Top fish species at Vanclieffs Lake

Redear sunfish
Redear sunfish
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General info

Vanclieffs Lake is a lake located in Albemarle County, Virginia, United States. It is most popular for fishing Redear sunfish.

Location

37°50′40.6″N 78°36′19.5″W
Directions

Fishing regulations at Vanclieffs 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
Redear sunfish

Redear sunfish

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.
Synonyms
Banded Sunfish, Bluegill, Bluespotted Sunfish, Dollar Sunfish, Flier, Green Sunfish, Longear Sunfish, Mud Sunfish, Orangespotted Sunfish, Redbreast Sunfish, Redear Sunfish, Redspotted Sunfish, Rock Bass, Shadow Bass, Warmouth
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Local laws and licenses

Virginia fishing license

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Cities nearby

Esmont

1.2 miles away

Schuyler

6.2 miles away

Scottsville

6.7 miles away

North Garden

8.2 miles away

Yogaville

13.0 miles away

Charlottesville

14.8 miles away

Ivy

15.0 miles away

Lovingston

15.5 miles away

Nellysford

15.9 miles away

Lake Monticello

15.9 miles away

Crozet

16.0 miles away

Keswick

17.7 miles away

Buckingham Courthouse

20.3 miles away

Hollymead

21.5 miles away

Free Union

21.5 miles away

Waynesboro

22.3 miles away

Dillwyn

22.4 miles away

Piney Mountain

24.1 miles away

Columbia

24.9 miles away

Crimora

25.4 miles away

Stuarts Draft

26.3 miles away

Ruckersville

29.5 miles away

Amherst

30.4 miles away

Cumberland

30.9 miles away

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FAQ about Vanclieffs Lake fishing

📍 Where is Vanclieffs Lake located?
Vanclieffs Lake is a lake located in Albemarle County, Virginia, United States. Its coordinates are:
37°50′40.6″N 78°36′19.5″W
.
🎣 Where on Vanclieffs Lake is it best to fish?
Find the best fishing spots on Vanclieffs 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 Vanclieffs Lake?
The most common species in Vanclieffs Lake are:
🗓️ What species are in season at Vanclieffs Lake right now?
According to fishing regulations at Vanclieffs 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 Vanclieffs 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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