All waters · Virginia · Claytor Lake

Claytor Lake, VA

Reservoir in Pulaski County, Virginia. A 4,475-acre impoundment of the New River stretching 21 miles across Pulaski County, Claytor Lake is Virginia's top hybrid striped bass destination and produced state-record spotted bass and hybrid stripers. Black bass (smallmouth, largemouth, spotted) are the lake's bread-and-butter, with striped/hybrid stripers strong in cooler months. Crappie, walleye, yellow perch, and catfish round out the fishery.

42

Overall bite score

Scored 18 min ago · recomputed every 30 minutes

Water tempModeled21
Pressure trendNOAAfalling60
SolunarComputedmoon 52% lit41
Recent stockingState data50
Time of dayComputed70
WindNOAA10
Cloud coverNOAA70
PrecipitationNOAA50

Each instrument reads 0 to 100. The score is their weighted blend, tuned for lakes and reservoirs. No black box: every reading names its source.

What swims here

9 tracked species in Claytor Lake, with the months each fishes best.

Hybrid Striped Bassabundant
Black Crappiecommon
Channel Catfishcommon
Largemouth Basscommon
Smallmouth Basscommon
Spotted Basscommon
Yellow Perchcommon
Striped Basspresent
Walleyepresent

Water facts

TypeReservoir
CountyPulaski
StateVirginia
WaterFreshwater

Major ramps at the DWR landing and Claytor Lake State Park near the dam, plus private ramps. Smallmouth bass minimum 14 in; largemouth no minimum; black bass 5/day aggregate. Walleye special reg: from Claytor Dam upstream to Buck Dam (Carroll Co), no walleye 19-28 in, 2/day year round.

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