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300-acre lake near Saltville. A high-elevation coldwater lake in the Clinch Mountain WMA, prized for citation-class smallmouth and annually stocked trout. The lake tops out around 32 ft. The depth chart is built from real state fisheries GPS surveys, so the humps, channels and drop-offs you see are measured, not guessed. Every species below gets its seasonal read from the same numbers driving the chart.
Traced from the shoreline, Laurel Bed Lake runs 329 acres with 4.4 miles of edge. Index 1.7 on the shoreline: a few honest points and pockets, nothing labyrinthine. The shallow band under 15 ft claims about 49% of the surface — that's where the groceries are. Tip to tip the water measures near 1.6 mi with a 0.5-mi widest point. You'll find it in Russell County. Closest neighbour on DepthScout: Hidden Valley Lake, 17 mi southwest of here.
Spring puts smallmouth bass in skinny water — 3 to 12 ft is the zone. Warm water sends them out to 10 to 30 ft; cold water stacks them in 10 to 32 ft. Main-lake point is the standout, a point at roughly 8 ft, rated prime for fall smallmouth bass. Plan around early morning and the evening in the warm months. A drop shot (goby/minnow) or a ned rig covers the summer program.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 12 ft | dawn & dusk | Main-lake point (8 ft) | Ned rig, Tube jig |
| Summer | 10 to 30 ft | dawn & dusk | Break off the point (22 ft) | Drop shot (goby/minnow), Ned rig |
| Fall | 8 to 25 ft | midday & dawn | Main-lake point (8 ft) | Jerkbait, Blade bait |
| Winter | 10 to 32 ft | midday | Break off the point (22 ft) | Blade bait, Hair jig |
The spring pattern is a shallow one: bluegill in 1 to 6 ft. Midsummer fish sit out in 4 to 15 ft before dropping to 10 to 25 ft for winter. The spot to know is Shallow bay flat, a weed flat in about 4 ft of water that rates prime for bluegill in spring. Plan around early morning and the evening in the warm months. Summer baits: a small sponge spider (fly) or a micro tube jig gets it done.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 1 to 6 ft | midday & dusk | Shallow bay flat (4 ft) | 1/32 oz jig + micro plastic, Tiny popper (evenings) |
| Summer | 4 to 15 ft | dawn & dusk | Shallow bay flat (4 ft) | Small sponge spider (fly), Micro tube jig |
| Fall | 6 to 18 ft | midday | Shallow bay flat (4 ft) | Micro jig + waxworm, Small spoon tipped |
| Winter | 10 to 25 ft | midday | Break off the point (22 ft) | Tiny spoon |
The spring pattern is a shallow one: rainbow trout in 5 to 20 ft. As the season builds they drop to 8 to 30 ft, wintering in 6 to 32 ft. Top water on the chart: Break off the point, a drop-off in the 22 ft range, prime in winter. Time it for early morning and the evening. Summer baits: a dodger + spoon (deep troll) or a flutter spoon gets it done.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 5 to 20 ft | dawn & dusk | Main-lake point (8 ft) | Inline spinner (silver), Small spoon |
| Summer | 8 to 30 ft | dawn & dusk | Break off the point (22 ft) | Dodger + spoon (deep troll), Flutter spoon |
| Fall | 9 to 32 ft | dawn & dusk | Main-lake point (8 ft) | Casting spoon, Jerkbait over shoals |
| Winter | 6 to 32 ft | dawn | Break off the point (22 ft) | Jigging spoon, Tube jig (white) |
When the water first warms, rock bass slide up into 2 to 10 ft. Summer is a 5 to 20 ft game here, winter a 12 to 30 ft one. Start at Main-lake point. It's a point holding about 8 ft of water and rates prime come summer. The feeding windows run the evening. Keep a ned rig (small) or a marabou jig rigged through the warm months.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 10 ft | midday & dawn | Main-lake point (8 ft) | 1/16 oz jig + grub, Small inline spinner |
| Summer | 5 to 20 ft | dusk | Main-lake point (8 ft) | Ned rig (small), Marabou jig |
| Fall | 8 to 22 ft | midday | Break off the point (22 ft) | Small tube jig, Inline spinner |
| Winter | 12 to 30 ft | midday | Break off the point (22 ft) | Tungsten jig + plastic, Small spoon + spike |
Count 6 structure marks on this chart. The deepest, Deep basin, sits near 32 ft.
Access data: OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL) — community-mapped launches. Confirm conditions and fees locally before you launch.
Season dates, license requirements, and size and bag limits for Virginia waters are set by the Virginia DWR — and special regulations can apply to Laurel Bed Lake specifically, so confirm the current rules before you fish.
Check the official Virginia fishing regulations →
Laurel Bed Lake is about 32 ft (10 m) deep at its deepest point. The depth chart here comes from real state fisheries GPS surveys, so the contours reflect measured depths.
Anglers target smallmouth bass, bluegill, rainbow trout, rock bass on Laurel Bed Lake.
Main-lake point is the top-rated area: a point in about 8 ft of water that rates prime for smallmouth bass in fall. Open the map above to see every rated spot for each species and season.
For smallmouth 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 Laurel Bed 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.
Hidden Valley Lake 17 mi · South Holston Lake 29 mi, TN/VA · Rural Retreat Lake 29 mi · John W. Flannagan Reservoir 37 mi · South Fork Holston River 38 mi, TN · Fishtrap Lake 44 mi, KY · R.D. Bailey Lake 45 mi, WV · Watauga Lake 45 mi, TN · Boone Lake 47 mi, TN · Watauga River 48 mi, TN · Claytor Lake 63 mi · Lake Stephens 64 mi, WV
See how Laurel Bed Lake stacks up: best smallmouth bass lakes in Virginia · best bluegill lakes in Virginia
Browse all Virginia fishing maps or see every water on DepthScout. Bathymetry credit: state fisheries survey programs. 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.