← Virginia fishing maps

Best largemouth bass lakes in Virginia

27 Virginia waters hold largemouth bass, 14 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. Kerr Lake (Buggs Island) — 100 ft max · Largemouth Bass, Crappie, Channel Catfish, Striped BassWhy #1: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · no verified access record attached
2. Currituck Sound — 18 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Striped Bass, White Perch, Red Drum (Redfish)Why #2: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 22 public access sites
3. Lake Gaston — 60 ft max · Largemouth Bass, Crappie, Bluegill, Channel CatfishWhy #3: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · no verified access record attached
4. Smith Mountain Lake — 250 ft max · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, CrappieWhy #4: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · no verified access record attached
5. Lake Anna — 80 ft max · Largemouth Bass, Crappie, Bluegill, Channel CatfishWhy #5: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · no verified access record attached
6. South Holston Lake — 240 ft max · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, CrappieWhy #6: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · 2 public access sites
7. Claytor Lake — 100 ft max · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, CrappieWhy #7: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · no verified access record attached
8. Leesville Lake — 90 ft max · Largemouth Bass, Crappie, Bluegill, Channel CatfishWhy #8: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · no verified access record attached
9. Lake Chesdin — 40 ft max · Largemouth Bass, Crappie, Bluegill, Channel CatfishWhy #9: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · no verified access record attached
10. Philpott Lake — 130 ft max · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, CrappieWhy #10: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · no verified access record attached
11. Lake Moomaw — 150 ft max · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, CrappieWhy #11: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · no verified access record attached
12. Occoquan Reservoir — 65 ft max · Largemouth Bass, Crappie, Bluegill, Channel CatfishWhy #12: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · no verified access record attached
13. John W. Flannagan Reservoir — 200 ft max · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, CrappieWhy #13: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · no verified access record attached
14. Briery Creek Lake — 40 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Crappie, Bluegill, Channel CatfishWhy #14: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 1 public access site
15. Back Bay — 7 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Crappie, White PerchWhy #15: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · no verified access record attached
16. Lake Orange — 36 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Walleye, Crappie, BluegillWhy #16: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · no verified access record attached
17. Lake Nottoway — 16 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Crappie, Bluegill, Channel CatfishWhy #17: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · no verified access record attached
18. Carvins Cove Reservoir — 90 ft max · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Crappie, BluegillWhy #18: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · no verified access record attached
19. Lake Gordon — 14 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Crappie, Channel Catfish, Chain PickerelWhy #19: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · no verified access record attached
20. Lake Frederick — 48 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Northern Pike, Crappie, BluegillWhy #20: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 2 public access sites
21. Rural Retreat Lake — 35 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Northern Pike, Crappie, BluegillWhy #21: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · no verified access record attached
22. Fluvanna Ruritan Lake — 30 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Crappie, Bluegill, Channel CatfishWhy #22: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 1 public access site
23. Hidden Valley Lake — 24 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Northern Pike, Crappie, BluegillWhy #23: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 2 public access sites
24. Lake Brittle — 26 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Walleye, Crappie, BluegillWhy #24: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · no verified access record attached
25. Lake Shenandoah — 25 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Crappie, Bluegill, Channel CatfishWhy #25: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 1 public access site

…plus 2 more Virginia waters holding largemouth bass.

Find the closest largemouth bass waters to you →

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 smallmouth bass lakes · best walleye lakes · best crappie lakes · best bluegill lakes · best channel catfish lakes · best muskellunge lakes · best striped bass lakes · best flathead catfish lakes · best blue catfish lakes · best common carp lakes · best longnose gar lakes · best white perch lakes

Largemouth Bass elsewhere: Ontario · Wisconsin · Minnesota · British Columbia · Québec · Michigan · Maine · New Hampshire · Montana · New York · Wyoming · Massachusetts · Washington · Florida · Indiana · North Dakota · Iowa · Texas · Ohio · Connecticut · Nebraska · Missouri · Vermont · California · Oklahoma · South Dakota · Utah · Arizona · Colorado · Illinois · New Mexico · Kansas · West Virginia · Mississippi · Idaho · New Jersey · Kentucky · Alabama · Oregon · Tennessee · Puerto Rico · Georgia · North Carolina · Delaware · Nevada · Rhode Island · Louisiana · South Carolina · Pennsylvania · Arkansas · Maryland · Hawaii