Fishing near Roanoke, Virginia
An independent city; the 2020 Census counted 100,011 residents.
- 20 milesto nearest lake page
- 2launches nearby
Pick for troutPiscifun Carbon X ultralight spinning reel28% OFFSale $57.99 Photo: Matt Walter, CC BY-SA 2.0
Casting from a Roanoke base
The 2020 Census found 100,011 people in the independent city of Roanoke. Smith Mountain Lake is the nearest lake with a page, roughly 20 miles to the southeast. The nearest recorded launch is Tinker Creek Landing, 3 miles away.
Trout water: Goose Creek lies 19 miles off.
Census 2020 population and Gazetteer point for Roanoke; miles are straight lines.
For the trout herePiscifun Carbon XT ultralight spinning reel25% OFFSale $59.99 Reservoirs a drive from Roanoke
| Lake | Distance | Area | Kind | DWR launches | Fish DWR names |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Smith Mountain Lake | 20 miles southeast | 20,600 acres | reservoir | 6 | channel catfish, crappie, flathead catfish |
| Abbott Lake | 23 miles northeast | 24 acres | reservoir | 0 | bluegill, bullhead, smallmouth bass |
| Liberty Lake | 23 miles east | 2 acres | lake | 0 | brook trout, brown trout, rainbow trout |
| Franklin County Park Pond | 25 miles south | 2 acres (DWR outline area) | pond | 0 | brook trout, brown 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.
Creeks and rivers by Roanoke
- Tinker Creek3 miles, 1 stocked trout reach, wild trout survey class VII, 15.6 km, 1 DWR launch, 2 USGS gauges
- Glade Creek4 miles, 1 stocked trout reach, 1 USGS gauge
- Roanoke River8 miles, 1 stocked trout reach, 3 USGS gauges
Stocked and wild trout water by Roanoke
- Goose Creek19 miles, 1 stocked trout reach, 4 USGS gauges
- Pigg River21 miles, 1 stocked trout reach, 2 DWR launches, 1 USGS gauge
USGS stations close to Roanoke
| USGS gauge | Latest reading | Time (ET) |
|---|---|---|
| Lick Run Above Patton Avenue At Roanoke, Va | 5 cfs, 2.74 ft gage height | Oct 8 11:40 am Not updated since Oct 8, 2024. |
| Roanoke River At Roanoke, Va | 86 cfs, 0.89 ft gage height | Nov 7 5:20 pm |
| Tinker Creek Above Glade Creek At Roanoke, Va | 25 cfs, 2.47 ft gage height | Nov 7 4:45 pm |
US Geological Survey provisional data, retrieved Nov 7, 2026 5:34 pm 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.
Roanoke water mapped
- Tinker Creek LandingTinker Creek, hand launch (concrete access), 1 ramp, barrier-free, freshwater, 3 miles
- Hardy Ford boat ramp on Smith Mountain LakeSmith Mountain Lake, 2 ramps, barrier-free, freshwater, 10 miles
Virginia DWR Boating Access Locations layer (attributes as recorded; lanes, fees and hours are not in the layer), read November 6, 2026.
Bait counters and captains serving Roanoke
Bait stops for a Roanoke trip
- Sportsman's Warehouse, 3550 Ferncliff Ave NWsporting goods store, Roanoke, 2 miles
Yellow Pages and chain store listings (miles only for shops with an exact point); guide and charter business listings; read November 6, 2026.
Trail calendars touching water by Roanoke
| Date | Event | Water | Organizer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nov. 22, 2026 | CATT Smith Mountain Lake Fall Qualifier #3 | Smith Mountain Lake | Carolina Anglers Team Trail (CATT) |
| Dec. 6, 2026 | CATT Smith Mountain Lake Fall Qualifier #4 | Smith Mountain Lake | Carolina Anglers Team Trail (CATT) |
| Dec. 13, 2026 | CATT Smith Mountain Lake Fall Final | Smith Mountain Lake | Carolina Anglers Team Trail (CATT) |
| April 3, 2027 | 2027 Phoenix Bass Fishing League Virginia Division at Smith Mountain Lake | Smith Mountain Lake | Major League Fishing (MLF) Phoenix Bass Fishing League |
| April 10, 2027 | Fishers of Men Virginia West – Legacy – Smith Mtn Lake | Smith Mtn Lake | Fishers of Men National Tournament Trail |
| April 24, 2027 | Fishers of Men Virginia West – Classic – Smith Mtn Lake | Smith Mtn Lake | Fishers of Men National Tournament Trail |
| Nov. 1, 2026 | CATT VA – Smith Mountain Division 2026-11-01 | Smith Mountain Lake | Carolina Anglers Team Trail (CATT) |
| Oct. 25, 2026 | CATT VA – Smith Mountain Division 2026-10-25 | Smith Mountain Lake | Carolina Anglers Team Trail (CATT) |
| Oct. 18, 2026 | CATT BassKings (individual) 2026-10-18 | Smith Mountain Lake | Carolina Anglers Team Trail (CATT) |
| Oct. 4, 2026 | CATT BassKings (individual) 2026-10-04 | Smith Mountain Lake | Carolina Anglers Team Trail (CATT) |
Organizer schedule and results pages for events in City of Roanoke or within 20 miles, checked November 2026.
Virginia record catches out of water by Roanoke
| Species | Weight as printed | Water | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Striped Bass | 53 lbs. 7 oz. | Leesville Reservoir | 2000 |
| Coho Salmon | 8 lbs. 12 oz. | Philpott Lake | 1971 |
| Lake Trout | 5 lbs. 6 oz. | Philpott Lake | 1966 |
| Fallfish | 3 lbs. 13 oz. | Jackson River | 2025 |
| Brown Trout | 18 lbs. 11 oz. | Smith River | 1979 |
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.
Creel rules for a day from Roanoke
Budget $23 for the resident freshwater license, or $47 as a nonresident.
| 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.
Onward from Roanoke
Virginia towns adjoining Roanoke
- Vinton4 miles
- Cave Spring4 miles
- Hollins5 miles
- Salem5 miles
- Cloverdale6 miles
The locality page holding Roanoke
- City of Roanokeindependent city
Piscifun tackle that suits Roanoke
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Commonwealth fish worth recognizing at Roanoke
Photo: USFWS Mountain-Prairie, Public domain
Photo: USFWS Mountain-Prairie, Public domain
Photo: USFWS Mountain-Prairie, Public domain
Photo: USFWS Mountain-Prairie, Public domain
Fishing from Roanoke: questions
How many miles lie between Roanoke and a lake page?
Smith Mountain Lake, 20 miles southeast.
What is the closest DWR launch to Roanoke?
Tinker Creek Landing wins at 3 miles.
Which DWR pier is nearest Roanoke?
The DWR layer shows no pier within 15 miles.
Who sells hooks and bait near Roanoke?
Sportsman's Warehouse is listed 2 miles from town.
Which county or independent city includes Roanoke?
Its locality page is City of Roanoke, an independent city.
What license covers a weekend of fishing from Roanoke?
Expect $47 for twelve months of Virginia freshwater fishing as a visitor, or $8 for a short-term option DWR lists.
What is the biggest reservoir page near Roanoke?
Smith Mountain Lake covers 20,600 acres and lies 20 miles off.
What other town pages sit close to Roanoke?
Vinton (4 miles), Cave Spring (4 miles) and Hollins (5 miles) sit closest.
Which event is next on water by Roanoke?
16 events on file; the next is CATT Smith Mountain Lake Fall Qualifier #3 on Smith Mountain Lake, Nov. 22, 2026.
Which Virginia records came from water near Roanoke?
Striped Bass, 53 lbs. 7 oz., 2000, from Leesville Reservoir.
What trout stream page lies nearest Roanoke?
Goose Creek, 19 miles away (1 stocked trout reach, 4 USGS gauges).