Fairy Stone Lake Fishing near Bassett, Virginia

• Overview

  Fairy Stone Lake falls in Patrick County, part of Virginia. Elevation runs to 1,020 feet. It runs to roughly 130 acres — big enough to hold fish away from the bank, small enough to learn. It sits higher than most water we list in Virginia. Bassett lies 7.2 miles from the water. The nearest city of size is Roanoke, 34 miles away. The county line runs close by, so rules can change within a short drive.

• Where to Fish on Fairy Stone Lake

  Depth here is unknown, so count the lead down before committing. A reservoir gives you a hard edge, a shelf, and not much else. Look for where the old bank line still shows under the surface. Records held for Patrick County cover fantail darter, margined madtom and white sucker. Those are county-wide records, so not every one of them will be in this water. Treat Fairy Stone Lake as a water to read rather than to cover.

• Seasonal Patterns

  In an average year July sits at 75°F and January at 36°F. Winter here means light layers, not lost months. March through May is the strongest run, with autumn a second stretch. Spring and autumn carry the year; summer squeezes it into the ends of the day. Plan around that when you fish Fairy Stone Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  Public data does not answer the access question here. There is recorded parking some 70 yards off. Facilities include toilets around half a mile from here. Trout here take small spinners, spoons and, where fly water allows, a nymph or dry. Where access is informal, keep it that way by behaving. Where the way in crosses private ground, ask first. Philpott Lake at 1.9 miles is the sensible second choice. Check the position on Fairy Stone Lake before loading the car.