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Best largemouth bass lakes in Virginia

13 Virginia waters hold largemouth bass, 13 mapped with real state-agency depth surveys. Ranked below by size and depth-data quality — open any water to see exactly where to fish it: depth contours, scored spots with plain-English reasons, seasonal windows and bait picks. Ambush predator that relates to cover — weeds, timber, docks — and moves shallow to feed.

1. Briery Creek Lake — 40 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Crappie, Bluegill, Channel Catfish
2. Back Bay — 7 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Crappie, White Perch
3. Lake Orange — 36 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Walleye, Crappie, Bluegill
4. Lake Nottoway — 16 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Crappie, Bluegill, Channel Catfish
5. Lake Gordon — 14 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Crappie, Channel Catfish, Chain Pickerel
6. Lake Frederick — 48 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Northern Pike, Crappie, Bluegill
7. Rural Retreat Lake — 35 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Northern Pike, Crappie, Bluegill
8. Fluvanna Ruritan Lake — 30 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Crappie, Bluegill, Channel Catfish
9. Hidden Valley Lake — 24 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Northern Pike, Crappie, Bluegill
10. Lake Brittle — 26 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Walleye, Crappie, Bluegill
11. Lake Shenandoah — 25 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Crappie, Bluegill, Channel Catfish
12. Lake A. Willis Robertson — 45 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Crappie, Bluegill, Channel Catfish
13. Horsepen Lake — 20 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Crappie, Bluegill, Channel Catfish

When to fish largemouth bass in Virginia

• Spring 2–10 ft — Pre-spawn through spawn: target shallow flats, pockets and cover near deep access.
• Summer 8–20 ft — Fish the edges: weedlines, drop-offs, and deep cover close to shallow feeding areas.
• Fall 4–15 ft — Follow the baitfish: points and creek channels leading into pockets.
• Winter 15–35 ft — Slow and deep: steep drops and channel bends near wintering basins.

Also in Virginia: best crappie lakes · best bluegill lakes · best channel catfish lakes · best common carp lakes

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