Niagara Reservoir, Virginia: Fishing Spots and Seasons

• Overview

  Niagara Reservoir is a Roanoke County water, Virginia side. The country here is open valley. A pocket of water where every cast reaches cover. Our Roanoke County list holds plenty of bigger water. Some 2.2 miles away sits Vinton, the nearest settlement. Cedar Bluff is 3.5 miles away, with Roanoke at 3.9 miles. The line between counties passes nearby, which can change who manages the water.

• Where to Fish on Niagara Reservoir

  Depth is unknown to us, and the shoreline is the better guide. This is a lake, so the margins and the first drop matter most. Look for the band where the shallows give up and the bottom falls away. Records held for Roanoke County cover fantail darter, redbreast sunfish, riverweed darter and Roanoke darter. The list covers the county rather than this water alone, so treat it as a guide. At Niagara Reservoir the water rewards a slow, careful approach.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Expect July to average close to 76°F, with January the cold end at about 35°F. Most months fish reasonably, given the right weather. Some winters give nothing at all, so plan for open water. June to September is hot work, so the first and last hours are what count. Anyone fishing Niagara Reservoir regularly works to that calendar.

• Tackle & Baits

  Public sources are silent on who controls the bank. Parking is at Roanoke River Overlook Parking, some half a mile off. Bass water: a Texas-rigged worm near cover, a spinnerbait when you need to cover ground. Where access is informal, keep it that way by behaving. Some stretches are reserved and marked as such on the ground. Should this one be busy, Rainbow Forest Lake is 7.6 miles off. Check the current arrangement for Niagara Reservoir.