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18-acre lake near Dillwyn. A small, intimate Buckingham County lake near Dillwyn offering laid-back bass, sunfish and catfish fishing. The lake tops out around 20 ft. The depth chart comes from published agency bathymetric survey data, so the contours are survey-derived rather than computer-modeled. Here is how the season plays out for each species, straight from the data behind the map.
Horsepen Lake maps at 22 acres behind 1.5 miles of shoreline. A development index of 2.2 means a maze of bays and points: far more casting targets than a round bowl of the same size. Roughly 82% of the water is 15 ft or less, the band where the food chain lives. End to end it runs roughly 0.6 mi, about 0.2 mi across. Buckingham County claims this one. Briery Creek Lake sits 23 mi south — the closest neighbouring chart.
Spring largemouth bass on Horsepen Lake hold shallow, usually 2 to 10 ft. By summer they slide out to 8 to 20 ft, and by winter most fish are in 6 to 20 ft. The chart's best answer is Shallow bay flat — weed flat, 2 ft, prime for spring. Prime time lands in early morning and the evening. The summer box starts with a texas-rigged 10" worm or a deep-diving crankbait.
Depth note: when a documented seasonal range extends below this chart, the table shows the deepest mapped working water, not a verified holding depth.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 10 ft | dawn & dusk | Shallow bay flat (2 ft) | Spinnerbait, Chatterbait |
| Summer | 8 to 20 ft | dawn & dusk | Break off the point (15 ft) | Texas-rigged 10" worm, Deep-diving crankbait |
| Fall | 4 to 15 ft | midday & dawn | Main-lake point (8 ft) | Squarebill crankbait (shad), Spinnerbait |
| Winter | 6 to 20 ft chart-limited; documented 15 to 35 ft | midday | Break off the point (15 ft) | Blade bait, Jigging spoon |
Early season bluegill use the shallows, holding in 1 to 6 ft. Summer is a 4 to 15 ft game here, winter a 6 to 20 ft one. The chart's best answer is Shallow bay flat — weed flat, 2 ft, prime for spring. Best bite is early morning and the evening. Tie on a small sponge spider (fly) or a micro tube jig and you're in the game.
Depth note: when a documented seasonal range extends below this chart, the table shows the deepest mapped working water, not a verified holding depth.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 1 to 6 ft | midday & dusk | Shallow bay flat (2 ft) | 1/32 oz jig + micro plastic, Tiny popper (evenings) |
| Summer | 4 to 15 ft | dawn & dusk | Shallow bay flat (2 ft) | Small sponge spider (fly), Micro tube jig |
| Fall | 6 to 18 ft | midday | Break off the point (15 ft) | Micro jig + waxworm, Small spoon tipped |
| Winter | 6 to 20 ft chart-limited; documented 10 to 25 ft | midday | Deep basin (19 ft) | Tiny spoon |
Early season crappie use the shallows, holding in 2 to 8 ft. Expect a summer slide to 6 to 20 ft, then a winter hold in 6 to 20 ft. Put Deep basin first on the milk run — a deep basin near 19 ft that grades prime for winter. In summer the feeding windows fall in early morning and the evening. Tie on a jig trolled/spider-rigged or a small crankbait (trolled) and you're in the game.
Depth note: when a documented seasonal range extends below this chart, the table shows the deepest mapped working water, not a verified holding depth.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 8 ft | midday & dawn | Shallow bay flat (2 ft) | 1/16 oz jig + tube, Curly-tail grub |
| Summer | 6 to 20 ft chart-limited; documented 10 to 25 ft | dawn & dusk | Break off the point (15 ft) | Jig trolled/spider-rigged, Small crankbait (trolled) |
| Fall | 8 to 20 ft | dawn | Break off the point (15 ft) | Jig + minnow combo, Small swimbait (1.5-2") |
| Winter | 6 to 20 ft chart-limited; documented 15 to 35 ft | midday | Deep basin (19 ft) | Tungsten jig + soft plastic, Tiny jigging spoon |
Spring channel catfish on Horsepen Lake hold shallow, usually 3 to 12 ft. By summer they slide out to 6 to 20 ft, and by winter most fish are in 6 to 20 ft. The chart's best answer is Deep basin — deep basin, 19 ft, prime for winter. Prime time lands in after dark and the evening.
Depth note: when a documented seasonal range extends below this chart, the table shows the deepest mapped working water, not a verified holding depth.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 12 ft | dusk | Shallow bay flat (2 ft) | |
| Summer | 6 to 20 ft chart-limited; documented 8 to 25 ft | night & dusk | Deep basin (19 ft) | |
| Fall | 6 to 20 ft chart-limited; documented 10 to 30 ft | dusk | Deep basin (19 ft) | |
| Winter | 6 to 20 ft chart-limited; documented 20 to 40 ft | midday | Deep basin (19 ft) |
Come spring, look for redear sunfish tight to the bank in 2 to 10 ft. Expect a summer slide to 4 to 18 ft, then a winter hold in 6 to 20 ft. Start at Shallow bay flat. It's a weed flat holding about 2 ft of water and rates prime come spring. Prime time lands in early morning and the evening. A micro jig or a small soft-plastic nymph is the honest summer answer here.
Depth note: when a documented seasonal range extends below this chart, the table shows the deepest mapped working water, not a verified holding depth.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 10 ft | midday & dusk | Shallow bay flat (2 ft) | Micro jig dragged near bottom, Tiny beetle-spin |
| Summer | 4 to 18 ft | dawn & dusk | Shallow bay flat (2 ft) | Micro jig, Small soft-plastic nymph |
| Fall | 6 to 20 ft chart-limited; documented 7 to 24 ft | midday | Break off the point (15 ft) | Tiny jig tipped with worm, Micro spoon |
| Winter | 6 to 20 ft chart-limited; documented 10 to 30 ft | midday | Deep basin (19 ft) | Tiny jigging spoon |
Count 5 structure marks on this chart. The deepest, Deep basin, sits near 19 ft.
Season dates, license requirements, and size and bag limits for Virginia waters are set by the Virginia DWR — and special regulations can apply to Horsepen Lake specifically, so confirm the current rules before you fish.
Check the official Virginia fishing regulations →
Horsepen Lake is about 20 ft (6 m) deep at its deepest point. The depth chart comes from published agency bathymetric survey data, so the contours are survey-derived rather than computer-modeled.
Anglers target largemouth bass, bluegill, crappie, channel catfish, redear sunfish on Horsepen Lake.
Shallow bay flat is the top-rated area: a weed flat in about 2 ft of water that rates prime for largemouth bass in spring. The map above holds the full rated-spot list for every species and season.
For largemouth bass, the summer bite is best in early morning and the evening. Each species page section below lists the seasonal windows, and the map shows a live NOW badge when you're inside one.
Fishing on Horsepen Lake is regulated by the Virginia DWR. Check the official Virginia regulations for current license requirements, season dates, and size and bag limits — special regulations can apply to this specific water.
Briery Creek Lake 23 mi · Fluvanna Ruritan Lake 28 mi · James River 30 mi · Lake Nottoway 40 mi · Lake Chesdin 55 mi · Lake Anna 55 mi · Lake Orange 58 mi · Lake Gordon 59 mi · Leesville Lake 59 mi · Lake A. Willis Robertson 61 mi · Lake Shenandoah 62 mi · Kerr Lake (Buggs Island) 66 mi, NC/VA
See how Horsepen Lake stacks up: best largemouth bass lakes in Virginia · best crappie lakes in Virginia · best bluegill lakes in Virginia · best channel catfish lakes in Virginia
Browse all Virginia fishing maps. See every water on DepthScout. Bathymetry: published agency survey data. How we build these maps. Fish here with a sonar unit that logs? Send us your depth data and we'll improve this chart, credited to you. For fishing guidance only, never navigation.