Smith River Fishing
A river through Henry and Franklin counties.
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What a Virginia angler should know about the Smith River
The Smith River crosses Henry and Franklin counties. Collinsville lies roughly 2 miles away.
Live numbers come from 5 USGS gauges. Hatchery trout go into 4 stocked reaches of it. Special trout regulations apply to part of it.
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 Smith River in Franklin and Henry Counties is one of the state’s most unique trout fisheries. The cold water released from Philpott Dam provides miles of quality trout water and offers excellent fishing opportunities throughout the year. Approximately 31 miles from Philpott Dam downstream to State Route 636 (Mitchell Bridge) are special regulation brown trout waters. Two sections of the Smith are designated as put-and-take stocked waters and provide opportunities to catch rainbow trout.
How DWR says to reach Smith River
The Smith River may be accessed from State Route 57, as well as from multiple secondary routes located off of 57. Henry County Parks & Recreation and the Dan River Basin Association operate nine public access points along the Smith. For more information on these access points contact Henry County Parks & Recreation or the Martinsville Visitor Center .
These sentences on Smith River belong to Virginia DWR.
Virginia DWR waterbody page (updated 11/17/2023), read November 6, 2026.
Live Virginia gauge readout for the Smith River
| USGS gauge | Latest reading | Time (ET) |
|---|---|---|
| Smith Creek Near New Market, Va | 21 cfs, 1.22 ft gage height | Nov 8 7:00 pm |
| Smith River At Smith Riv Church Nr Woolwine, Va | 24 cfs, 2.32 ft gage height | Nov 8 6:45 pm |
| Smith River Near Philpott, Va | 83 cfs, 2.55 ft gage height | Nov 8 7:10 pm |
US Geological Survey provisional data, retrieved Nov 8, 2026 7:32 pm ET. Provisional readings can be revised.
Provisional USGS data feed the Smith River panel.
| USGS site | Name |
|---|---|
| 01632900 | SMITH CREEK NEAR NEW MARKET, VA |
| 02071530 | SMITH RIVER AT SMITH RIV CHURCH NR WOOLWINE, VA |
| 02072000 | SMITH RIVER NEAR PHILPOTT, VA |
| 02072500 | SMITH RIVER AT BASSETT, VA |
| 02073000 | SMITH RIVER AT MARTINSVILLE, VA |
USGS instantaneous values, provisional.
The fish DWR records for the Smith River
The Smith River list repeats DWR names; generic labels stay unlinked.
Virginia DWR waterbody page (updated 11/17/2023), read November 6, 2026.
Getting onto the Smith River
No DWR launch sits on Smith River itself.
Virginia DWR Boating Access Locations layer (attributes as recorded; lanes, fees and hours are not in the layer), read November 6, 2026.
Trout reaches on the Smith River
| Reach | Locality | Category | Species stocked | Heritage Day | National forest |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Smith River | Henry | B (stocked 5 times between October 1 and May 15) | rainbow | ||
| Smith River | Henry | SR | |||
| Smith River | Henry | A (stocked 8 times between October 1 and May 31) | rainbow | ||
| Smith River | Henry | SR |
Smith River carries 4 reaches on the stocked trout layer, category category A, B and SR.
Virginia DWR Stocked Trout Reaches and Stocked Trout Lakes layers (category, species, heritage day), read November 6, 2026.
Fly, lure and harvest rules for the Smith River
| Water | Locality as printed | Regulation | Trout license Oct 1 to Jun 15 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Smith River (Tailwater) | Henry | Special slot |
- Bait Allowed: Smith River (Henry County)From Philpott Dam downstream to the State Route 636 bridge crossing (Mitchell Bridge) located approximately 31 miles downstream of Philpott Dam and approximately 10.5 miles below Martinsville Dam: No brown trout 10 to 24 inches, only 1 brown trout per day longer than 24 inches. The length limit for rainbow and brook trout is 7-inch minimum. The creel limit for all trout combined is 6 fish/day, and only one brown trout can be larger than 24 inches. The use of bait and any combination of …
Special regulation trout waters 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.
Designated stocked trout waters require a trout license October 1 to June 15; urban waters November 1 to April 30 (as printed).
Catchable trout deliveries to the Smith River
| Date | Water as listed | Category | Species |
|---|---|---|---|
| October 13, 2026 | Smith River (Lower) | A | Rainbow Trout |
| May 19, 2026 | Smith River (Lower) | A | Rainbow Trout |
| April 29, 2026 | Smith River (Lower) | A | Rainbow Trout |
| April 14, 2026 | Smith River (Dam) | B | Rainbow Trout |
| April 9, 2026 | Smith River (Lower) | A | Rainbow Trout |
| March 11, 2026 | Smith River (Dam) | B | Rainbow Trout |
| March 11, 2026 | Smith River (Lower) | A | Rainbow Trout |
| February 18, 2026 | Smith River (Dam) | B | Rainbow Trout |
| February 18, 2026 | Smith River (Lower) | A | Rainbow Trout |
| January 20, 2026 | Smith River (Dam) | B | Rainbow Trout |
| January 5, 2026 | Smith River (Lower) | A | Rainbow Trout |
| December 17, 2025 | Smith River (Lower) | A | Rainbow Trout, Tiger Trout |
The schedule shows 2026-27 1 date; 2025-26 13 dates; 2024-25 13 dates; 2023-24 13 dates on Smith River.
Plan category for the Smith River
| Water as printed | Locality as printed | Category | Meaning | National forest |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Smith River (Dam) | Henry County | B | stocked 5 times between October 1 and May 15 | |
| Smith River (Lower) | Henry County | A | stocked 8 times between October 1 and May 31 |
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.
Virginia creel and length for the Smith 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 Smith River, statewide rows hold where no exception speaks.
- A trout license, in addition to the statewide freshwater fishing license, is required to fish in the designated, “put-and-take” stocked trout sections from October 1st through June 15th. Keep in mind that the put-and-take waters overlap with the special regulation section. Therefore, the special regulations on brown trout (no brown trout between 10-24 inches and only one over 24 inches) still apply in the put-and-take sections.
- The special regulation section of the Smith River is from the Philpott Dam downstream approximately 31 miles to State Route 636 crossing (Mitchell Bridge). In this special regulation section, all brown trout 10 to 24 inches must be released immediately, and only one brown trout over 24 inches may be kept. The minimum length for all trout is 7 inches, with a combined creel of 6-fish/day. The use of bait and any combination of artificial lures is allowed throughout this section.
Virginia DWR waterbody page (updated 11/17/2023), read November 6, 2026.
Local digest rules on Smith River
| Water as printed | Species | Rule as printed |
|---|---|---|
| Nottoway, Meherrin, Blackwater (Franklin County), Blackwater (Chowan), Falling and Smith rivers and their tributaries | Rock Bass (redeye) | 5 per day in the aggregate (combined) with Roanoke bass No rock bass less than 8 inches |
| Nottoway, Meherrin, and Blackwater (Franklin County), Blackwater (Chowan), Falling and Smith rivers and their tributaries | Roanoke Bass | 5 per day in the aggregate (combined) with rock bass No Roanoke bass less than 8 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. 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.
State-record fish out of the Smith River
| Species | Weight as printed | Date | Water as listed | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brown Trout | 18 lbs. 11 oz. | 6-22-1979 | Smith River | retired category |
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 Smith River next to nearby creeks and rivers
| Stream | Distance | DWR access sites | USGS gauges | Stocked reaches |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Smith River | this stream | 0 | 5 | 4 |
| Pigg River | 18 miles north | 2 | 1 | 1 |
| Runnett Bag Creek | 19 miles northwest | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Poorhouse Creek | 20 miles west | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Dan River | 23 miles west | 0 | 3 | 4 |
| Round Meadow Creek | 26 miles west | 0 | 0 | 3 |
Virginia DWR Boating Access Locations and Stocked Trout Reaches, USGS gauges; read November 6, 2026.
Just off Smith River, by road
Another Virginia impoundment after Smith River
- Martinsville Reservoir5 miles
- Philpott Lake9 miles
- Fairy Stone Lake10 miles
- Franklin County Park Pond15 miles
Filling the bait bucket close to Smith River
- Angler's Choicefly shop, Martinsville, 9 miles
- Franklin Outdoorsbait and tackle shop, Rocky Mount, 20 miles
- Magnum Point Marinamarina, Union Hall, 24 miles
- Indian Pointe Marinamarina, Hardy
- Crazy Horse Marinamarina, Moneta
- SML Tackle Shackbait and tackle shop, Moneta
Places to stay near Smith River
- Collinsville2 miles, Henry County
- Martinsville6 miles, City of Martinsville
- Stuart19 miles, Patrick County
The Virginia counties and cities along Smith River
- Henry Countycounty seat Martinsville
- Franklin Countycounty seat Rocky Mount
Virginia streams near the Smith River
- Pigg River18 miles
- Runnett Bag Creek19 miles
- Poorhouse Creek20 miles
- Dan River23 miles
- Round Meadow Creek26 miles
Reels from Piscifun for the next trip to Smith River
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Lakes, tidewater and stream riffles close to Smith River, in pictures
Photo: Virginia State Parks, CC BY 2.0
Photo: NatalieMaynor, CC BY 2.0
Photo: Matt Walter, CC BY-SA 2.0
Photo: Virginia State Parks, CC BY 2.0
Sorting out the Smith River, question by question
Where does the Smith River show up on a Virginia road map?
Head for Henry and Franklin counties, about 2 miles from Collinsville.
Is there a DWR ramp on the Smith River?
No DWR site is nearby.
Which fish does DWR tie to the Smith River?
Expect brown trout, rainbow trout, rock bass, smallmouth bass, brook trout and tiger trout, per DWR.
Are there wild trout in the Smith River?
DWR stocks 4 reaches of it, coded category A, B and SR. Designated stocked trout waters require a trout license October 1 to June 15; urban waters November 1 to April 30 (as printed).
How many bass may go home from the Smith 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 Smith 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. Anyone not yet 16 is excused from buying one.
Where do I check flow on the Smith River?
The panel above draws on 5 USGS gauges.
What tackle store is handiest for the Smith River trips?
Angler's Choice (about 9 miles away) heads the list.
Which record-list fish did the Smith River give up?
Brown Trout, 18 lbs. 11 oz., 1979, is on the DWR record list for this water (no angler names here).
Wet-wade the Smith River before the leaves turn
Every 2026 fee is one click away.