White Bass in Virginia
white bass under the 2026 Virginia rules.
- 5 a daybag
- 6 lbs. 13 oz.record
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What Virginia rules say about white bass
Find white bass in the digest table on the "White Bass" line. The digest's creel entry: 5 per day. Size, per the digest: No statewide length limits.
A 6 lbs. 13 oz. fish from Lake Orange (1989) heads the DWR list for white bass. Start with Buggs Island Lake (Kerr Reservoir), South Holston Reservoir and Claytor Lake: 7 Virginia water pages list white bass. Water exceptions in the digest touch it on 6 waters, such as Buggs Island Lake/Kerr Reservoir including the Staunton (Roanoke) River and its tributaries to Leesville Dam and the Dan River and its tributaries to the Union Street Dam (Danville) and Claytor Lake and its tributaries.
White Bass (Morone chrysops), Temperate Basses (Moronidae).
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 | White Bass | 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.
Digest exceptions naming white bass
| Water as printed | Group | Rule as printed |
|---|---|---|
| Buggs Island Lake/Kerr Reservoir including the Staunton (Roanoke) River and its tributaries to Leesville Dam and the Dan River and its tributaries to the Union Street Dam (Danville) | October 1–May 31: 2 per day in the aggregate (combined) No striped bass or hybrid striped bass less than 20 inches or greater than 26 inches; June 1–September 30: 4 per day in the aggregate (combined) No length limit | |
| Claytor Lake and its tributaries | September 16–June 30: 2 per day in the aggregate, no striped bass or hybrid bass less than 20 inches; July 1–September 15: 4 per day in the aggregate; no length limit | |
| Lake Gaston | 4 per day in the aggregate (combined); October 1–May 31: No striped bass or hybrid striped bass less than 20 inches; June 1–September 30: No length limit | |
| Smith Mountain Lake and its tributaries, including the Roanoke River upstream to Niagara Dam | 2 per day in the aggregate (combined); November 1–May 31: No striped bass 30 to 40 inches; June 1–October 31: No length limit | |
| South Holston Reservoir | No harvest or possession (catch and release only) | |
| Lake Gaston and Buggs Island Lake/Kerr Reservoir, including the Staunton (Roanoke) River and its tributaries to Leesville Dam and the Dan River and its tributaries to Union Street Dam (Danville) | 10 per day; no white bass less than 14 inches |
Water-specific exceptions as printed, 2026 Freshwater Fishing in Virginia digest (eRegulations, linked from the Virginia DWR regulations page), read November 6, 2026.
The Virginia state record white bass
| Weight as printed | Water | Date |
|---|---|---|
| 6 lbs. 13 oz. | Lake Orange | 7-31-1989 |
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 water pages carrying white bass
- Buggs Island Lake (Kerr Reservoir)48,900 acres, Mecklenburg County
- South Holston Reservoir7,580 acres, Washington County
- Claytor Lake4,363 acres, Pulaski County
- Leesville Reservoir3,400 acres, Bedford County
- Lake Orange124 acres, Orange County
- Dan RiverPatrick County
- Staunton RiverCampbell County
Virginia DWR Public Fishing Lakes layer (outline, motor rule, region number), read November 6, 2026.
Other Virginia fish near white bass
- Hybrid Striped Bass4 a day
- Striped Bass4 a day
- White Perchno daily cap
- Alabama Bassno daily cap
- Alewifeno possession
- American Eel25 a day
- American Shadno possession
- Black Crappie25 a day
Piscifun reels for a Virginia day on Virginia white bass
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Ridge-ringed reservoirs and creek bends near White Bass, photographed
Photo: ted, CC BY 2.0
Photo: Virginia State Parks, CC BY 2.0
Photo: ted, CC BY 2.0
Photo: NatalieMaynor, CC BY 2.0
Old Dominion White Bass, asked at the ramp
What is the statewide white bass creel in Virginia?
Creel 5 per day, length No statewide length limits, statewide.
Does DWR list a record white bass?
It weighed 6 lbs. 13 oz.; Lake Orange, 1989.
Which Virginia pages here mention white bass?
7 Virginia pages, Buggs Island Lake (Kerr Reservoir), South Holston Reservoir and Claytor Lake first.
Where does the white bass rule change in Virginia?
The digest alters it on 6 waters, Buggs Island Lake/Kerr Reservoir including the Staunton (Roanoke) River and its tributaries to Leesville Dam and the Dan River and its tributaries to the Union Street Dam (Danville) for example.
Were white bass stocked in Virginia recently?
The schedule leaves it out.
Which Virginia license covers white bass?
A Virginia freshwater license is $23 a year for residents and $47 for nonresidents 16 and older.
Which family do white bass belong to in Virginia?
Morone chrysops; family Temperate Basses (Moronidae), per the DWR species profile.
On which Virginia dates can white bass be fished license-free?
Virginia DWR set Free Fishing Days for June 5–7, 2026: no freshwater fishing license needed, all other rules apply. Size and creel rules stay in force.
Pick a Virginia water for white bass
Each water page lists its DWR ramps, piers and digest lines.