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  4. Crappie fishing in Virginia

Crappie fishing in Virginia

Virginia provides strong freshwater fishing opportunities for crappie. Lakes, rivers, and reservoirs across the state offer reliable action for anglers.

Types of Crappie in Virginia

Best baits and lures for Crappie in Virginia

According to catch data from over 20 million anglers on Fishbrain, these are the best baits used to catch Crappie.

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Biggest Crappie catches

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Latest Crappie fishing reports in Virginia

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White crappie

Occoquan Reservoir

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Black crappie

Cameron Pond

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Black crappie

Morris Creek

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Black crappie

Upper Powhatan Lake

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Black crappie

John H. Kerr Reservoir

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Black crappie

Meadow Glenn Park

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Black crappie

Lake Shenandoah

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White crappie

Westhampton Lake

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Black crappie

Lakes at Red Rock Pond

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Black crappie

Oak Grove Lake

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Regulations for Crappie in Virginia

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.

Below you will see fishing regulations for catching Black crappie as of May 17th, 2026. To view regulations for a different fish species, please click on your preferred species in the drop-down.

Black crappie

Seasons

Open

Bag limit

25

Aggregate

25

No statewide length limit.

Exceptions to statewide regulations:

Lake Gaston 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: No daily limit

Buggs Island Lake/Kerr Reservoir including the Staunton (Roanoke) River and its tributaries to Difficult Creek, Charlotte County; and the Dan River and its tributaries to the Banister River, Halifax County: No crappie less than 9-inches total length

Briery Creek and Sandy River reservoirs: No crappie less than 9-inches total length

Flannagan and South Holston reservoirs: No crappie less than 10-inches total length

South Holston Reservoir: 15 per day in the aggregate (combined)

For more information, see Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources.

Calico bass, Pomoxis nigromaculatus, Speckled Perch

Regulations for

38°00′12.4″N 79°25′15.3″W
Regulations in the map
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FAQ

Anglers in Virginia commonly catch several Crappie species, including Black crappie and White crappie, according to reports from Fishbrain members.

These species can be found in many rivers and streams, lakes, estuaries throughout the area. If you are targeting a specific species, you can use the to filter catches by species and see where anglers are catching them and which baits they are using.
Crappie are caught in rivers and streams, lakes, estuaries throughout Virginia. Popular fishing waters reported by Fishbrain members include James River, Smith Mountain Lake, and Four Mile Run.

The allows anglers to see exact catch locations shared by other members, helping you discover productive fishing spots where Crappie have recently been caught.