Fishing at Claytor Lake Virginia

Know Before You Fish: Current Regulations

Claytor Lake has several species-specific regulations that differ from Virginia's general freshwater fishing rules. Any angler fishing Claytor Lake must know these before launching:

• Walleye: No walleye 19 to 28 inches may be kept. Creel limit: 2 per day. This applies year-round from Claytor Dam upstream to Buck Dam in Carroll County.
• Smallmouth bass: Minimum size 14 inches. Combined largemouth and smallmouth creel: 5 per day.
• Spotted bass (including Alabama bass): No size or creel limit at Claytor -- unlimited, any size. This is a management response to the Alabama bass invasive situation.
• Largemouth bass: No minimum size limit. Combined with smallmouth: 5 per day.

Regulations change annually. Always verify current rules at dwr.virginia.gov before fishing Claytor Lake. The walleye slot limit in particular catches visiting anglers who fish under general Virginia walleye rules and do not know the Claytor-specific restriction.

Black Bass: The Primary Fishery

Virginia DWR reports that approximately 67 percent of anglers at Claytor Lake fish for black bass -- the collective term for largemouth, smallmouth, and spotted bass. The lake's steep, rocky shorelines make it particularly productive for smallmouth bass, and DWR notes that Claytor's rocky structure is a smallmouth stronghold. Smallmouth densities are greatest in the lower lake sections near the dam, where the rocky main-channel walls and drop-offs provide prime habitat. The smallmouth minimum size of 14 inches applies -- fish under 14 inches must be released.

Largemouth bass are less numerous at Claytor than at warmer, more fertile Virginia reservoirs but are present throughout the lake. DWR identifies Peak Creek, Clapboard Hollow, and large coves in the lower lake as the best largemouth areas. Claytor Lake holds the record for the largest largemouth ever caught there -- a 14-pound, 6-ounce fish taken in June 1991. More recently, Virginia's state record spotted bass was caught at Claytor Lake on January 1, 2020 -- a 4-pound, 12-ounce fish. DWR has conducted fish habitat enhancement work at Claytor since 2001, deploying artificial structures (spider blocks, rock piles, Mossback habitats, Christmas tree reefs) to concentrate fish and improve angling success.

Walleye: Protected Slot Fishery

Walleye are a significant fishery at Claytor Lake, and the protected slot limit is the most important regulation for walleye anglers to understand. No walleye measuring 19 to 28 inches may be kept. DWR designed this slot to protect large female spawning walleye while allowing harvest of the more abundant smaller males. Walleye congregate near Allisonia where the New River enters the lake during the February and March spawning run -- the best spring walleye fishing in the lake. During fall, winter, and summer, walleye concentrate in deeper channel areas where they use artificial habitat structures placed by DWR. Trolling crankbaits along the deeper channels is the standard productive technique.

Alabama Bass: An Invasive Concern

Virginia DWR has documented Alabama bass at Claytor Lake and considers the invasive species a concern for the long-term health of the fishery. Alabama bass look very similar to spotted bass and are difficult to distinguish without close examination. The agency fears Alabama bass could outcompete native largemouth bass and hybridize with smallmouth and spotted bass. DWR removed the spotted bass size and creel limits at Claytor specifically because Alabama bass cannot be reliably distinguished from spotted bass -- the unlimited harvest encourages anglers to remove both species without restriction. Anglers who believe they have caught an Alabama bass at Claytor are encouraged to photograph the fish with measurements and report to Virginia DWR.

Hybrid Striped Bass and Other Species

Claytor Lake also supports landlocked striped bass and hybrid striped bass populations that school with baitfish in open water areas. In fall, winter, and summer, look for hybrids and stripers in the same areas as walleye. The clear mountain water of Claytor creates good visibility for topwater action when shad and herring schools are near the surface. Channel and flathead catfish are present throughout the lake. Black crappie populations are modest compared to other Virginia reservoirs but average well at just under a pound. Bluegill and rock bass provide consistent panfish action throughout the warm months.