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Bield:Fish
Fish stocking schedule

Virginia fish stocking schedule 2026.

Stocking NowVirginia Department of Wildlife Resources

Virginia stocks rainbow, brown, and brook trout in over 180 streams and lakes statewide, plus channel catfish, hybrid striped bass, walleye, and muskellunge in reservoirs. VDWR publishes weekly trout stocking reports during the season.

Official source

Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources Stocking Report

Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources publishes the authoritative Virginia stocking schedule — Weekly updates in Searchable database format. For this week's actual stocking locations, dates, and volumes, view the official report directly.

View official Virginia stocking report

This page summarizes the Virginia stocking program for planning purposes. The agency report is the authoritative source — verify before any trip.

Primary stocked species in Virginia

Typical stocking pattern by species. Heavy fill marks primary stocking months; moderate fill marks possible stocking. Verify exact dates against the official report.

  • Rainbow TroutOncorhynchus mykiss
    JanJan — no stocking Rainbow Trout typical size: 9–12 inch catchable; some trophy fish 16+ inchesFebFeb — no stocking Rainbow Trout typical size: 9–12 inch catchable; some trophy fish 16+ inchesMarMar — heavy stocking Rainbow Trout typical size: 9–12 inch catchable; some trophy fish 16+ inchesAprApr — heavy stocking Rainbow Trout typical size: 9–12 inch catchable; some trophy fish 16+ inchesMayMay — heavy stocking Rainbow Trout typical size: 9–12 inch catchable; some trophy fish 16+ inchesJunJun — no stocking Rainbow Trout typical size: 9–12 inch catchable; some trophy fish 16+ inchesJulJul — no stocking Rainbow Trout typical size: 9–12 inch catchable; some trophy fish 16+ inchesAugAug — no stocking Rainbow Trout typical size: 9–12 inch catchable; some trophy fish 16+ inchesSepSep — moderate stocking Rainbow Trout typical size: 9–12 inch catchable; some trophy fish 16+ inchesOctOct — heavy stocking Rainbow Trout typical size: 9–12 inch catchable; some trophy fish 16+ inchesNovNov — heavy stocking Rainbow Trout typical size: 9–12 inch catchable; some trophy fish 16+ inchesDecDec — no stocking Rainbow Trout typical size: 9–12 inch catchable; some trophy fish 16+ inches
    Typical size: 9–12 inch catchable; some trophy fish 16+ inches
  • Brown TroutSalmo trutta
    JanJan — no stocking Brown Trout typical size: 9–14 inch catchable; trophy fish 18–24 inchesFebFeb — no stocking Brown Trout typical size: 9–14 inch catchable; trophy fish 18–24 inchesMarMar — heavy stocking Brown Trout typical size: 9–14 inch catchable; trophy fish 18–24 inchesAprApr — heavy stocking Brown Trout typical size: 9–14 inch catchable; trophy fish 18–24 inchesMayMay — heavy stocking Brown Trout typical size: 9–14 inch catchable; trophy fish 18–24 inchesJunJun — no stocking Brown Trout typical size: 9–14 inch catchable; trophy fish 18–24 inchesJulJul — no stocking Brown Trout typical size: 9–14 inch catchable; trophy fish 18–24 inchesAugAug — no stocking Brown Trout typical size: 9–14 inch catchable; trophy fish 18–24 inchesSepSep — moderate stocking Brown Trout typical size: 9–14 inch catchable; trophy fish 18–24 inchesOctOct — heavy stocking Brown Trout typical size: 9–14 inch catchable; trophy fish 18–24 inchesNovNov — heavy stocking Brown Trout typical size: 9–14 inch catchable; trophy fish 18–24 inchesDecDec — no stocking Brown Trout typical size: 9–14 inch catchable; trophy fish 18–24 inches
    Typical size: 9–14 inch catchable; trophy fish 18–24 inches
  • Brook TroutSalvelinus fontinalis
    JanJan — no stocking Brook Trout typical size: 8–11 inch catchableFebFeb — no stocking Brook Trout typical size: 8–11 inch catchableMarMar — heavy stocking Brook Trout typical size: 8–11 inch catchableAprApr — heavy stocking Brook Trout typical size: 8–11 inch catchableMayMay — heavy stocking Brook Trout typical size: 8–11 inch catchableJunJun — no stocking Brook Trout typical size: 8–11 inch catchableJulJul — no stocking Brook Trout typical size: 8–11 inch catchableAugAug — no stocking Brook Trout typical size: 8–11 inch catchableSepSep — moderate stocking Brook Trout typical size: 8–11 inch catchableOctOct — heavy stocking Brook Trout typical size: 8–11 inch catchableNovNov — heavy stocking Brook Trout typical size: 8–11 inch catchableDecDec — no stocking Brook Trout typical size: 8–11 inch catchable
    Typical size: 8–11 inch catchable
  • Channel CatfishIctalurus punctatus
    JanJan — no stocking Channel Catfish typical size: 10–14 inch catchable; 1–3 inch fingerlingFebFeb — no stocking Channel Catfish typical size: 10–14 inch catchable; 1–3 inch fingerlingMarMar — heavy stocking Channel Catfish typical size: 10–14 inch catchable; 1–3 inch fingerlingAprApr — heavy stocking Channel Catfish typical size: 10–14 inch catchable; 1–3 inch fingerlingMayMay — heavy stocking Channel Catfish typical size: 10–14 inch catchable; 1–3 inch fingerlingJunJun — moderate stocking Channel Catfish typical size: 10–14 inch catchable; 1–3 inch fingerlingJulJul — moderate stocking Channel Catfish typical size: 10–14 inch catchable; 1–3 inch fingerlingAugAug — moderate stocking Channel Catfish typical size: 10–14 inch catchable; 1–3 inch fingerlingSepSep — no stocking Channel Catfish typical size: 10–14 inch catchable; 1–3 inch fingerlingOctOct — heavy stocking Channel Catfish typical size: 10–14 inch catchable; 1–3 inch fingerlingNovNov — heavy stocking Channel Catfish typical size: 10–14 inch catchable; 1–3 inch fingerlingDecDec — no stocking Channel Catfish typical size: 10–14 inch catchable; 1–3 inch fingerling
    Typical size: 10–14 inch catchable; 1–3 inch fingerling
  • Hybrid Striped BassMorone saxatilis × M. chrysops
    JanJan — no stocking Hybrid Striped Bass typical size: 1–2 inch fingerlingFebFeb — no stocking Hybrid Striped Bass typical size: 1–2 inch fingerlingMarMar — heavy stocking Hybrid Striped Bass typical size: 1–2 inch fingerlingAprApr — heavy stocking Hybrid Striped Bass typical size: 1–2 inch fingerlingMayMay — heavy stocking Hybrid Striped Bass typical size: 1–2 inch fingerlingJunJun — moderate stocking Hybrid Striped Bass typical size: 1–2 inch fingerlingJulJul — no stocking Hybrid Striped Bass typical size: 1–2 inch fingerlingAugAug — no stocking Hybrid Striped Bass typical size: 1–2 inch fingerlingSepSep — no stocking Hybrid Striped Bass typical size: 1–2 inch fingerlingOctOct — heavy stocking Hybrid Striped Bass typical size: 1–2 inch fingerlingNovNov — heavy stocking Hybrid Striped Bass typical size: 1–2 inch fingerlingDecDec — no stocking Hybrid Striped Bass typical size: 1–2 inch fingerling
    Typical size: 1–2 inch fingerling
  • WalleyeSander vitreus
    JanJan — no stocking Walleye typical size: 1–2 inch fry; 2–4 inch fingerlingFebFeb — no stocking Walleye typical size: 1–2 inch fry; 2–4 inch fingerlingMarMar — heavy stocking Walleye typical size: 1–2 inch fry; 2–4 inch fingerlingAprApr — heavy stocking Walleye typical size: 1–2 inch fry; 2–4 inch fingerlingMayMay — heavy stocking Walleye typical size: 1–2 inch fry; 2–4 inch fingerlingJunJun — moderate stocking Walleye typical size: 1–2 inch fry; 2–4 inch fingerlingJulJul — no stocking Walleye typical size: 1–2 inch fry; 2–4 inch fingerlingAugAug — no stocking Walleye typical size: 1–2 inch fry; 2–4 inch fingerlingSepSep — no stocking Walleye typical size: 1–2 inch fry; 2–4 inch fingerlingOctOct — heavy stocking Walleye typical size: 1–2 inch fry; 2–4 inch fingerlingNovNov — heavy stocking Walleye typical size: 1–2 inch fry; 2–4 inch fingerlingDecDec — no stocking Walleye typical size: 1–2 inch fry; 2–4 inch fingerling
    Typical size: 1–2 inch fry; 2–4 inch fingerling
  • MuskellungeEsox masquinongy
    JanJan — no stocking Muskellunge typical size: 8–12 inch fingerlingFebFeb — no stocking Muskellunge typical size: 8–12 inch fingerlingMarMar — heavy stocking Muskellunge typical size: 8–12 inch fingerlingAprApr — heavy stocking Muskellunge typical size: 8–12 inch fingerlingMayMay — heavy stocking Muskellunge typical size: 8–12 inch fingerlingJunJun — moderate stocking Muskellunge typical size: 8–12 inch fingerlingJulJul — no stocking Muskellunge typical size: 8–12 inch fingerlingAugAug — no stocking Muskellunge typical size: 8–12 inch fingerlingSepSep — moderate stocking Muskellunge typical size: 8–12 inch fingerlingOctOct — heavy stocking Muskellunge typical size: 8–12 inch fingerlingNovNov — heavy stocking Muskellunge typical size: 8–12 inch fingerlingDecDec — no stocking Muskellunge typical size: 8–12 inch fingerling
    Typical size: 8–12 inch fingerling

Top stocked waterbodies in Virginia

Notable Virginia programs

  • Heritage Day
  • Trophy Trout Waters
  • Delayed Harvest
  • Special Regulation Trout Waters

State hatchery system

Virginia operates 7 state-run fish hatcheries supporting the stocking program.

Virginia urban fishing program

Virginia maintains a designated urban fishing program — typically frequent stockings of catfish, trout, and panfish in city ponds and lakes. These programs are designed to make fishing accessible to families and first-time anglers.

Virginia urban fishing program details →

Weekly stocking alerts for Virginia.

Bield: Fish reads Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources's stocking reports and alerts you when your saved waters are stocked. Set your county once and you'll know the day fish hit your home river.

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Hatch calendars for Virginia trout rivers
New River hatch →Mossy Creek hatch →Rapidan River hatch →Rose River hatch →Roaring Run hatch →Jackson River hatch →