Purcellville Reservoir Fishing in Loudoun County, Virginia

• Overview

  Virginia holds Purcellville Reservoir, in Loudoun County. The bank is 735 feet above sea level. Small at around 9 acres: two anglers spread out cover most of it. Supplies mean a trip to Shannondale, 2.1 miles off. Then Purcellville, 5.4 miles, and Charles Town, 7.7 miles. Being near a boundary, it pays to know which side you are fishing.

• Where to Fish on Purcellville Reservoir

  Our records carry no depth, so judge it from the bank. Points where the flooded channel swings in are the reliable ones. Draw-down through summer strips the margins, so follow the water out. Fish documented in Loudoun County include smallmouth bass, bluegill, redbreast sunfish, largemouth bass and greenside darter. Species recorded across the county may be limited to a few waters. On Purcellville Reservoir the quiet end is the one worth the extra effort.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The seasonal spread runs 31°F to 74°F. Neither winter nor summer shuts things down for long. In milder years the edges alone go, and the middle never sets. Autumn steadies things again once the heat lets go. Purcellville Reservoir fishes to that pattern most years. After a storm, the water clears from the edges inwards.

• Tackle & Baits

  No access rule appears in what we hold. There is no mapped parking or launch nearby, which keeps numbers down. For the bass here, soft plastics worked slow along cover and a spinnerbait for searching do most of the work. Gates get locked out of season on water like this. Check whether bait restrictions apply before you buy any. The nearest alternative is Round Hill Reservoir, 3.7 miles out. Ask locally about Purcellville Reservoir if anything is unclear.