FISHING/HUNTING

Charlottesville Daily Progress
Published: September 6, 2007

Fishing

Like to fish- Then you've come to the right place. The Charlottesville area is loaded with good spots to wet a line and enjoy a day on the water.

The closest body of water is the Rivanna Reservoir, within a mile or so of the city limits. Formed as a water supply and source of recreation in the 1950s, the 450-acre reservoir is an excellent spot for catfish, bass, crappie and an assortment of sunfish. There are also some walleye prowling the lake, but bass and catfish are the main attractions. There is boat access at the ramp on Route 659, just off Route 631, Rio Road.

Chris Greene Lake is another productive spot close to town. The 62-acre lake has a number of places to fish from the bank as well as a handicapped-accessible pier. There is a good boat ramp in place and a long catwalk offering additional opportunities. Chris Greene is stocked with largemouth bass, crappie, catfish and bluegills. An occasional striper is caught in the lake, though the state does not stock them here. Chris Greene is on Route 606, off U.S. 29 north, about a mile from the airport.

Albemarle Lake is not very large, only 35 acres, but good things often come in small packages and such is the case at Albemarle Lake. The crappie and bluegills at this Virginia Game Department-owned lake attain nice sizes. Lots of logs and fallen timber offer good fishing from the bank for both bass and panfish. The lake routinely gives up channel cats in the 5- to 10-pound category. To access the lake from Charlottesville, take Route 614 (Garth Road) west to a left on Route 675 and proceed to the lake.

Sugar Hollow Reservoir is known primarily for trout. Each spring, the lake receives regular stockings of brook and rainbow trout courtesy of the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries. A trout permit is required in order to fish at Sugar Hollow in addition to a valid fishing license. During the summer and early fall, anglers catch an occasional trout along with some very nice crappie and some huge fallfish. Boats are not allowed in the reservoir. From White Hall, take Route 614 to the lake.

The North and South forks of the Moormans River feed the Sugar Hollow Reservoir and both are trout streams. The South Fork is a put-and-take fishery, stocked in the spring and fall. The North Fork is a wild trout fishery holding some very nice native brookies. To access the upper Moormans River, continue up Route 614 past the Sugar Hollow Reservoir.

Mint Springs Park in Crozet offers two for the price of one. Two good lakes, side by side. Though only 4 and 8 acres respectively, the lakes give up nice catches of bass, crappie and bluegills throughout the year. In the spring, the state stocks rainbow trout and a few holdovers are caught each summer and fall. The Mint Springs lakes are off Route 684 on Route 788 west of Crozet.

Walnut Creek Lake is a 47-acre body of water owned by Albemarle County and managed by the state. Bass, crappie, bluegills, redear sunfish and bluegills are the principal residents. During the summer, visitors at Walnut Creek can rent canoes from the concession stand. From U.S. 29 south of Charlottesville, take a left on Route 708 at Red Hill and go about three miles, turn right on Route 631 and continue another half-mile to the park on the left.

Located near Crozet in the foothills of the Blue Ridge, Beaver Creek Lake is another popular fishing spot in Central Virginia. The 104-acre lake is stocked with bass, crappie, catfish and walleye. About 15 years ago, a 29-pound northern pike was captured in a gill net set by the state game department. Beaver Creek is a very productive body of water. To access the lake, from the Route 240/U.S. 250 junction, take a right on Route 680 and go two miles to the lake.

Totier Lake in southern Albemarle is a 66-acre impoundment stocked with bass, crappie, catfish and bluegills. Chain pickerel, native to Totier Creek, have also established themselves here. There is a well-maintained boat ramp and good numbers of fish for a lake its size. Totier Lake is on Route 726, west of Scottsville.

Hunting

The Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries maintains 36 separate wildlife management areas totaling 200,000 acres. These management areas belong to the sportsmen and women of Virginia who have purchased the land through the revenues received from hunting and fishing licenses and certain taxes on outdoor equipment.

Thirty-four of the areas are open to hunting of some sort. The public is encouraged to use these lands, as there is some excellent hunting opportunities available. No special stamp or permit is required to hunt on these WMAs with the exception of quail hunting on a lottery system on a few of the lands.

Three wildlife management areas convenient to those in Central Virginia include the Hardware River WMA, the Rapidan WMA and the James River WMA. All offer excellent deer hunting with small game opportunities as well. www.dgif.state.va.us.

Additional public hunting is available in the national forests, where a special stamp is required. The national forests are west of the Blue Ridge Mountains.

Public hunting is also allowed on state forest property as well as certain state parks. In addition, excellent hunting can be enjoyed at Virginia's military areas at Fort A.P. Hill, Fort Pickett, Quantico and Fort Belvoir.

Hunting is strictly prohibited, however, in all national parks in Virginia.