Fishing at Big Lick Creek, Bath County, Virginia

• Overview

  Big Lick Creek sits within Bath County in Virginia. The setting is open valley. It sits higher than most water we list in Virginia. Nearest town is Covington, 11 miles off. Roanoke sits 47 miles out, and it is the nearest city worth the name. Alternatives close at hand: Lake Sherwood about 4.1 miles, Lake Bacova at 10 miles, Douthat Lake about 10 miles, Clifton Forge Reservoir at 10 miles and Pike Pond about 12 miles. A county line runs close by, so local bylaws can differ within a short drive.

• Where to Fish on Big Lick Creek

  No chart reached our records; the first cast is your sounding. Slack water behind an obstruction is worth more than open current. Gravel runs and silted pools fish quite differently, so treat them apart. Records held for Bath County cover rock bass, fantail darter, rainbow trout and river chub. What holds for the county may not hold for this water. The shape of Big Lick Creek decides where the fish sit.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The warmest month averages 72°F, the coldest about 31°F. Whether it freezes depends on the year. Some winters give nothing at all, so plan for open water. March through May is the strongest run, with October and November a second stretch. The season on Big Lick Creek rarely departs from it.

• Tackle & Baits

  No public source sets out the position on this bank. A ramp is mapped within half a mile. Parking sits half a mile out, which makes for a walk with tackle. A platform or pier sits within half a mile. There is a campsite 0.9 miles from the water. Bass water: a Texas-rigged worm near cover, a spinnerbait when you need to cover ground. A phone call first saves an afternoon. Keep proof of licence with you rather than in the car. Lake Sherwood sits 4.1 miles off and takes the overflow. Rules at Big Lick Creek are worth checking on the day.