Fishing at Philpott Lake Virginia

Walleye: The Premier Fishery

Philpott Lake is one of Virginia's premier walleye destinations, sustained by approximately 144,000 walleye fingerlings stocked annually by Virginia DWR. The walleye do not reproduce naturally in the lake -- or reproduce at insufficient rates to maintain a catchable population without stocking -- so the DWR stocking program is the foundation of the fishery. The results are impressive: most adult walleye average 17 to 21 inches, with occasional fish in the 6-to-8-pound range caught at the lake. Male walleye grow slowly after reaching 18 inches (typically at about 3 years of age), while female walleye continue growing for several more years and produce the trophy-class fish that Philpott occasionally delivers.

Spring walleye spawning activity concentrates fish at predictable locations: the headwaters of the lake above mile marker 12, the Runnett Bag Creek arm, and the area from mile marker 3 to the dam. In March, walleye can often be found in less than 10 feet of water during spawning activity, particularly at night. Most walleye spawning concludes by late March to early April. DWR conducted a walleye tagging study at Philpott from 2002 to 2010 involving 1,579 tagged fish -- the data from this study informs ongoing stocking and harvest management decisions. Tagged fish have been reported throughout the lake across multiple seasons, indicating reasonable walleye movement and distribution.

Smallmouth Bass: Regional Excellence

Virginia DWR describes Philpott Lake's smallmouth bass population as one of the best smallmouth reservoir fisheries in the region. The rocky mountain lake structure -- deep clear water, rocky shorelines, significant depth variation -- produces the habitat conditions that smallmouth bass thrive in. Largemouth bass are also present and comprise the bulk of the bass population numerically, with good numbers of fish in the 2-to-3-pound range and bass up to 5 pounds documented in DWR sampling. The smallmouth population has declined since early 1990s peaks but remains strong, and the lake is a regular venue for bass tournaments hosted through the customized tournament facility near the dam in Henry County -- a large T-shaped mooring dock with a small courtesy dock that serves tournament weigh-ins.

Crappie, Catfish, and Panfish

Philpott Lake does not have the densely productive crappie population of many warmer, more fertile Virginia reservoirs. DWR explicitly notes that the lake does not have the habitat and characteristics that maintain a highly productive crappie fishery -- the deep, clear, cold mountain water with rocky structure does not support the same crappie density as shallower, warmer lakes with more aquatic vegetation. However, the crappie that are present average 9 to 12 inches -- quality size that reflects the forage available in the clear, deep water. The best crappie areas are in the upstream end and in coves. White catfish are the most abundant catfish species at Philpott, concentrated in the lower lake regions near the dam where the water stays clearest most of the year. Channel catfish are present but less abundant. Bluegill and rock bass provide consistent panfish options through the warmer months.