Fishing near Harrisonburg, Virginia
An independent city; the 2020 Census counted 51,814 residents.
- 4 milesto nearest lake page
- 4launches nearby
Pick for troutPiscifun Carbon X ultralight spinning reel28% OFFSale $57.99 Photo: Doug Kerr, CC BY-SA 2.0
Fishing from Harrisonburg
51,814 people lived in Harrisonburg, an independent city, at the 2020 count. Head west about 4 miles to reach Silver Lake, the closest lake page. Lake Shenandoah spreads over 36 acres, more than any lake nearby. Lake Shenandoah boat ramp is the closest DWR launch, 4 miles out.
For trout, Hone Quarry Run is about 15 miles away. Pier fishing waits at Grottoes Town Park, roughly 11 miles from town.
Census 2020 population and Gazetteer point for Harrisonburg; miles are straight lines.
For the trout herePiscifun Carbon XT ultralight spinning reel25% OFFSale $59.99 Reservoirs a short haul from Harrisonburg
| Lake | Distance | Area | Kind | DWR launches | Fish DWR names |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Silver Lake | 4 miles west | 23 acres | lake | 0 | black crappie, bluegill, channel catfish |
| Lake Shenandoah | 4 miles southeast | 36 acres | reservoir | 1 | black crappie, bluegill, common carp |
| Slate Lick Lake | 13 miles northwest | 10 acres | reservoir | 0 | brook trout, channel catfish, largemouth bass |
| Hone Quarry | 15 miles west | 6 acres | lake | 0 | channel catfish, crappie, walleye |
| Briery Branch Lake | 16 miles west | 9 acres | lake | 0 | bluegill, channel catfish, largemouth bass |
| Hearthstone Lake | 16 miles west | 7 acres | reservoir | 0 | brook trout, rainbow trout |
Acres are the NHD outline area of the mapped lake (USGS National Hydrography Dataset), not a DWR figure. Virginia DWR Boating Access Locations layer (attributes as recorded; lanes, fees and hours are not in the layer), read November 6, 2026.
Moving water close to Harrisonburg
- Mossy Creek11 miles, 1 stocked trout reach, wild trout survey class V, 10.9 km
- Slate Lick Run12 miles, 1 stocked trout reach
- Cub Run13 miles, 1 stocked trout reach, wild trout survey class II, 10.8 km, 1 USGS gauge
- Dry River13 miles, 3 stocked trout reaches
Mountain trout reaches close to Harrisonburg
- Hone Quarry Run15 miles, 1 stocked trout reach, wild trout survey class III, 10.1 km
River stage around Harrisonburg
| USGS gauge | Latest reading | Time (ET) |
|---|---|---|
| Muddy Creek At Mount Clinton, Va | 2 cfs, 2.56 ft gage height | Nov 9 1:45 am |
| North River Near Burketown, Va | 105 cfs, 1.96 ft gage height | Nov 9 1:45 am |
| S F Shenandoah River Near Lynnwood, Va | 182 cfs, 2.23 ft gage height | Nov 9 1:45 am |
US Geological Survey provisional data, retrieved Nov 9, 2026 2:33 am ET. Provisional readings can be revised.
DWR waterbody pages, stocked trout reaches and wild trout survey layers, and USGS gauges (live readings); read November 6, 2026.
Ramps and lakes plotted by Harrisonburg
- Lake Shenandoah boat rampLake Shenandoah, dock and ramp, 1 ramp, barrier-free, freshwater, 4 miles
- Port Republic boat ramp on South Fork Shenandoah RiverSouth Fork Shenandoah River, dock and ramp, freshwater, 10 miles
- Grottoes Park on South RiverSouth River, concrete ramp (no dock), freshwater, 11 miles
- Island Ford boat ramp on South Fork Shenandoah RiverSouth Fork Shenandoah River, gravel access, freshwater, 11 miles
Walk-on fishing by Harrisonburg
- Grottoes Town Parkfishing pier, 11 miles
Virginia DWR Boating Access Locations layer (attributes as recorded; lanes, fees and hours are not in the layer), read November 6, 2026.
Supplies and captains around Harrisonburg
Listed bait counters near Harrisonburg
- Mossy Creek Fly Fishingfly shop, Harrisonburg, 1 mile
- Dubby's Fishing & Huntingbait and tackle shop, Harrisonburg, 1 mile
- Heartland Outfittersbait and tackle shop, Dayton, 4 miles
- Bridgewater Rod & Reelbait and tackle shop, Bridgewater, 7 miles
Yellow Pages and chain store listings (miles only for shops with an exact point); guide and charter business listings; read November 6, 2026.
State record catches by Harrisonburg
| Species | Weight as printed | Water | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brook Trout | 5 lbs. 15 oz. | Cub Run | 2019 |
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. Waters within 40 miles.
Statewide rows near Harrisonburg
A year of Virginia freshwater fishing costs residents $23 and nonresidents $47; anglers under 16 need none.
| Species | Where it applies | 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 |
| Hickory Shad | Above and below the fall line in all coastal rivers of the Chesapeake Bay and their tributaries | Creel and length limits shall be the same as those set by the Virginia Marine Resources Comm. in tidal rivers | no length limit printed |
| Hickory Shad | Meherrin River below Emporia Dam, Nottoway River, Blackwater River (Chowan Drainage), North Landing and Northwest rivers, and their tributaries plus Back Bay | 10 per day | No length limits |
| Anadromous (coastal) Alewife and Blueback Herring | Above and below the fall line in all coastal rivers of the Chesapeake Bay and their tributaries | Creel and length limits shall be the same as those set by the Virginia Marine Resources Comm. for these species in tidal rivers | no length limit printed |
| Other native or naturalized nongame fish | statewide | 20 per day | No length limits |
| Threatened and endangered species | statewide | No possession | no length limit printed |
| Grass Carp | statewide | No statewide daily limit | No statewide length limit |
| Longnose Gar | statewide | July 1 to April 14: 5 per day | April 15 to June 30: 1 per day No statewide length limits |
| Bowfin | statewide | July 1 to April 14: 5 per day | April 15 to June 30: 1 per day No statewide length limits |
| Northern Snakehead | statewide | No statewide daily limit | No statewide length limit |
| Spotted Sea Trout | Back Bay and tributaries, including Brinson’s Inlet Lake (Lake Tecumseh), and the North Landing River and its tributaries | 4 per day, no fish less than 14 inches | no length limit printed |
| Red Drum | Back Bay and tributaries, including Brinson’s Inlet Lake (Lake Tecumseh), and the North Landing River and its tributaries | 1 per day between 18 and 27 inches | no length limit printed |
| Grey Trout | Back Bay and tributaries, including Brinson’s Inlet Lake (Lake Tecumseh), and the North Landing River and its tributaries | 1 per day, no fish less than 12 inches | no length limit printed |
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. Lake and river pages print any water exception. Virginia license fees in the 2026 Freshwater Fishing in Virginia digest (licenses run one year from purchase unless noted), read November 6, 2026.
Around Harrisonburg
Nearby towns with a page, from Harrisonburg
- Massanetta Springs4 miles
- Dayton4 miles
- Bridgewater6 miles
- Weyers Cave11 miles
- Grottoes12 miles
County or city guide for Harrisonburg
- City of Harrisonburgindependent city
Reels from Piscifun for the next trip to Harrisonburg
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Lakes, tidewater and stream riffles close to Harrisonburg, in pictures
Photo: Doug Kerr, CC BY-SA 2.0
Photo: Bill McChesney, CC BY 2.0
Photo: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Norfolk District, CC BY 2.0
Photo: Wilbur Ince, CC BY 2.0
What anglers staying in Harrisonburg ask
Which lake does a Harrisonburg angler reach first?
Silver Lake, 4 miles west.
How long is the tow from Harrisonburg to a launch?
Roughly 4 miles out, at Lake Shenandoah boat ramp.
Which DWR pier suits an angler staying in Harrisonburg?
Grottoes Town Park is the pick at 11 miles.
How far does a Harrisonburg angler drive to buy tackle?
Mossy Creek Fly Fishing is listed 1 mile from town.
Which locality page lists Harrisonburg among its towns?
It is its own independent city; the City of Harrisonburg page covers it.
What license cost faces an angler lodging in Harrisonburg?
Nonresidents spend $47 on the annual Virginia freshwater license, or $8 for a short-term option DWR lists.
What sizeable Virginia reservoir is drivable from Harrisonburg?
Lake Shenandoah covers 36 acres and lies 4 miles off.
Which other Virginia towns could host a Harrisonburg trip?
Look at Massanetta Springs (4 miles), Dayton (4 miles) and Bridgewater (6 miles).
Is water close to Harrisonburg named on the Virginia record list?
Brook Trout, 5 lbs. 15 oz., 2019, from Cub Run.
Where do Harrisonburg anglers fish for trout?
Hone Quarry Run, 15 miles away (1 stocked trout reach, wild trout survey class III, 10.1 km).
Try the reservoirs near Harrisonburg this season
Check a water's digest exceptions before keeping fish.