South River Fishing
Rockingham County, Augusta County and the City of Waynesboro holds this river.
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The South River, the short version
The South River is a Virginia river running through Rockingham County, Augusta County and the City of Waynesboro. From the mapped point, Waynesboro is under a mile distant.
The DWR access layer has 3 access sites here. Check 3 USGS gauges for today. The trout layer marks 5 stocked reaches for catchable stocking. Trout rules differ on one section.
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 waterbody page on the South River
There are actually two South rivers that originate in Augusta County. One begins as St. Marys River and flows south into the Maury River, but the one featured on this webpage starts near the village of Greenville and flows approximately 50 miles north and joins the North River to form the South Fork Shenandoah River. Upstream of the City of Waynesboro, South River can be characterized as a small, low-gradient, meandering stream.
Finding South River: DWR directions
Float Trips Constitution Park to North Park or Basic Park Paddlers can put in at Constitution Park near the Main Street bridge, and float on
Everything quoted here on South River comes from the DWR waterbody page.
Virginia DWR waterbody page (updated 11/17/2023), read November 6, 2026.
Gauge numbers posted for the South River
| USGS gauge | Latest reading | Time (ET) |
|---|---|---|
| South River Near Waynesboro, Va | 25 cfs, 2.35 ft gage height | Nov 8 7:15 pm |
| South River Near Dooms, Va | 51 cfs, 2.00 ft gage height | Nov 8 6:45 pm |
| South River At Harriston, Va | 59 cfs, 2.07 ft gage height | Nov 8 6:45 pm |
US Geological Survey provisional data, retrieved Nov 8, 2026 7:32 pm ET. Provisional readings can be revised.
At South River, the panel shows unreviewed USGS data.
| USGS site | Name |
|---|---|
| 01626000 | SOUTH RIVER NEAR WAYNESBORO, VA |
| 01626850 | SOUTH RIVER NEAR DOOMS, VA |
| 01627500 | SOUTH RIVER AT HARRISTON, VA |
USGS instantaneous values, provisional.
What swims in the South River, per DWR
Every fish shown for South River has a DWR source.
Virginia DWR waterbody page (updated 11/17/2023), read November 6, 2026.
Launch sites on the South River
| Site | Recorded attributes | Owner | Location (DWR) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic Park on South River | concrete ramp (no dock), 1 ramp, barrier-free, freshwater | Town of Waynesboro | Rt340-turn W on Hopeman Pkwy go 0.3 mi turn S on Genicom Dr go 0.1 mi to Park on Rt |
| Grottoes Park on South River | concrete ramp (no dock), freshwater | Town of Grottos | From Town of Grottoes, N on Rt825, W on 20th st, follow to Park entrance, road to river |
| Ridgeview Park on South River | hand launch (boat slide), 1 ramp, barrier-free, freshwater | Town of Waynesboro | Main St-turn W on Magnolia Ave go 0.6 mi to Park, follow to River Access on Left |
Fishing piers close to South River
- Ridgeview Park on South Riverfishing pier
More DWR launches near South River
- Beaver Creek Lake boat rampBeaver Creek Reservoir, 14 miles east
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 South River
| Reach | Locality | Category | Species stocked | Heritage Day | National forest |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| South River (Ridgeview Park) | Augusta | A (stocked 8 times between October 1 and May 31) | rainbow | ||
| South River | Augusta | SR | rainbow, brown | ||
| South River(Basic Park) | Augusta | YTH | rainbow, brown, brook | ||
| South River (Waynesboro) | Augusta | SR | rainbow, brown, brook | ||
| South River (Grottoes) | Rockingham | A (stocked 8 times between October 1 and May 31) | rainbow, brown, brook |
DWR codes 5 reaches of South River as category A, SR and YTH.
Virginia DWR Stocked Trout Reaches and Stocked Trout Lakes layers (category, species, heritage day), read November 6, 2026.
Trout rules that differ on the South River
| Water | Locality as printed | Regulation | Trout license Oct 1 to Jun 15 |
|---|---|---|---|
| South River | Augusta | 20 inch / 1 per day FFO |
- 20-inch Minimum, 1 Fish Per Day, Flyfishing Only: South River (Augusta County)That portion of South River from North Oak Lane Bridge in Waynesboro upstream to a sign posted approximately 1.5 miles above the Rt. 626 (Shalom Road) Bridge. This section of stream flows through private property and * a free written landowner permit is required to fish these waters. A no-cost permit, map (indicating stream sections closed to fishing), and additional information for this stream can be obtained by visiting the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources special regulation …
- Catch and Release Only: South River (Augusta County/City of Waynesboro)That portion of stream from the Second St. Bridge upstream 2 miles to the Wayne Ave. Bridge in the City of Waynesboro. A trout license is required.
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).
When DWR hatchery trout reached the South River
| Date | Water as listed | Category | Species |
|---|---|---|---|
| October 15, 2026 | South River (Grottoes) | A | Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout |
| October 15, 2026 | South River (Ridgeview Park) | A | Brown Trout |
| October 7, 2026 | South River (Catch and Release section) | CR | Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout |
| May 15, 2026 | South River (Basic Park) | Rainbow Trout | |
| May 15, 2026 | South River (Grottoes) | A | Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout |
| May 15, 2026 | South River (Ridgeview Park) | A | Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout |
| May 11, 2026 | South River | B | Rainbow Trout, Brook Trout |
| May 1, 2026 | South River (Catch and Release section) | CR | Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout |
| April 30, 2026 | South River | B | Brown Trout, Tiger Trout |
| April 16, 2026 | South River (Basic Park) | Rainbow Trout | |
| April 10, 2026 | South River (Ridgeview Park) | A | Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout |
| April 10, 2026 | South River (Grottoes) | A | Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout |
Stocking dates per season on South River: 2026-27 3 dates; 2025-26 32 dates; 2024-25 32 dates; 2023-24 33 dates.
The 2026 catchable trout plan for the South River
| Water as printed | Locality as printed | Category | Meaning | National forest |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| South River (Ridgeview Park) | Augusta County | A | stocked 8 times between October 1 and May 31 | |
| South River | Augusta County | CR | catch and release, stocked 3 times between October 1 and May 31 | |
| South River | Greene County | B | stocked 5 times between October 1 and May 15 | |
| South River | Rockbridge County | B | stocked 5 times between October 1 and May 15 | |
| South River (Grottoes) | Rockingham 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.
Digest size and creel, South 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 South River unless an exception names it.
- Statewide Freshwater Fishing License required year-round.
- Special Trout License required October 1st through June 15th.
- Creel Limit: 6 trout per day
- Size Limit: 7 inch minimum
- Catch and Release Trout Area in Waynesboro between Wayne Ave. and North Park
- Statewide Freshwater Fishing License required year-round.
- Special Trout License required October 1st through June 15th.
- Catch and Release, no bait, single hook artificial lure only, year-round
- Youth Only Stocked Trout Area
- Basic Park, Waynesboro
- April 1 through June 15
- Youth age 15 and under only
- Creel limit: 3 trout per day
- Warmwater Fish
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 South River
| Stream | Distance | DWR access sites | USGS gauges | Stocked reaches |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| South River | this stream | 3 | 3 | 5 |
| Mills Creek | 9 miles southwest | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Moormans River | 10 miles northeast | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Back Creek | 10 miles southwest | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| South Rockfish River | 13 miles south | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| St. Marys River | 15 miles southwest | 0 | 0 | 3 |
Virginia DWR Boating Access Locations and Stocked Trout Reaches, USGS gauges; read November 6, 2026.
Around South River, within a Virginia drive
Other Virginia reservoirs close to South River
- Woodrow Wilson Pond6 miles
- Mill Creek Reservoir9 miles
- Mint Springs10 miles
- Sugar Hollow10 miles
Where to buy bait before South River
- Tycoon Tackle Incbait and tackle shop, Waynesboro, under a mile
- South River Fly Shopfly shop, Waynesboro, 1 mile
- Great Outdoort Provision Companybait and tackle shop, Charlottesville, 22 miles
- Albemarle Anglerfly shop, Charlottesville, 22 miles
- Bridgewater Rod & Reelbait and tackle shop, Bridgewater, 22 miles
- Heartland Outfittersbait and tackle shop, Dayton, 24 miles
Virginia towns close to South River
- Waynesborounder a mile, City of Waynesboro
- Fishersville5 miles, Augusta County
- Stuarts Draft8 miles, Augusta County
The localities South River runs through
- Rockingham Countycounty seat Harrisonburg
- City of Waynesboroindependent city
- Augusta Countycounty seat Staunton
Other Virginia rivers near the South River
- Mills Creek9 miles
- Moormans River10 miles
- Back Creek10 miles
- South Rockfish River13 miles
- St. Marys River15 miles
Piscifun spinning gear for a day out on South River
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Shorelines around South River through a camera
Photo: Doug Kerr, CC BY-SA 2.0
Photo: Bill McChesney, CC BY 2.0
Photo: Will Fisher, CC BY-SA 2.0
Photo: Mackenzie Brooks, CC BY-SA 2.0
Questions on the South River before the truck is loaded
Where does the South River flow in Virginia?
Look in Rockingham County, Augusta County and the City of Waynesboro, under a mile from Waynesboro.
Where do floats start on the South River?
Try Basic Park on South River, one of 3 access sites.
Which fish does DWR name in the South River?
DWR names black crappie, bluegill, brown trout, common carp, channel catfish, crappie and largemouth bass.
Is the South River trout water?
The trout layer marks 5 reaches, category A, SR and YTH. 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 South 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 South 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 South River?
3 USGS gauges report it above.
Which shop is on the way to the South River?
Stop at Tycoon Tackle Inc (under a mile away).
Strap the kayak down for the South River
Check the digest before you go.