Guide To Striped Bass & Hybrid Striper Fishing In Virginia

Striped Bass Lakes

While stripers are native to salt water, they naturally migrate into fresh water streams to spawn. Their eggs must remain in motion in order to hatch so the fresh water rivers and streams become the ideal spawning grounds for stripers. Landlocked stripers then populate the lakes. The major lakes in Virginia with significant populations of stripers or wipers include Carvins Cove Reservoir, Claytor Lake, Flannagan Reservoir, Kerr Reservoir, Lake Anna, Lake Chesdin, Lake Gaston, Leesville Reservoir, Occoquan Reservoir, Smith Mountain Lake and Western Branch Reservoir.

Click the images and links above for species details.

Virginia State Record Striped Bass

The state record striped bass was caught from Leesville Reservoir.

The state record hybrid striped bass came from Claytor Lake.

Fishing for Stripers in Virginia

When fishing for stripers concentrate on the deeper waters in the lake. If you can locate schools of shad, stripers are often close by. When the baitfish are shallow over the deep water, you can catch stripers on crankbaits or by swimming spoons at appropriate depths. Check Virginia fishing reports for current striper information. And for the ultimate thrill try large topwater baits if you see any surface feeding action. When the stripers are deep, jigs and jigging spoons work well. Live and cut bait will also take striped bass when they are in medium to deeper water. Fish nearby or in the river channel if it is a defined depth change. Trolling is also an excellent way to fish for stripers. Use flashy lures in bigger sizes.

Striper Fishing Video

Learn the basics for catching striped bass.

Striped bass fishing information, by state.