Whitetop Laurel Fishing
A Commonwealth stream crossing Washington County.
Pick for troutPiscifun Carbon X ultralight spinning reel28% OFFSale $57.99 Photo of South Holston Lake: LookoutBelle, CC BY 2.0
What a Virginia angler should know about Whitetop Laurel
This stream, Whitetop Laurel, flows through Washington County. The nearest town on the Census list is Glade Spring, some 11 miles away.
It holds 3 stocked reaches on the DWR stocked trout layer. The cold water survey logs 22.3 km of wild trout water on it. A special regulation trout section sits on it.
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 Whitetop Laurel
Whitetop Laurel in Washington County, Virginia is one of state’s largest and most beautiful wild trout streams. Approximately seven miles are stocked trout waters located on both private and public lands with an additional five miles of special regulation waters flowing through the Mount Rogers National Recreational Area. Within the special regulation sections, anglers have the opportunity to catch brook, brown, and rainbow trout while enjoying the scenic mountain atmosphere.
Road directions for Whitetop Laurel
From I-81 south take exit 29 (Glade Spring) to 91 east towards Damascus, in Damascus take 58 east. Whitetop Laurel flows along 58 east, where it can be accessed easily. Signs to the parking areas and the Virginia Creeper Trail are along 58 east. Sections of Whitetop Laurel that are not adjacent to 58 east are easily accessed from the Virginia Creeper Trail.
DWR wrote the text above on Whitetop Laurel; check its page for changes.
Virginia DWR waterbody page (updated 11/17/2023), read November 6, 2026.
The fish DWR records for Whitetop Laurel
DWR labels alone drive the Whitetop Laurel list.
Virginia DWR waterbody page (updated 11/17/2023), read November 6, 2026. Virginia DWR Cold Water Stream Survey trout streams (reach class I to IV, length, species present), read November 6, 2026.
Backing down a trailer at Whitetop Laurel
You will not find Whitetop Laurel on the DWR boating access list.
Fallback Commonwealth launches near Whitetop Laurel
- Whitaker Hollow boat ramp on South Holston ReservoirSouth Holston Reservoir, 11 miles west
- Avens boat ramp on South Holston ReservoirSouth Holston Reservoir, 13 miles west
Virginia DWR Boating Access Locations layer (attributes as recorded; lanes, fees and hours are not in the layer), read November 6, 2026.
Trout on the 2026 plan at Whitetop Laurel
| Reach | Locality | Category | Species stocked | Heritage Day | National forest |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Whitetop Laurel Lower | Washington | A (stocked 8 times between October 1 and May 31) | rainbow, brown | yes | |
| Whitetop Laurel Lower | Washington | SR | rainbow, brown | yes | |
| Whitetop Laurel Upper | Washington | SR | rainbow, brown | yes |
On Whitetop Laurel, 3 reaches take hatchery trout, coded category A and SR. The layer marks national forest reaches.
Virginia DWR Stocked Trout Reaches and Stocked Trout Lakes layers (category, species, heritage day), read November 6, 2026.
Wild trout reaches on Whitetop Laurel
| Reach code | Class | Length | Species present |
|---|---|---|---|
| 03WLC-01 | I | 22.29 km | brook, brown, rainbow |
The cold water survey grades Whitetop Laurel reaches as I.
Virginia DWR Cold Water Stream Survey trout streams (reach class I to IV, length, species present), read November 6, 2026.
Special trout rules on Whitetop Laurel
| Water | Locality as printed | Regulation | Trout license Oct 1 to Jun 15 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Whitetop Laurel Creek | Washington | Catch and Release |
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).
Trout stocking dates on the Whitetop Laurel
| Date | Water as listed | Category | Species |
|---|---|---|---|
| October 7, 2026 | Whitetop Laurel (Upper) | A | Rainbow Trout |
| May 20, 2026 | Whitetop Laurel (Upper) | A | Rainbow Trout |
| April 24, 2026 | Whitetop Laurel (Upper) | A | Rainbow Trout |
| April 7, 2026 | Whitetop Laurel (Upper) | A | Brook Trout |
| March 18, 2026 | Whitetop Laurel (Upper) | A | Rainbow Trout |
| March 2, 2026 | Whitetop Laurel (Upper) | A | Rainbow Trout |
| November 13, 2025 | Whitetop Laurel (Lower) | A | Rainbow Trout |
| November 13, 2025 | Whitetop Laurel (Upper) | A | Rainbow Trout |
| October 7, 2025 | Whitetop Laurel (Lower) | A | Brook Trout |
| October 7, 2025 | Whitetop Laurel (Upper) | A | Brook Trout |
| May 21, 2025 | Whitetop Laurel (Lower) | A | Rainbow Trout |
| May 15, 2025 | Whitetop Laurel (Upper) | A | Rainbow Trout |
Delivery days on Whitetop Laurel, by season: 2026-27 1 date; 2025-26 9 dates; 2024-25 16 dates; 2023-24 16 dates.
Trout plan listing for the Whitetop Laurel
| Water as printed | Locality as printed | Category | Meaning | National forest |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Whitetop Laurel (Lower) | Washington County | A | stocked 8 times between October 1 and May 31 | yes |
| Whitetop Laurel (Upper) | Washington 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.
Virginia keep counts for Whitetop Laurel
| 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 |
For Whitetop Laurel, the statewide digest is the starting point.
- Within the special regulation sections of Whitetop Laurel the stream is managed as catch and release, in addition to a single hook artificial lure only regulation. A freshwater fishing license and National Forest Permit is needed to fish the two special regulation sections.
- Within the stocked portions of the stream there is a seven-inch size limit, a six fish per day creel and a trout license required from October 1, through June 15 in addition to the statewide freshwater fishing license. A National Forest Permit is required on some sections of the stocked portion of stream.
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.
Lining up the Whitetop Laurel with nearby rivers
| Stream | Distance | DWR access sites | USGS gauges | Stocked reaches |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Whitetop Laurel | this stream | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| Straight Branch | 1 mile northeast | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Valley Creek | 2 miles southeast | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Tennessee Laurel | 2 miles southwest | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Helton Creek | 11 miles east | 0 | 0 | 6 |
| South Fork Holston River | 14 miles northeast | 0 | 2 | 6 |
Virginia DWR Boating Access Locations and Stocked Trout Reaches, USGS gauges; read November 6, 2026.
Neighbouring stops for Whitetop Laurel
Nearby lakes worth a cast after Whitetop Laurel
- Beartree Lake3 miles
- South Holston Reservoir12 miles
- Hungry Mother Lake20 miles
- Laurel Bed Lake23 miles
Commonwealth tackle shops serving Whitetop Laurel
- Virginia Creeper Fly-Fishingbait and tackle shop, Abingdon, 12 miles
- Just Fish'nbait and tackle shop, Bristol, 22 miles
- Sportsman Marinamarina, Abingdon
Where anglers bunk when fishing Whitetop Laurel
- Glade Spring11 miles, Washington County
- Chilhowie12 miles, Smyth County
- Abingdon14 miles, Washington County
Whitetop Laurel, broken out by Virginia locality
- Washington Countycounty seat Abingdon
Rivers one drainage over from the Whitetop Laurel
- Straight Branch1 mile
- Valley Creek2 miles
- Tennessee Laurel2 miles
- Helton Creek11 miles
- South Fork Holston River14 miles
Piscifun reels for a Virginia day on Whitetop Laurel
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Sorting out the Whitetop Laurel species by sight
Photo: robposse, CC BY 2.0
Photo: USFWS Midwest Region, Public domain
Photo: USFWS Mountain-Prairie, Public domain
Photo: USFWS Mountain-Prairie, Public domain
Straight replies on Whitetop Laurel from the Virginia rule books
Which counties or cities touch Whitetop Laurel?
It crosses Washington County, about 11 miles from Glade Spring.
Which DWR site reaches Whitetop Laurel?
None on it; the closest DWR site is Whitaker Hollow boat ramp on South Holston Reservoir, about 11 miles away.
What might bite for a Virginia angler in Whitetop Laurel?
Look for brown trout, rainbow trout and brook trout.
Does Whitetop Laurel hold DWR trout?
Yes, 3 reaches carry stocked trout, category A and SR. Designated stocked trout waters require a trout license October 1 to June 15; urban waters November 1 to April 30 (as printed).
What bass creel does the digest set for Whitetop Laurel?
The statewide digest row for largemouth and smallmouth bass reads: 5 per day in the aggregate (combined); No statewide length limits.
Which Virginia license does Whitetop Laurel call for?
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. Kids under 16 fish free.
What is the flow on Whitetop Laurel today?
No gauge reads it in our data.
What store sells bait near Whitetop Laurel?
Virginia Creeper Fly-Fishing (about 12 miles away) is first on our list.
Pencil in a Virginia weekday on Whitetop Laurel
Virginia fees and limits are on one page.