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WELCOME TO CLAYTOR LAKE ONLINE
Welcome to Claytor Lake Online! You will find information on the State Park, Activities, Boating, Fishing, Watersports, and Real Estate....all pertaining to Claytor Lake!

A young boy fishing with his father at Claytor Lake

Fishing at Claytor Lake

Claytor Lake offers some of the best fishing in the entire state of Virginia. There are many nooks and inlets where fish are ready to be caught by the dozens. Fish species include Bluegill, Carp, Perch, Bass, and Catfish.

A picture of a Bluegill, also known as a Perch

Bluegill

Bluegill are proabably one of the most abundant fish at Claytor Lake. Typically they are found in the shallow areas near docks, inlets, and tributaries which feed into the Lake/River system. When you are fishing at Claytor Lake, you might hear them called Perch by professional fisherman. Sometimes they can stick you with their top dorsal fin if you don't handle them carefully!

A picture of a small mouth bass

Bass

Claytor Lake Fishing offers some of the most challenging Bass fishing on the East Coast! Bass at Claytor Lake can be found in the deep or shallow waters. They can easily be caught with worms, lures, or artificial bait. However, you may want to consider lures that that mimic crayfish for the Small Mouth Bass and lures that mimic bluegill for the Large Mouth Bass. Small-Mouth, Large-Mouth, and spotted/striped bass are found up and down the New River, and in all parts of Claytor Lake. If you are a true Bass enthusiast, you may want to visit Region 4 Bass, one of the best Bass Websites for fishing at Claytor Lake.

A typical catfish found at Claytor Lake

Catfish

Catfish are also popular in Claytor Lake, some of them getting quite large (well over 50 lbs. (22 kg)). When fishing for Catfish at Claytor Lake, you may want to consider using crab, minnows, or crawfish. These tend to mimic the natural bottom feeding prey of the catfish. Other fisherman have known to "noodle" catfish in some of the muddier portions of the lake

A picture of a Claytor Lake Carp

Carp

Although you can eat Carp, most people consider it to be inferior due to its trash eating and "dirty" nature. carp at Claytor Lake can reach up to 30 pounds, and fight very hard on the line. This is what makes them a challenge! Unfortuneately, Carp also absorb many pollutants from lakes and rivers, including the carcinogenic polychlorinated biphenyl. Practice catch and release techniques, and refrain from eating your catches. For more information, please refer to the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries