Looking to add walleye to your target list this spring? DWR fisheries biologists provide insight into the walleye populations and fishing opportunities in each region of the state.
The 2024 production of walleye fingerlings allowed for the stocking of 669,170 walleye and saugeye fingerlings into 13 priority waters. Some walleye waters did not receive their full acquisition of fish due to production issues within the hatchery system. In 2023, DWR had a banner year in which 1,781,500 walleye and saugeye fingerlings were stocked into 19 selected waters.
he collaborative efforts between the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources (DWR) fisheries biologists and hatchery staff allow for the propagation of walleye.
Walleye broodstock is typically collected from the New, Staunton, and South Holston rivers each spring. Collections occur in March to coincide with the spawning runs of each system. Walleye spawned or hatched at the Vic Thomas, Front Royal, King and Queen, and Buller hatcheries, are raised in fertilized ponds for anywhere from four to six weeks. Walleye fingerlings, reared primarily on a zooplankton diet, will range in size from one to two inches in length.
Ponds are harvested and walleye fingerlings are stocked in waters across the Commonwealth. The 2024 production allowed for the stocking of 669,170 walleye and saugeye fingerlings into 13 priority waters. Some walleye waters did not receive their full acquisition of fish due to production issues within the hatchery system. In 2023, DWR had a banner year in which 1,781,500 walleye and saugeye fingerlings were stocked into 19 selected waters. Growth rates of stocked walleye vary by resource with more productive systems seeing fish reach 18″ in about two years.
Depending on where you live and how far you are willing to travel, the various stocked walleye waters will allow anglers to explore new resources they may have overlooked in the past and learn some new fishing techniques along the way. The walleye-stocked waters vary greatly, so anglers can decide which systems are the most intriguing. Large rivers such as the New and Shenandoah rivers can provide a memorable day on the water with an abundance of walleye and a decent chance of catching larger-sized walleye. Smaller-sized rivers like the Staunton River should not be overlooked and can provide solid action.
For those anglers more comfortable being on still water, Virginia offers several large reservoirs with quality walleye and saugeye fisheries. Numerous small impoundments have also been stocked to provide healthy walleye and saugeye populations.
Walleye fishing opportunities in Southwest Virginia are centered around the DWR stocking efforts of the Upper New River, Flannagan Reservoir, South Holston Lake, and Hungry Mother Lake. The Upper New River provides anglers the best opportunity in Virginia to catch trophy walleye.
Stocking effort over the last 10 years have led to an increase in catch rates for both anglers and biologists. Past stocking efforts have focused on areas from Allisonia to Buck Dam. Anglers continue to report good catch rates of smaller fish 12 to 20 inches and fish greater than 28 inches in these areas. The 2024 length distribution revealed a high proportion of walleye in the 13- to 22-inch range. This indicated multiple years of good recruitment.
Anglers visiting South Holston Lake in 2025 should experience excellent walleye fishing as the population continues to rebound. Sampling during 2024, including both electrofishing and gill netting, remained like 2023 with a desirable size structure, with most adult walleye collected larger than 18 inches. The walleye growth rate is outstanding, so anglers should find plenty of fish larger than the minimum size of 18 inches.
Hungry Mother Lake is a 108-acre impoundment that provides anglers with a great opportunity to catch walleye in a small lake setting. The walleye population is stable or slightly increasing. There are good numbers of fish up to 20 inches and just enough larger ones to cause anglers to lose some sleep this summer. Walleye up to 28 inches in length have been landed in recent years.
There are many trout stocking changes in Southwest Virginia resulting from Hurricane Helene.
All stocked trout waters in southwest Virginia have now been reopened following the damage from Hurricane Helene. However, the lower stocked trout section of Whitetop Laurel will only be stocked in the vicinity of Taylor’s Valley. The portion of Whitetop Laurel (lower) along Route 58 will not be stocked for the remainder of the 2024–2025 trout season.
Please note that as a result of the damage to Route 58 near Damascus, the upper stocked section of Whitetop Laurel Creek, Beartree Lake, and Straight Branch are only accessible by traveling from the east (from Konnarock) on Route 58.
Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources
