Valley Lake, Virginia: Fishing Spots and Seasons

• Overview

  Wise County in Virginia is where Valley Lake sits. It lies 1,775 feet above sea level. Small even by pond standards, it rewards one careful line. On size it sits at the modest end of our Wise County list. Some 2.6 miles away sits Norton, the nearest settlement. Knoxville is the closest city, 96 miles away. Being near a boundary, it pays to know which side you are fishing.

• Where to Fish on Valley Lake

  No published figure covers depth, so learn it as you fish. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. The productive water is a rod length or two out, not a hundred. Public occurrence data for Wise County names green sunfish, bluegill and black crappie. Those are county-wide records, so not every one of them will be in this water. Work Valley Lake in sections rather than trying to cover it.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The warmest month averages 69°F, the coldest about 31°F. Mild ends to the year keep the season long. Some winters give nothing at all, so plan for open water. The hot months push the fishing to dawn and dusk. On Valley Lake the same rules apply, with local timing. Water temperature lags behind air temperature by days, not hours.

• Tackle & Baits

  The paperwork position is blank for this one. Nothing formal is recorded here: no ramp, no car park, no marked path. Trout here take small spinners, spoons and, where fly water allows, a nymph or dry. Where a permit is needed, the nearest town usually sells it. Where parking is tight, arriving early solves most problems. Failing this one, try Rimrock Lake, 1.3 miles away. For Valley Lake in particular, ask before you travel.