Northern Pike in Virginia
Creel, record and water pages for Virginia northern pike.
- 5 a daybag
- 31 lbs. 4 oz.record
Pick for northern pikePiscifun Viper X spinning reel50% OFFSale $39.99 Photo of the species, not a Virginia water: USFWS Mountain-Prairie, Public domain
northern pike across the Commonwealth
"Chain Pickerel and Northern Pike" is where the 2026 digest lists northern pike. Daily creel per the digest: 5 per day. The length column reads: No statewide length limits.
Virginia's top northern pike on the DWR list weighed 31 lbs. 4 oz.: Motts Run Reservoir, 1994. 9 Virginia lake and river pages here carry northern pike on DWR's list, Lake Moomaw, Motts Run Reservoir and Lake Frederick at the top. Local digest lines on 1 water cover it, Lake Gaston and Buggs Island Lake/Kerr Reservoir for one.
Northern Pike (Esox lucius), Pikes (Esocidae).
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.
For the northern pike herePiscifun AlumiX spinning reel46% OFFSale $64.99 Virginia northern pike limits, statewide and scoped
| Where it applies | Row as printed | Creel | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| statewide | Chain Pickerel and Northern Pike | 5 per day | 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.
Virginia lakes and rivers with a different northern pike rule
| Water as printed | Group | Rule as printed |
|---|---|---|
| Lake Gaston and Buggs Island Lake/Kerr Reservoir | No daily limit |
Water-specific exceptions as printed, 2026 Freshwater Fishing in Virginia digest (eRegulations, linked from the Virginia DWR regulations page), read November 6, 2026.
Where the Virginia northern pike record came from
| Weight as printed | Water | Date |
|---|---|---|
| 31 lbs. 4 oz. | Motts Run Reservoir | 7-24-1994 |
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.
Virginia lakes and rivers where DWR names northern pike
- Lake Moomaw2,530 acres, Bath County
- Motts Run Reservoir160 acres, Spotsylvania County
- Lake Frederick117 acres, Frederick County
- Rural Retreat Lake90 acres, Wythe County
- Hidden Valley Lake61 acres, Washington County
- Fluvanna Ruritan50 acres, Fluvanna County
- Arrowhead Lake39 acres, Page County
- Staunton Run15 acres, Augusta County
- North RiverAugusta County
Virginia DWR Public Fishing Lakes layer (outline, motor rule, region number), read November 6, 2026.
More fish beside northern pike on the family tree
- Chain Pickerel5 a day
- Muskellunge1 a day
- Alabama Bassno daily cap
- Alewifeno possession
- American Eel25 a day
- American Shadno possession
- Black Crappie25 a day
- Blue Catfish20 a day
A Piscifun spread to take to Virginia northern pike
Piscifun and Amazon links are affiliate links; the site earns a commission on qualifying purchases.
Pictures of the water by Northern Pike
Photo: ted, CC BY 2.0
Photo: ted, CC BY 2.0
Photo: Blake Patterson, CC BY 2.0
Photo: Virginia State Parks, CC BY 2.0
Commonwealth angler queries on Northern Pike
Is there a daily cap on Virginia northern pike?
Per the digest, 5 per day; length rule: No statewide length limits.
Where was the Virginia northern pike record caught?
DWR lists 31 lbs. 4 oz. (Motts Run Reservoir, 1994).
Which Virginia lakes list northern pike?
Begin with Lake Moomaw, Motts Run Reservoir and Lake Frederick; 9 Virginia pages list it.
Do any Virginia waters set their own northern pike rule?
The digest lists 1 water, including Lake Gaston and Buggs Island Lake/Kerr Reservoir.
Is northern pike on the DWR stocking schedule?
It is not on the DWR stocking schedule.
Which license lets me keep northern pike in Virginia?
A Virginia freshwater license is $23 a year for residents and $47 for nonresidents 16 and older.
What family holds northern pike on the DWR profile?
Esox lucius; family Pikes (Esocidae), per the DWR species profile.
Do Virginia northern pike anglers skip the license on a free day?
Virginia DWR set Free Fishing Days for June 5–7, 2026: no freshwater fishing license needed, all other rules apply. Every other rule still applies.
Line up a trip for Virginia northern pike
Start from a water above for its DWR launches.