swift Run | 30 miles north | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| South River | 35 miles west | 3 | 3 | 5 |
| South Rockfish River | 36 miles west | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Back Creek | 37 miles west | 0 | 0 | 1 |
Virginia DWR Boating Access Locations and Stocked Trout Reaches, USGS gauges; read November 6, 2026.
Within a tank of gas of Rivanna River
Lakes in the same corner of Virginia as Rivanna River
- Fluvanna Ruritan5 miles
- Lake Gordonsville (Bowler’s Mill)13 miles
- Totier Creek Reservoir15 miles
- Walnut Creek16 miles
Picking up minnows and bloodworms near Rivanna River
- Albemarle Anglerfly shop, Charlottesville, 14 miles
- Great Outdoort Provision Companybait and tackle shop, Charlottesville, 14 miles
Old Dominion towns a quick hop from Rivanna River
- Lake Monticello2 miles, Fluvanna County
- Pantops11 miles, Albemarle County
- Charlottesville13 miles, City of Charlottesville
County and city guides tied to Rivanna River
- Fluvanna Countycounty seat Palmyra
- Albemarle Countycounty seat Charlottesville
Virginia rivers neighbouring the Rivanna River
- Moormans River29 miles
- Swift Run30 miles
- South River35 miles
- South Rockfish River36 miles
- Back Creek37 miles
Piscifun kit lined up for a day on Rivanna River
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Old Dominion water near Rivanna River, on camera
Photo: Ron Cogswell, CC BY 2.0
Photo: Bill McChesney, CC BY 2.0
Photo: Virginia State Parks, CC BY 2.0
Photo: Doug Kerr, CC BY-SA 2.0
Straight replies on the Rivanna River from the Virginia rule books
What town is near the Rivanna River?
It runs through Fluvanna and Albemarle counties, about 2 miles from Lake Monticello.
Can I launch a canoe on the Rivanna River?
Use Crofton boat ramp on Rivanna River or another of 2 access sites.
Does DWR name smallmouth bass for the Rivanna River?
DWR lists black crappie, bluegill, common carp, channel catfish, crappie, longnose gar and largemouth bass.
Does DWR stock trout in the Rivanna River?
No trout data for it in DWR layers.
How many black bass may leave the Rivanna River in a Virginia cooler?
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 on the Rivanna River?
A Virginia freshwater license is $23 a year for residents and $47 for nonresidents 16 and older. Youth under 16 are exempt.
Is the Rivanna River too high to float?
The flow band shows 1 USGS gauge, live and provisional.
Where do anglers fishing the Rivanna River buy tackle?
Our list starts with Albemarle Angler (about 14 miles away).
Float a Commonwealth stretch of the Rivanna River
Licenses, trout rules and exceptions sit on the regulations page.