Powell Lake, Virginia: Fishing Spots and Seasons

• Overview

  Powell Lake lies in York County, in Virginia. It sits at 30 feet above sea level. About 16 acres of surface, which puts the far bank inside easy sight. Ground here is low by Virginia standards. The closest town, Williamsburg, is 6.3 miles distant. Gloucester Courthouse lies 8.5 miles off, Gloucester Point another 11 miles. It sits near the edge of the county, so check which rules apply.

• Where to Fish on Powell Lake

  No depth figure has reached our records, which makes a plummet useful. A reservoir gives you a hard edge, a shelf, and not much else. Rip-rap along the wall holds fish that the open bank never does. Records held for York County cover white perch, blue catfish and bluegill. What holds for the county may not hold for this water. Powell Lake fishes better once you know its edges.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Temperature averages peak at 78°F in July and bottom out at 38°F in January. The year never really closes; it just gets uncomfortable in summer. Spring and autumn carry the fishing; summer squeezes it into the edges of the day. The cooler months are the comfortable ones to fish here. At Powell Lake the season follows that pattern closely.

• Tackle & Baits

  Whether you may fish here is not something records settle. Parking within half a mile means no long carry with tackle. Largemouth respond to soft plastics tight to cover; go weedless where the growth is heavy. Some banks are open only from a marked point. A polite question at the farm gate opens more banks than anything else. Failing this one, try Skimino Pond, 0.7 miles away. What applies at Powell Lake may have changed since it was mapped.