Fishing Laurel Lake in Dickenson County, Virginia

• Overview

  Laurel Lake lies in Dickenson County, in Virginia. The surface lies 1,785 feet up. It covers about 11 acres, so this is small water you can walk round in under an hour. Compared with other Virginia water on our list, it sits high. The nearest place of any size is Clintwood, 13 miles away. Beyond it, Pikeville at 18 miles and Jenkins at 20 miles. A border sits close enough to be relevant to the paperwork.

• Where to Fish on Laurel Lake

  Our records hold no depth for this water. Rip-rap along the wall holds fish that the open bank never does. A reservoir gives you a hard edge, a shelf, and not much else. County-wide records name greenside darter, smallmouth bass, banded darter and rainbow darter. County records show the wider picture rather than this one place. Laurel Lake responds to conditions more than to tactics.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Average temperature peaks around 73°F in July and bottoms out near 33°F in January. A lid forms in a hard winter only. Hard water here is never dependable, so check for yourself before stepping out. Autumn steadies things again once the heat lets go. On Laurel Lake that shapes the whole year.

• Tackle & Baits

  We have no record of the rules that apply on this bank. The nearest car park is 170 yards from the water. A camping area sits within half a mile of here. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. State or provincial rules still apply whatever the bank status. Some stretches are reserved and marked as such on the ground. For a change of water, Fishtrap Lake is 8.8 miles distant. For Laurel Lake, the notice at the access point is the final word.