Public hunting & fishing · No lotteries

Your next hunt. Your next fishing spot.

Find named public hunting areas, lakes, ponds and fishing access with ordinary-license or directly purchased entry. Explore official maps, permits and local restrictions before you go.

417 hunting areas901 fishing opportunities50 states represented
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13 reviewed official opportunities in this selection · Showing 1–13

Public land & waterNo lottery

VA · Albemarle County · Fishing

Albemarle Lake

Bass, catfish & panfish

DWR-owned public fishing impoundment with designated agency access.

Open access · Check seasons and closures

Licenses, access and what to check

Virginia freshwater fishing license unless exempt. Check whether a trout license, National Forest permit or park fee also applies to your water and dates.

Valid hunting, fishing or trapping license exempts the holder from the separate DWR access permit. Follow current posted boat rules. Channel catfish stocking is discontinued.

Why this is included: The agency documents public recreational fishing at this named access, using ordinary fishing licenses or direct-purchase entry. This record excludes controlled events and any separately restricted activities.

Source checked 2026-10-07. Agency entry or reservation; no Back40 booking fee.

Public land & waterNo lottery

VA · Albemarle County · Fishing

Beaver Creek Reservoir

Bass, catfish & panfish

Public recreational fishing at the water-supply reservoir using its designated access.

Open access · Check seasons and closures

Licenses, access and what to check

Virginia freshwater fishing license unless exempt. Check whether a trout license, National Forest permit or park fee also applies to your water and dates.

Follow county boat/motor rules and park hours. Do not enter private shorelines. Channel catfish stocking is currently discontinued.

Why this is included: The agency documents public recreational fishing at this named access, using ordinary fishing licenses or direct-purchase entry. This record excludes controlled events and any separately restricted activities.

Source checked 2026-10-07. Agency entry or reservation; no Back40 booking fee.

Public land & waterNo lottery

VA · Albemarle County · Fishing

Chris Greene Reservoir

Bass, catfish & panfish

County park lake with a public boat ramp, parking and an accessible pier.

Open access · Check seasons and closures

Licenses, access and what to check

Virginia freshwater fishing license unless exempt. Check whether a trout license, National Forest permit or park fee also applies to your water and dates.

Largemouth bass 12–15 inches must be released. Listed hours are 7 a.m. to dark. Check county entrance fees and current rules.

Why this is included: The agency documents public recreational fishing at this named access, using ordinary fishing licenses or direct-purchase entry. This record excludes controlled events and any separately restricted activities.

Source checked 2026-10-07. Agency entry or reservation; no Back40 booking fee.

Public land & waterNo lottery

VA · Clifton Forge · Fishing

Clifton Forge Reservoir

Bass, catfish, trout & panfish

Public reservoir fishing reached via Reservoir Trail parking.

Open access · Check seasons and closures

Licenses, access and what to check

Virginia freshwater fishing license unless exempt. Check whether a trout license, National Forest permit or park fee also applies to your water and dates.

Check the agency page for fishing hours, trout-license requirements, stocked-water restrictions and limits. No unauthorized private access.

Why this is included: The agency documents public recreational fishing at this named access, using ordinary fishing licenses or direct-purchase entry. This record excludes controlled events and any separately restricted activities.

Source checked 2026-10-07. Agency entry or reservation; no Back40 booking fee.

Public land & waterNo lottery

VA · Alexandria · Fishing

Cook Lake

Bass, catfish, seasonal trout & panfish

Public urban fishing pond within Cameron Regional Park.

Open access · Check seasons and closures

Licenses, access and what to check

Virginia freshwater fishing license unless exempt. Check whether a trout license, National Forest permit or park fee also applies to your water and dates.

Use designated park access and hours. Trout is seasonal, and stocking/catch is not guaranteed. Check current urban-water limits.

Why this is included: The agency documents public recreational fishing at this named access, using ordinary fishing licenses or direct-purchase entry. This record excludes controlled events and any separately restricted activities.

Source checked 2026-10-07. Agency entry or reservation; no Back40 booking fee.

Public land & waterNo lottery

VA · Augusta County · Fishing

Elkhorn Lake

Bass, catfish, trout & panfish

Public fishing reservoir accessed from Forest Development Road 95 in the national forest.

Open access · Check seasons and closures

Licenses, access and what to check

Virginia freshwater fishing license unless exempt. Check whether a trout license, National Forest permit or park fee also applies to your water and dates.

National Forest permit may apply in addition to a state fishing license; trout license rules apply during stocked-water periods. Check seasonal forest-road conditions.

Why this is included: The agency documents public recreational fishing at this named access, using ordinary fishing licenses or direct-purchase entry. This record excludes controlled events and any separately restricted activities.

Source checked 2026-10-07. Agency entry or reservation; no Back40 booking fee.

Public land & waterNo lottery

VA · Carroll County · Fishing

Lovill’s Creek Lake

Bass, catfish & panfish

Agency-listed public fishing lake with mapped access.

Open access · Check seasons and closures

Licenses, access and what to check

Virginia freshwater fishing license unless exempt. Check whether a trout license, National Forest permit or park fee also applies to your water and dates.

Use designated lake accesses, observe posted boating limits and park hours. Channel catfish stocking is currently discontinued.

Why this is included: The agency documents public recreational fishing at this named access, using ordinary fishing licenses or direct-purchase entry. This record excludes controlled events and any separately restricted activities.

Source checked 2026-10-07. Agency entry or reservation; no Back40 booking fee.

Public land & waterNo lottery

VA · Albemarle County · Fishing

Mint Springs

Bass, catfish, trout & panfish

Public park ponds with designated fishing areas.

Open access · Check seasons and closures

Licenses, access and what to check

Virginia freshwater fishing license unless exempt. Check whether a trout license, National Forest permit or park fee also applies to your water and dates.

Follow county park hours and any entry fees. Stocked trout rules and trout licensing apply during the designated period.

Why this is included: The agency documents public recreational fishing at this named access, using ordinary fishing licenses or direct-purchase entry. This record excludes controlled events and any separately restricted activities.

Source checked 2026-10-07. Agency entry or reservation; no Back40 booking fee.

Public land & waterNo lottery

VA · Chesapeake · Fishing

Oak Grove Lake

Bass, catfish & panfish

City park lake with public bank-fishing access.

Open access · Check seasons and closures

Licenses, access and what to check

Virginia freshwater fishing license unless exempt. Check whether a trout license, National Forest permit or park fee also applies to your water and dates.

No private boats, kayaks or canoes. The rip-rapped shoreline beside the Chesapeake Expressway/Hwy 168 is excluded. Follow park hours and current limits. Channel catfish stocking is currently discontinued.

Why this is included: The agency documents public recreational fishing at this named access, using ordinary fishing licenses or direct-purchase entry. This record excludes controlled events and any separately restricted activities.

Source checked 2026-10-07. Agency entry or reservation; no Back40 booking fee.

Public land & waterNo lottery

VA · Scottsville / Albemarle County · Fishing

Scottsville Lake

Bass, catfish, trout & panfish

Town-owned fishing lake within Van Clief Nature Area, accessed by trails and cleared fishing areas.

Open access · Check seasons and closures

Licenses, access and what to check

Virginia freshwater fishing license unless exempt. Check whether a trout license, National Forest permit or park fee also applies to your water and dates.

Daylight access only. Limited infrastructure. A trout license is required during designated stocked-trout periods unless exempt.

Why this is included: The agency documents public recreational fishing at this named access, using ordinary fishing licenses or direct-purchase entry. This record excludes controlled events and any separately restricted activities.

Source checked 2026-10-07. Agency entry or reservation; no Back40 booking fee.

Public land & waterNo lottery

VA · Albemarle County · Fishing

Sugar Hollow Reservoir

Bass, trout & panfish

Bank fishing at the city-owned reservoir reached from Route 614.

Open access · Check seasons and closures

Licenses, access and what to check

Virginia freshwater fishing license unless exempt. Check whether a trout license, National Forest permit or park fee also applies to your water and dates.

Bank fishing only; no boats. Sunrise to sunset. Trout-license requirements apply during the designated stocked-water period.

Why this is included: The agency documents public recreational fishing at this named access, using ordinary fishing licenses or direct-purchase entry. This record excludes controlled events and any separately restricted activities.

Source checked 2026-10-07. Agency entry or reservation; no Back40 booking fee.

Public land & waterNo lottery

VA · Albemarle County · Fishing

Totier Creek Reservoir

Bass, catfish & panfish

County park reservoir with a public ramp, parking and restrooms.

Open access · Check seasons and closures

Licenses, access and what to check

Virginia freshwater fishing license unless exempt. Check whether a trout license, National Forest permit or park fee also applies to your water and dates.

Gasoline motors prohibited; listed hours are 7 a.m. to dark. Channel catfish stocking is currently discontinued; fish presence does not guarantee a catch.

Why this is included: The agency documents public recreational fishing at this named access, using ordinary fishing licenses or direct-purchase entry. This record excludes controlled events and any separately restricted activities.

Source checked 2026-10-07. Agency entry or reservation; no Back40 booking fee.

Public land & waterNo lottery

VA · Albemarle County · Fishing

Walnut Creek Lake

Bass, catfish & panfish

Public county park lake with ramp and parking facilities.

Open access · Check seasons and closures

Licenses, access and what to check

Virginia freshwater fishing license unless exempt. Check whether a trout license, National Forest permit or park fee also applies to your water and dates.

Check park entry fees, posted hours and boat rules. Channel catfish stocking is currently discontinued.

Why this is included: The agency documents public recreational fishing at this named access, using ordinary fishing licenses or direct-purchase entry. This record excludes controlled events and any separately restricted activities.

Source checked 2026-10-07. Agency entry or reservation; no Back40 booking fee.

What “no lottery” means. It applies to the species and access described, not every hunt on that property. Seasons, licenses, check-in, closures and capacity still apply. Public access does not reserve an exclusive spot. Check the agency’s current rules before travel. Back40 does not sell public-land access.
How we build this database

We match named agency areas and maps with ordinary-license species rules and area-specific exceptions. Each record has a source-check date. Records requiring an access or species drawing, unresolved access, and reviews older than 90 days stay out of search. This is a trip-planning database, not a live availability feed.

Broad program directories are separate research tools and are not counted as hunting areas: Minnesota grouse trail finder · Wisconsin public-access parcels.

Download reviewed records (CSV) · View structured data (JSON)

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