Largemouth Bass in Virginia
Digest rows, record weight and waters holding Virginia largemouth bass.
- 5 a daybag
- 16 lbs. 4 oz.record
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Virginia largemouth bass: the rule-book view
In the 2026 Virginia digest, largemouth bass fall under the creel row headed "Largemouth, Smallmouth Bass". Creel, quoted: 5 per day in the aggregate (combined). The length entry: No statewide length limits.
The Commonwealth record largemouth bass: 16 lbs. 4 oz., Conner Lake, 1985. Buggs Island Lake (Kerr Reservoir), Smith Mountain Lake and Lake Gaston lead 144 Virginia pages where DWR names largemouth bass. 19 waters get a line of their own for it, Briery Creek Lake and Buggs Island Lake/Kerr Reservoir first.
Largemouth Bass (Micropterus nigricans), Sunfishes (Centrarchidae).
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.
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| Where it applies | Row as printed | Creel | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| statewide | Largemouth, Smallmouth Bass | 5 per day in the aggregate (combined) | No statewide length limits |
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.
largemouth bass, water by water in Virginia
| Water as printed | Group | Rule as printed |
|---|---|---|
| Briery Creek Lake | Lakes | No largemouth or smallmouth bass 16 to 24 inches, only 1 per day longer than 24 inches |
| Buggs Island Lake/Kerr Reservoir | Lakes | Only 2 of 5 largemouth or smallmouth bass less than 14 inches |
| Claytor Lake | Lakes | No smallmouth less than 14 inches |
| Flannagan Reservoir | Lakes | No largemouth bass less than 12 inches; no smallmouth bass less than 15 inches |
| Lake Gaston | Lakes | Only 2 of 5 largemouth or smallmouth bass less than 14 inches |
| Leesville Reservoir | Lakes | Only 2 of 5 largemouth or smallmouth bass less than 14 inches |
| Lake Moomaw | Lakes | No largemouth or smallmouth bass less than 12 inches |
| Smith Mt. Lake and its tributaries below Niagara Dam | Lakes | Only 2 of 5 largemouth or smallmouth bass less than 14 inches |
| South Holston Reservoir | Lakes | No smallmouth less than 15 inches |
| Clinch River–within the boundaries of Scott, Wise, Russell or Tazewell counties | Rivers | No largemouth or smallmouth bass less than 20 inches, only 1 per day longer than 20 inches |
| Dan River and tributaries downstream from the Union Street Dam, Danville | Rivers | Only 2 of 5 largemouth or smallmouth bass less than 14 inches |
| James River–Confluence of the Jackson and Cowpasture rivers (Botetourt Cty) downstream to the 14th St. Bridge in Richmond | Rivers | No largemouth or smallmouth bass 14 to 22 inches, only 1 per day longer than 22 inches |
| Levisa Fork River–within the boundaries Buchanan County | Rivers | No largemouth or smallmouth bass less than 20 inches, only 1 per day longer than 20 inches |
| New River–Fields Dam (Grayson County) downstream to the VA-WV state line and its tributaries Little River downstream from Little River Dam in Montgomery County, Big Walker Creek from the Norfolk Southern Railroad Bridge downstream to the New River and Wolf Creek from the Narrows Dam downstream to the New River in Giles County. (This does not include Claytor Lake which is delineated as: The upper end of the island at Allisonia downstream to the dam.) | Rivers | No largemouth or smallmouth bass 14 to 22 inches, only 1 per day longer than 22 inches |
| North Fork Holston River–Rt. 91 Bridge upstream of Saltville, Va. downstream to the VA-TN state line | Rivers | No largemouth or smallmouth bass less than 20 inches, only 1 per day longer than 20 inches |
| Potomac River – Virginia tidal tributaries above Rt. 301 bridge | Rivers | No largemouth or smallmouth bass less than 15 inches from March 1 through June 15 |
| Staunton (Roanoke) River–and its tributaries below Difficult Creek, Charlotte County | Rivers | Only 2 of 5 largemouth or smallmouth bass less than 14 inches |
| North Fork, South Fork and Mainstem Shenandoah River | Rivers | No largemouth or smallmouth bass 11 to 14 inches |
| Staunton River–Leesville Dam (Campbell County) downstream to the mouth of Difficult Creek, Charlotte County | Rivers | 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.
Record largemouth bass on the DWR list
| Weight as printed | Water | Date |
|---|---|---|
| 16 lbs. 4 oz. | Conner Lake | 5-20-1985 |
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.
Impoundments and streams with largemouth bass on DWR pages
- Buggs Island Lake (Kerr Reservoir)48,900 acres, Mecklenburg County
- Smith Mountain Lake20,600 acres, Franklin County
- Lake Gaston20,300 acres, Brunswick County
- Lake Anna9,600 acres, Louisa County
- Claytor Lake4,363 acres, Pulaski County
- Leesville Reservoir3,400 acres, Bedford County
- Lake Chesdin3,100 acres, Dinwiddie County
- Philpott Lake2,880 acres, Franklin County
- Lake Moomaw2,530 acres, Bath County
- Occoquan Reservoir2,100 acres, Fairfax County
- James River State Park Lakes1,440 acres, Buckingham County
- Western Branch Reservoir1,265 acres, City of Suffolk
- Chickahominy Lake1,230 acres, New Kent County
- Diascund Reservoir1,110 acres, New Kent County
- Lake Prince946 acres, City of Suffolk
- Briery Creek Lake845 acres, Prince Edward County
- Sandy River Reservoir740 acres, Prince Edward County
- Burnt Mills Reservoir711 acres, Isle of Wight County
- Beaverdam Swamp Reservoir635 acres, Gloucester County
- Lake Mooney520 acres, Stafford County
- Lake Meade512 acres, City of Suffolk
- Lake Cohoon510 acres, City of Suffolk
- Sandy Bottom Park Pond465 acres, City of Hampton
- Rivanna Reservoir450 acres, Albemarle County
Virginia DWR Public Fishing Lakes layer (outline, motor rule, region number), read November 6, 2026.
Relatives of largemouth bass in Virginia water
- Alabama Bassno daily cap
- Black Crappie25 a day
- Flier50 a day
- Green Sunfish50 a day
- Pumpkinseed50 a day
- Redbreast Sunfish50 a day
- Roanoke Bass25 a day
- Rock Bass25 a day
- Smallmouth Bass5 a day
- Spotted Bassno daily cap
Piscifun spinning gear for a day out on Virginia largemouth bass
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Shorelines around Largemouth Bass through a camera
Photo: Virginia State Parks, CC BY 2.0
Photo: WordRidden, CC BY 2.0
Photo: Ken Lund, CC BY-SA 2.0
Photo: Jim, CC BY-SA 2.0
What Virginians want settled about Largemouth Bass
What is the Virginia creel limit for largemouth bass?
Statewide the digest prints: 5 per day in the aggregate (combined); length: No statewide length limits.
Which Virginia water produced the top largemouth bass?
The list shows 16 lbs. 4 oz. from Conner Lake, 1985.
What Virginia lake should I try for largemouth bass?
Of 144 Virginia pages, try Buggs Island Lake (Kerr Reservoir), Smith Mountain Lake and Lake Gaston first.
Are there special waters for largemouth bass in Virginia?
The digest names 19 waters; Briery Creek Lake is one.
Which Virginia waters got largemouth bass from DWR?
DWR lists no stocking of it.
Which Virginia license do largemouth bass anglers buy?
A Virginia freshwater license is $23 a year for residents and $47 for nonresidents 16 and older.
Which scientific name does DWR use for largemouth bass?
Micropterus nigricans; family Sunfishes (Centrarchidae), per the DWR species profile.
Are Virginia free days open to largemouth bass anglers?
Virginia DWR set Free Fishing Days for June 5–7, 2026: no freshwater fishing license needed, all other rules apply. Normal limits remain.
Go after Virginia largemouth bass
Open a Virginia water above for its launches and local rules.