Charlottesville area help

[MoStratos]

Hey guys hope you can help. I have a nephew who loves to wade fish with me here in Missouri. He is starting law school at the Univ. of Virginia in the fall and is wondering if there are any streams to wade or kayak in close to Charlottesville. He loves to bassfish, and will probably need a break from studying now and then. Thanks much for any help.

[Beallright]

Its a nice central location not real far from anything. such as Smith Mountain Lake, trout fishing in the mountains etc.

Found this and may shed some light on the area.

Within an hour of Charlottesville are a number of small lakes offering great opportunities for an assortment of fish. Within a mile of the city limits is the Rivanna Reservoir, which also serves as one of the main water supply sources for Charlottesville and Albemarle County. The 450-acre reservoir offers top fishing for largemouth bass, crappie, channel cats and bluegills. There are also some smallmouth in the lake and an occasional walleye. The reservoir is on Route 659 off Route 631 (Rio Road).

Another nearby gem of a lake is Chris Greene. This 62-acre impoundment is managed by the Albemarle parks and rec folks and is stocked with bass, crappie, bluegills and channel cats. There is a handicapped-accessible pier on the lake and a nice boat ramp. Chris Greene can be accessed on Route 606, about a mile from the Charlottesville Albemarle Airport.

Beaver Creek Reservoir is the water supply for Crozet and is located at the foot of the Blue Ridge. Not only is the scenery great, so is the fishing for bass, crappie, bluegills and catfish. To access Beaver Creek, take Route 680 from the junction of Route 240-U.S. 250 west of Charlottesville.

One of the area’s smallest lakes, but one of the best, is Lake Albemarle. The 35-acre impoundment holds some quality bass, in addition to bluegills, crappie and channel cats. From Charlottesville, take Garth Road west to Route 614, to a left on Route 675.

Near Scottsville is Totier Creek Reservoir, home to some huge largemouth bass. The 66-acre lake also offers opportunities for chain pickerel, bluegill, redear sunfish and channel catfish. The reservoir is on Route 726.

Walnut Creek Lake is another Albemarle County-managed impoundment with very good fishing for bass, catfish, bluegills and redear sunfish. The state game department has created good fish habitat at Walnut Creek with several fish attractors, along with the natural cover provided by beaver huts and blow-downs, all of which increase the odds of catching a nice stringer of fish. From Charlottesville, take U.S. 29 south to a left on Route 708. Proceed about 3 miles, turn right on Route 631 and go about a half-mile to the entrance on the left.


Two other lakes worth mentioning are those at Mint Springs in Crozet. In the spring, both Mint Springs lakes are stocked with trout as part of Kids Fishing Day. Many trout hold over and bite well into the summer. There is also good angling for largemouth bass and bluegills. The park is on Route 788.

Several streams in the area also provide good fishing opportunities — most notably the north and south forks of the Moormans River. These are trout streams located beyond White Hall that extend up into Shenandoah National Park. Parts of the Moormans are stocked in spring and fall, while the upper reaches of the North Fork Moormans have strong populations of native brook trout. From Charlottesville, take Garth Road to Route 614 and proceed west.

The Rockfish River is another stream to consider. It can be accessed at several points from U.S. 29 south and along Route 602. The Rockfish is an excellent smallmouth stream and also holds bluegills, perch and fallfish.

Two outstanding area rivers are the James and the Rivanna. The James, Virginia’s longest river, is one of the top smallmouth rivers in the state. The closest access points to the James are at Scottsville and Howardsville. The James is also home to some huge flathead catfish and has a large bream population.

The Rivanna, which flows just north of Charlottesville, is a little more difficult to access, but provides great fishing for smallmouth and largemouth bass, as well as perch and bluegills. Some decent wading access is available just below the dam off U.S. 29 north and at Darden Towe Park.

[Woodduck17]

+1 on the Rivanna

[Fletcha12]

Rivanna and the rapidan river are pretty close. We have wade fished the rapidan river for smallmouth before and it was a good time.

[MoStratos]

Thanks much guys. I will pass on the info to my nephew. BBC at its best!

[PsuHntr]

I live in Charlottesville and would be happy to get him out sometime.

If he has a kayak ragged mountain is excellent fishing and the Rivanna and Shendoah River are both great fishing

[SmlRanger]

He's not gonna wanna move home!