Keysville Reservoir in Charlotte County: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  Look for Keysville Reservoir in the Charlotte County part of Virginia. It lies 509 feet above sea level. It measures about 38 acres, which is a comfortable size for bank fishing. There is roughly 1.2 miles of shoreline here, which is a short walk end to end. On our Charlotte County list it sits near the top for size. For supplies, Hampden Sydney is 13 miles out. After that come Victoria at 16 miles and Farmville at 18 miles. This one sits near enough to a boundary to be worth checking.

• Where to Fish on Keysville Reservoir

  No depth figure appears in our records, so the bank has to tell you. The arms fish better than the open middle whenever the water is up. A reservoir gives you a hard edge, a shelf, and not much else. Records held for Charlotte County cover bluegill, tessellated darter, Carolina darter and glassy darter. Records at this level tell you what is in the area. Treat Keysville Reservoir as a water to read rather than to cover.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The warm month here averages 77°F; the cold one sits at 36°F. The surface stays open the year round. Heat pushes fish deep from June onwards, so start early. The cooler months are the comfortable ones to fish here. Time your trip to Keysville Reservoir by conditions rather than dates.

• Tackle & Baits

  The rules here are undocumented as far as public sources go. The map shows no ramp or car park nearby, so this is a walk-in water. For the panfish, a small hook, a float and a piece of worm outfish everything fancy. State or provincial rules still apply whatever the bank status. Where parking is tight, arriving early solves most problems. The nearest alternative is Four Locusts Lake, 1.2 miles out. Where Keysville Reservoir is concerned, a local answer beats a written one.