Lynchburg’s fishing opportunities are expansive and diverse enough to keep you occupied for years, or perhaps, a lifetime
By Ethan Martin of TaleTellers Fly Shop
Lynchburg is blessed to have a variety of angling opportunities at its fingertips. Within an hour’s drive, you can find whatever you’re looking for in fresh water. At the risk of sounding like Dr. Seuss, we have large lakes, small lakes, a big river, small streams, brook, rainbow and brown trout, smallmouth and largemouth bass, striper, the occasional walleye, musky, chain pickerel, carp, gar, the ever-present sunfish, and catfish. I’ll stop there. There’s obviously a lot of opportunity around our Hill City.
Closest to home, in the backyard of Downtown Lynchburg, is the James River. Here you’ll find our “warm-water” species. Basically, all of the fish I mentioned above except trout. There are several ways to fish the James. When the water is low you are able to fish the bank and wade into the river with ease. When the water is up and in a safe flow you can float a kayak or take a larger boat up and fish spots that aren’t accessed as easily!
Trout are only able to survive in cold water year round. So, if trout is what you’re searching for, you’ll need to head to one of the James’s tributary streams west of us in the mountains. There you will find targetable populations of trout year round. However, if you want to stay in the area, Lynchburg has several stocked ponds that get loaded with trout during our winter months for anglers to enjoy. Watch the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources website to find when they stock and show up early, as these are quite popular locations for our locals!
If you want to learn more about fishing around Lynchburg, stop in TaleTellers in Downtown Lynchburg and set up a guided tour, take a fly tying workshop, get some pointers or just pick up some gear, we’ll be happy to help to get you started with your fishing exploration!
Plan your LYH fishing trip today! Book your hotel, find restaurants and check on the evening’s entertainment, then cast your line for Lynchburg.
Make it a Virginia trip! Travel around our state and experience why you should Fish Virginia First.
Ethan Martin began fly fishing at the age of 10. He now has his own fly fishing guide and retail business, TaleTellers, located at 920 Commerce Street in historic Downtown Lynchburg, just a few blocks from the magnificent James River. Ethan teaches fly tying workshops and has more than a few big tales to tell himself.