Top fish species at Scottsville Lake

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Scottsville Lake fishing reports

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Bluegill

length · weight

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Channel catfish

18 in · 2 lb

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Warmouth

length · weight

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Bluegill

length · weight

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Rainbow trout

length · weight

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Warmouth

length · weight

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General info

Scottsville Lake is a lake located in Albemarle County, Virginia, United States. It is most popular for fishing Rainbow trout, Channel catfish, and Bluegill.

Location

37°48′9.1″N 78°29′35.5″W
Directions

Official website

dwr.virginia.gov

Fishing regulations at Scottsville Lake, VA

Disclaimer: Always check local fishing regulations, water access rights and land ownership before fishing, regardless of any catches logged in that area by the Fishbrain community. Fishbrain has mapped millions of acres of government-owned land across the USA to help you identify potential fishing access, but you are responsible for ensuring compliance with all legal requirements.

Fishing regulations in Virginia can change throughout the year. Make sure to check this page before fishing for the most up to date rules and regulations for the current season. Local regulations govern when you can fish, the max size of the fish you can keep, how many fish you can keep, and more.

Regulations for top species

Season open: year-round
Channel catfish

Channel catfish

Regulation boundaryVirginia State Waters
Bag limit20

The maximum number of individual fish legally harvested per harvester per day. Bag limits are only for properly licensed anglers actively harvesting the species. People who are not actively harvesting or are not properly licensed (if a license is required) may NOT be counted for the purpose of bag limits.

Restrictions & requirements

VA SCUBA

It is illegal to use SCUBA gear to take or attempt to take fish. (SCUBA = Self-contained Underwater Breathing Apparatus)

VA Noxious Substances

It is unlawful to use lime, dynamite, or any other substances to destroy fish, or to cast or allow noxious matter to pass into watercourses that might destroy fish or fish spawn, or to deposit trash in streams or lakes or along their banks.

VA Trotlines

Trotlines, juglines (noodles), or set poles (limb lines) may be used to take nongame fish and turtles provided they are not baited with live bait (worms are permissible), except on designated stocked trout waters, Department-owned lakes, and within 600 feet of any dam. Live bait other than game fish may be used on trot lines to take catfish in Carroll, Dickenson, Giles, Grayson, Montgomery, Pulaski and Wythe counties, and in the Clinch River in Russell, Scott, and Wise counties. Any person setting or possessing the above equipment shall have it clearly marked by permanent means with his or her name, address, and telephone number, and is required to check all lines and remove all fish and animals caught each day. All trotlines, juglines, or set poles must be removed from public waters when not in use.

Additional information
No statewide length limit.Exceptions to statewide limits:South Holston Reservoir: 20 catfish per day, only 1 catfish per day longer than 34-inches total lengthAll rivers below the fall line: No daily limitBow and Arrow (including crossbows) may be used to take common carp, grass carp, northern snakehead, and gar (fishing license required) during day and night hours, except from waters stocked with trout. Bowfin and catfish may be taken in tidal waters. Spearguns and poisoned arrows are prohibited.Any common carp, grass carp, northern snakehead, goldfish, catfish, longnose gar, or bowfin taken with bow and arrow must be retained and must not be released back into or disposed of into the water. These fishes may not be disposed of on property abutting the body of water of capture.For more information, see Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources.
Edibility
Very good Catch, Clean, Cook Channel Catfish by BlueGabe
Synonyms
Ictalurus punctatus
Season open: year-round
Bluegill

Bluegill

Regulation boundaryVirginia State Waters
Bag limit50

The maximum number of individual fish legally harvested per harvester per day. Bag limits are only for properly licensed anglers actively harvesting the species. People who are not actively harvesting or are not properly licensed (if a license is required) may NOT be counted for the purpose of bag limits.

Aggregate limit50

The maximum number of individual fish across an aggregate group of species legally harvested per harvester per day.

Restrictions & requirements

Gigging

Harvest by gigging prohibited.

Snagging

Harvest of this species by snagging (snatch hooking) is prohibited.

Spears

Harvest of this species by "spearing" is prohibited. Spearing includes the catching or taking of a fish by bow hunting, gigging, spearfishing, or by any device used to capture a fish by piercing the body.

VA SCUBA

It is illegal to use SCUBA gear to take or attempt to take fish. (SCUBA = Self-contained Underwater Breathing Apparatus)

VA Noxious Substances

It is unlawful to use lime, dynamite, or any other substances to destroy fish, or to cast or allow noxious matter to pass into watercourses that might destroy fish or fish spawn, or to deposit trash in streams or lakes or along their banks.

VA Altered Fish

It shall be unlawful for any person, while fishing, to remove the head or tail or otherwise change the appearance of any gamefish (except bluegill sunfish and bream of the sunfish family) having a daily creel or size limit so as to obscure its species or render it impracticable to measure its total original length or count the number of such fish in possession. In addition, it shall be unlawful for any person to possess or transport such altered gamefish while on the water. However, the prohibition against possession and transportation in the previous sentence shall not apply to the preparation of lawfully obtained fish for immediate use as food or any lawful commercial use of such fish.

VA Hook and Line

Fishing in inland waters must be by angling with a hook and line or rod and reel. A hand landing net may be used to land fish legally hooked in all waters. See Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources website for exceptions.

Additional information
No statewide length limit. The sunfish aggregate limit excludes Crappie, Rock Bass (redeye), and Roanoke Bass.No daily bag limit in the following waters: Lake Gaston and Buggs Island Lake/Kerr Reservoir including the Staunton (Roanoke) River and its tributaries to Difficult Creek, Char- lotte County; and the Dan River and its tributaries to the Banister River, Halifax County; and that portion of the New River from the VA–NC state line downstream to the confluence of the New and Little rivers in Grayson County.For more information, see Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources.
Edibility
Catch, Clean, Cook Bluegill
Synonyms
Lepomis macrochirus
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Local laws and licenses

Virginia fishing license

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Cities nearby

Scottsville

0.3 miles away

Esmont

5.9 miles away

Schuyler

11.3 miles away

Lake Monticello

12.1 miles away

North Garden

13.4 miles away

Yogaville

14.2 miles away

Keswick

16.2 miles away

Charlottesville

16.2 miles away

Buckingham Courthouse

17.5 miles away

Dillwyn

18.1 miles away

Columbia

18.3 miles away

Ivy

18.8 miles away

Lovingston

20.7 miles away

Crozet

21.2 miles away

Hollymead

22.6 miles away

Nellysford

22.6 miles away

Free Union

24.5 miles away

Piney Mountain

25.0 miles away

Cumberland

25.1 miles away

Gordonsville

28.4 miles away

Waynesboro

28.8 miles away

Ruckersville

30.3 miles away

Louisa

30.9 miles away

Crimora

31.2 miles away

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FAQ about Scottsville Lake fishing

📍 Where is Scottsville Lake located?
Scottsville Lake is a lake located in Albemarle County, Virginia, United States. Its coordinates are:
37°48′9.1″N 78°29′35.5″W
.
🎣 Where on Scottsville Lake is it best to fish?
Find the best fishing spots on Scottsville Lake by looking at where other anglers have caught fish. This can easily be done in the where it is also possible to see big fish potential and how good fishing is right now along with Garmin® depth maps.
🐟 What species are in Scottsville Lake?
The most common species in Scottsville Lake are:
📢 What are the latest Scottsville Lake fishing reports?
The latest Scottsville Lake fishing reports are:
🗓️ What species are in season at Scottsville Lake right now?
According to fishing regulations at Scottsville Lake, some of the species in season this November include: Striped bass, Spotted seatrout, Blacktip shark, Black sea bass, and Bonnethead shark. For full details on other species — including bag limits, minimum and maximum size limits, and seasonal closures — download the .
🪪 Do I need a fishing license to fish at Scottsville Lake?

Fishing in Virginia requires a valid state fishing license for anglers. Licenses include resident and non-resident, annual, short-term, and combination options, available online or from licensed agents.

In Virginia, no fishing license is required for anglers under 16 or residents 65 and older. A few other exceptions worth knowing:

  • Free fishing days — most states designate 1–2 weekends a year where anyone can fish without a license

  • Tribal waters — tribal members fishing on tribal land operate under separate tribal regulations

  • Private ponds — landowners fishing their own water typically don't need a license

Non-residents usually pay more for a license than residents. Some species also require an extra stamp or endorsement on top of your base license.

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