Staunton River Fishing
Moving water in Campbell, Halifax and Charlotte counties.
Pick for troutPiscifun Carbon X ultralight spinning reel28% OFFSale $57.99 Photo: Virginia State Parks, CC BY 2.0
First notes on the Staunton River
Campbell, Halifax and Charlotte counties carries the Staunton River, a river. Budget about 1 mile of driving to Hurt.
DWR maps 6 access sites along its banks.
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 Staunton River
The Staunton River is located in south-central Virginia and forms the boundaries of Campbell, Pittsyvania, Halifax and Charlotte counties. Actually an 81-mile segment of the Roanoke River, the Staunton River begins at Leesville Dam and continues to the confluence with John H. Kerr Reservoir. Bird watchers, anglers, and hunters will enjoy the bounty of the river and its adjacent bottomlands. Canoeists can experience the challenging Fish Trap (Class III) and Cat Rock (Class II) rapids.
Access notes DWR gives for Staunton River
Leesville Hand Launch Area to Dalton’s Landing Canoe Launch This 4-mile float from below Leesville dam to the Dalton’s Landing Canoe Launch provides the shortest float on all of the Staunton River. Good fishing and beautiful scenery highlight this stretch of the upper Staunton.
The quoted passages are Virginia DWR wording about Staunton River, unedited.
Virginia DWR waterbody page (updated 11/17/2023), read November 6, 2026.
Fish DWR names on the Staunton River
Fish listed for Staunton 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 Staunton River
| Site | Recorded attributes | Owner | Location (DWR) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alta Vista boat ramp on Staunton River | concrete ramp (no dock), 2 ramps, barrier-free, freshwater | Twon of Alta Vista | From the Town of Altavista take Route 688 south to Riverside Park |
| Brookneal boat ramp on Staunton River | concrete ramp (no dock), 1 ramp, freshwater | Town of Brookneal | Town of Brookneal off Rt 40 & 501 South |
| Clarkton Bridge boat ramp on Staunton River | concrete ramp (no dock), 1 ramp, freshwater | Charlotte County | From Rt40 at Womacks , S on Rt 649 to W. on Rt 619 at Harrisburg to S. Rt 620 to River |
| Clover boat ramp on Staunton River | concrete ramp (no dock), 1 ramp, freshwater | Department of Army | From Clover, Rt 360 East (3.5) |
| Long Island boat ramp on Staunton River | concrete ramp (no dock), 1 ramp, barrier-free, freshwater | DWR | Town of Long Island off Rt 761 |
| Watkins Bridge boat ramp on Staunton River | concrete ramp (no dock), 1 ramp, freshwater | DWR | From Clover, Rt 746 North (8.5) |
Alternate DWR ramps when Staunton River overflows
- Leesville Dam boat rampLeesville Reservoir, 6 miles west
- Myer's Creek boat ramp on Leesville ReservoirLeesville Reservoir, 11 miles southwest
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 Staunton 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 Staunton River would override the row above.
- Smallmouth Bass
- Leesville dam to mouth of Difficult Creek:
- 1 per day
- 20 inch minimum
- Downstream of Difficult Creek (Charlotte County):
- 5 per day
- Only 2 of 5 may be less than 14 inches
- Largemouth Bass
- Leesville dam to mouth of Difficult Creek:
- 5 per day
- No length limit
- Downstream of Difficult Creek (Charlotte County):
- 5 per day
- Only 2 of 5 may be less than 14 inches
Virginia DWR waterbody page (updated 11/17/2023), read November 6, 2026.
Water-specific limits for Staunton River
| Water as printed | Species | Rule as printed |
|---|---|---|
| Staunton (Roanoke) River–and its tributaries below Difficult Creek, Charlotte County | Largemouth, Smallmouth Bass | Only 2 of 5 largemouth or smallmouth bass less than 14 inches |
| Staunton River–Leesville Dam (Campbell County) downstream to the mouth of Difficult Creek, Charlotte County | Largemouth, Smallmouth Bass | No 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.
The Staunton River and its closest Virginia neighbours
| Stream | Distance | DWR access sites | USGS gauges | Stocked reaches |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Staunton River | this stream | 6 | 0 | 0 |
| Reed Creek | 30 miles north | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| McFalls Creek | 33 miles northwest | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| North Creek | 33 miles northwest | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Jennings Creek | 34 miles northwest | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Pigg River | 34 miles west | 2 | 1 | 1 |
Virginia DWR Boating Access Locations and Stocked Trout Reaches, USGS gauges; read November 6, 2026.
Within a tank of gas of Staunton River
Lakes in the same corner of Virginia as Staunton River
- Leesville Reservoir12 miles
- Liberty Lake20 miles
- Smith Mountain Lake20 miles
- Lake Burton21 miles
Picking up minnows and bloodworms near Staunton River
- Sova Firearms And Outdoorsbait and tackle shop, Altavista, under a mile
- Leesville Lake Marinamarina, Gretna, 7 miles
- Tri-County Marinamarina, Lynch Station, 9 miles
- All Seasons Marine Servicemarina, Huddleston, 16 miles
- Mariners Landing Hospitalitymarina, Huddleston, 16 miles
- Lake Haven Marinamarina, Huddleston, 16 miles
Old Dominion towns a quick hop from Staunton River
- Hurt1 mile, Pittsylvania County
- Altavista1 mile, Campbell County
- Gretna12 miles, Pittsylvania County
County and city guides tied to Staunton River
- Campbell Countycounty seat Rustburg
- Halifax Countycounty seat Halifax
- Charlotte Countycounty seat Charlotte Court House
Virginia rivers neighbouring the Staunton River
- Reed Creek30 miles
- McFalls Creek33 miles
- North Creek33 miles
- Jennings Creek34 miles
- Pigg River34 miles
Piscifun kit lined up for a day on Staunton River
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Old Dominion water near Staunton River, on camera
Photo: Virginia State Parks, CC BY 2.0
Photo: Tony Alter, CC BY 2.0
Photo: Nannette Turner, CC BY 2.0
Photo: Matt Walter, CC BY-SA 2.0
Straight replies on the Staunton River from the Virginia rule books
What town is near the Staunton River?
It runs through Campbell, Halifax and Charlotte counties, about 1 mile from Hurt.
Can I launch a canoe on the Staunton River?
Use Alta Vista boat ramp on Staunton River or another of 6 access sites.
Does DWR name smallmouth bass for the Staunton River?
DWR lists channel catfish, largemouth bass, rock bass, smallmouth bass, striped bass, walleye and white bass.
Does DWR stock trout in the Staunton River?
No trout data for it in DWR layers.
How many black bass may leave the Staunton 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. Its own digest line may change that.
Does a teenager need a DWR license on the Staunton 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 Staunton River too high to float?
No USGS gauge is matched to it; check the state water levels page.
Where do anglers fishing the Staunton River buy tackle?
Our list starts with Sova Firearms And Outdoors (under a mile away).
Float a Commonwealth stretch of the Staunton River
Licenses, trout rules and exceptions sit on the regulations page.