2013 Virginia Freshwater Fishing & Watercraft Owner's Guide

2013 Fishing Regs & WOG 11-15-12_Layout 1 11/16/12 1:01 PM Page 9Potomac (call 1-804-224-7148 or 1-800-266-3904 for current PRFC regulations).Waters between the Woodrow WilsonBridge and Little Falls are controlled by D.C.,and a D.C. fishing license is required.General FreshwaterFishing Regulations• Fishing in inland waters must be by anglingwith a hook and line or rod and reel.(See exceptions for nongame fish.)• A hand landing net may be used to landfish legally hooked in all waters.• Any person who fishes on another’sproperty must have the landowner’s permissionto do so except on designatedstocked trout waters along which signshave been placed indicating that thewaters are open to public fishing.• No species of fish, freshwater mussel ormollusk may be taken in inland waters tobe sold, except under special permitsprovided by law.• It is unlawful to use lime, dynamite, orany other substances to destroy fish, orto cast or allow noxious matter to passinto watercourses that might destroy fishor fish spawn, or to deposit trash instreams or lakes or along their banks.• It is illegal to use SCUBA (Self-containedUnderwater Breathing Apparatus) gearto take or attempt to take fish.• It is unlawful to have more than the dailycreel limit of any fish in possession whileafield or on the waters. The daily creellimit includes live possession of fish.• It shall be unlawful for any person, whilefishing, to remove the head or tail orotherwise change the appearance of anygame fish (except bluegill sunfish andbream of the sunfish family) having adaily creel or size limit so as to obscure itsspecies or render it impracticable tomeasure its total original length or countthe number of such fish in possession. Inaddition, it shall be unlawful for any personto possess or transport such alteredgame fish while on the water. However,the prohibition against possession andtransportation in the previous sentenceshall not apply to the preparation of lawfullyobtained fish for immediate use asfood or any lawful commercial use ofsuch fish.• It is unlawful to take, kill, capture, orpossess any threatened or endangeredspecies.South Holston ReservoirAny person possessing a valid Tennessee or Virginia resident freshwater fishing license,or who is legally exempt from those license requirements, and possessing the SouthHolston Reservoir License may fish in the Tennessee and Virginia impounded waters ofSouth Holston Reservoir. Virginia residents fishing in South Holston Lake in TN musthave a Virginia resident license and South Holston Reservoir Permit (or Tennesseenonresident fishing license); under the age of 13—no license or permit required. Theannual cost of the South Holston License is currently $21. The South Holston License isvalid in all impounded portions of the reservoir below full pool elevation of 1,730 feet,including the confluence of the Middle Fork and South Fork Holston rivers and the SouthFork Holston River upstream to the Route 710 Bridge at Alvarado, VA. The South HolstonLicense is not valid for possession of trout.A valid resident Tennessee trout fishing license or a valid resident Virginia troutfishing license is required to fish for trout and to possess trout on South HolstonReservoir. All anglers shall abide by the laws of the state in which they are fishing as tomanner and means of taking fish. Size restrictions and creel limits shall be as follows:Species Restrictions Creel (Harvest) LimitBlack bass No smallmouth less than 15 inches 5 per daySpotted bass15 per dayWalleye No walleye less than 18 inches 5 per dayCrappie No crappie less than 10 inches 15 per dayTrout No minimum size–only 2 lake trout per day 7 per dayWhite bass No harvest–all White bass must be releasedCatfish Only 1 catfish over 34 inches 20 per dayBluegill No miminum size 50 per dayRock bass No minimum size 20 per dayTrotlines* 100 hooks per anglerJugs*50 per anglerLimb-lines*15 per angler*All trotlines, limb-lines, and jugs must be tagged with angler’s name/address orlicense number.Virginia Game Fish“Game fish” as defined by the Code ofVirginia means and includes trout, all of thesunfish family (including largemouth bass,smallmouth bass, spotted bass, rock bass,bream, bluegill and crappie), walleye, whitebass, chain pickerel, muskellunge, northernpike, and striped bass.Stocking FishIt is unlawful to stock any species of fish intoinland waters of the Commonwealth withoutfirst obtaining written approval from theDepartment (private ponds excepted).It is unlawful to fish on watersof any public or private club,association, or preservewithout a proper license.Trout as BaitArtificially raised rainbow trout may be soldas bait for use in the James and New rivers,and in impoundments (ponds, lakes, reservoirs),except impoundments listed as designatedstocked trout waters, Lake Moomaw,and Philpott Reservoir. Persons possessingpurchased rainbow trout for bait must havea valid invoice or bill of sale, specifying dateof purchase, the number of trout purchased,and name of an individual or businesspermitted to sell trout.www.fishvirginiafirst.com/www.HuntFishVA.com 9