3 VA Fishing Spots Among America’s Best; Before You Fish, Know Laws

VIRGINIA — You don’t have to look too far ahead on the calendar for days to hang out the “gone fishing” sign — and fortunately for anglers, Virginia has a few of the best places to cast their lines on an inventory of 100 best places to fish in America.

The ranking from fishing equipment outfitter ABU Garcia includes rivers, lakes, reservoirs and obscure back yard fishing holes.

In Virginia, the top-ranked fishing spot is the James River at No. 62. The river has a reliable stock of smallmouth bass, largemouth bass, striped bass and catfish popular among anglers.

Also on the list:

No. 73 Fletcher's Cove on the Potomac River, which forms part of the border between Maryland and and Virginia. The river has a reliable stock of striped bass, with smallmouth bass, largemouth bass, and catfish the most popular among anglers.

No. 75 Kerr Lake on the Virginia-North Carolina border, known for its largemouth bass, crappie and catfish.

Before you plan an excursion, make sure you know the fishing laws in Virginia — or anywhere else you plan to fish. Every person who is required to have a license to fish in Virginia must carry the license with them (electronic copy, printed paper, or annual hard card) and show the license immediately upon request of any officer enforcing game and inland fish laws.

Where to Get a Fishing License

Online: Go Outdoors Virginia

• New Customers: Create a unique customer account to access licenses and other products.
• Existing Customers: Log in using your date of birth, last name, and either your DWR Customer ID, the last 4 digits of your SSN or driver’s license number.

Select the license(s) you want, pay with your credit card and print your license if needed.

In Person:

• Sold by some clerks of the Circuit Court , license agents across Virginia, and DWR headquarters.
• Not sold at DWR regional offices.
• Find a license agent

By Phone/Mobile Phone:

804-367-1000 during regular business hours, or use your Go Outdoors Virginia mobile app.

See a full list of state fish and game licenses and fees on the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources website.

ABU Garcia said it brought together a panel of professional anglers, industry experts and everyday fishing enthusiasts to whittle to 100 the list of nominated fishing spots.

The top 10 places to fish in America are:

1. St. Lawrence River: New York
2. Lake St. Clair: Michigan
3. Lake Erie: Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York and Michigan
4. Red River: North Dakota and Minnesota
5. Santee Cooper: South Carolina
6. Lake Guntersville: Alabama
7. Sam Rayburn Reservoir: Texas
8. Clear Lake: California
9. Lake Fork: Texas
10. Lake Chickamauga: Tennessee