Reservoir

Claytor Lake

Pulaski County, Virginia

4,363-acre impoundment of the New River in Pulaski County, running about 21 miles. DWR lists a mixed fishery of black bass, striped and hybrid striped bass, walleye, catfish and crappie.

Air temp Not available right now.

Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors.

Current air temperature at Claytor Lake (National Weather Service) ↗

Surface area4,363 acres

Max depth—

Shoreline—

Boat motorsCheck local rules

Species

Fishery rating out of 5.

Smallmouth Bass●●●○○

14 inch minimum

Largemouth Bass●●●○○

Weeds, docks and wood in the shallows.

Spotted Bass●●○○○

No size or creel limit

Striped Bass●●○○○

Follow shad schools. Live bait, umbrella rigs and topwater.

Wiper●●○○○

Hybrid striped bass

Walleye●●○○○

No walleye 19 to 28 inches may be kept

White Bass●○○○○

Schools chasing shad in open water, and spring river runs.

Yellow Perch●○○○○

Schools on mud and sand flats. Great through the ice.

Crappie●●○○○

Black crappie

Bluegill●●○○○

Weed beds and shallow flats in late spring.

Channel Catfish●●○○○

Cut bait and nightcrawlers on flats and creek mouths in the evening.

Flathead Catfish●○○○○

Live bait around wood and rock at night.

Muskellunge●○○○○

42 inch minimum, 1 per day

Boat launches

4 launch sites. Fees and hours change, so confirm before you go.

Allisonia rampRamp
Department-maintained ramp in the upper lake on Route 693Directions ↗
Dublin rampRamp
Department-maintained ramp near the Claytor Lake State Park entrance, off Route 660Directions ↗
Harry DeHaven Park (Harry's Point)Ramp
Mid-lake, no-fee double ramp with courtesy piers and an accessible fishing pierDirections ↗
More public accessPublic
See the state agency or lake website for all ramps and feesDirections ↗

Size & creel limits

Minimum size and daily limit for each species in Claytor Lake are published by the state. Look up the current size and creel limits for this lake directly: Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources ↗

Rules change, so confirm current limits with the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources before you fish.

Bait & tackle nearby

No shops listed yet for this lake. Use the search link below.

Search more bait shops near Claytor Lake ↗

Local tips

Rock piles and Mossback structures in 10 to 20 feet are DWR-listed fish habitat.
Walleye 19 to 28 inches must be released.
Striped bass limits change July 1 to Sept 15 (4 per day, no minimum) versus Sept 16 to June 30 (2 per day, 20 inch minimum).

View on interactive map

Zoom and pan on a street, satellite or terrain map. Red pins are boat launches.

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Always wear a life jacket and check your state's current regulations before you fish.