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Claytor Lake

Lake fishing  Virginia · 06:03 - 20:45

Claytor Lake is a lake in Virginia. The fish here are ranked by weather, water temperature and season, see the likely catch below.

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Conditions right now

Weather
Mainly clear
Water temp (est.)
72°F
Air temp
68°F
Wind
6 mph
Pressure
29.87 inHg ↓ falling
Clouds
34.0%

Water temperature is an estimate based on weather and season.

Best times today

Dusk 19:30–21:30 Night 21:30–05:18

Local time at the spot, from the most likely species' daily rhythm.

Next hours

09:00
68°
10:00
72°
11:00
76°
12:00
78°
13:00
81°
14:00
82°
15:00
82°
16:00
83°
17:00
83°
18:00
82°
19:00
81°
20:00
78°

Likely catch now (12 species)

Common Carp
Common Carp
Cyprinus carpio
18%
Active through the night, water near its preferred 22 degrees, peak season, falling pressure ahead of weather.
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Channel Catfish
Channel Catfish
Ictalurus punctatus
18%
Active through the night, water near its preferred 22 degrees, peak season, falling pressure ahead of weather.
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Blue Catfish
Blue Catfish
Ictalurus furcatus
18%
Active through the night, water near its preferred 22 degrees, peak season, falling pressure ahead of weather.
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Flathead Catfish
Flathead Catfish
Pylodictis olivaris
18%
Active through the night, water near its preferred 22 degrees, peak season.
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Smallmouth Bass
Smallmouth Bass
Micropterus dolomieu
6%
Slow during the night, water near its preferred 22 degrees, peak season, falling pressure ahead of weather.
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Largemouth Bass
Largemouth Bass
Micropterus salmoides
6%
Slow during the night, water near its preferred 22 degrees, peak season, falling pressure ahead of weather.
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Striped Bass
Striped Bass
Morone saxatilis
3%
Slow during the night, water near its preferred 22 degrees, falling pressure ahead of weather.
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Brown Trout
Brown Trout
Salmo trutta
3%
Slow during the night, peak season, falling pressure ahead of weather.
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Black Crappie
Black Crappie
Pomoxis nigromaculatus
3%
Slow during the night, water near its preferred 22 degrees.
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Bluegill
Bluegill
Lepomis macrochirus
3%
Slow during the night, water near its preferred 22 degrees, peak season.
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Rainbow Trout
Rainbow Trout
Oncorhynchus mykiss
2%
Slow during the night, falling pressure ahead of weather.
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White Bass
White Bass
Morone chrysops
2%
Slow during the night, water near its preferred 22 degrees, a fishy ripple on the water.
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About the fishing here

Claytor Lake is a lake in Virginia.

Popular catches here include Common Carp, Channel Catfish, Blue Catfish, Flathead Catfish, Smallmouth Bass and Largemouth Bass.

Common Carp fishing is usually best around Jun-Aug. The best windows are usually dusk and night.

A state fishing license is required to fish here. Napp ranks the species above from the live weather, water temperature, season and time of day, so the order changes through the day.

Tips right now

Technique Start with a ledger bait for common carp, the most likely catch right now.
Timing This is a prime window for common carp at night. Fish hard now.
Lure Ledger bait for common carp: Boilies or corn.
Colour Clear water and good light: try natural, gold and bronze for common carp.
Depth The water temperature suits the fish. Fish actively at normal depths and edges.

Fishing permit

A state fishing license is required to fish here. Licenses are issued by each state:

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About this water

Claytor Lake

Claytor Lake in Pulaski County, Virginia, is a 4,472-acre (1,810 ha), 21-mile-long (34 km) reservoir on the New River, created for an Appalachian Power Company (APC) hydroelectric project. It is named for William Graham Claytor, Sr. (1886–1971) of Roanoke, Virginia, a vice president of APC who had supervised the construction of the Claytor Dam, which created the lake.

Read more on Wikipedia →

Map

More waters nearby

Philpott Lake Virginia · 35.5 mi away Moncove Lake West Virginia · 44.7 mi away Reservoir Number 3 Virginia · 53.0 mi away Burton Lake Virginia · 63.4 mi away Abbott Lake Virginia · 65.3 mi away Leesville Lake Virginia · 66.4 mi away Wingrove Branch Dam Number Two West Virginia · 68.3 mi away Salem Lake North Carolina · 69.3 mi away

Common questions

What fish can you catch at Claytor Lake?

Popular catches here include Common Carp, Channel Catfish, Blue Catfish, Flathead Catfish, Smallmouth Bass, Largemouth Bass, Striped Bass and Brown Trout.

Do you need a fishing license at Claytor Lake?

Yes. A state fishing license is required; see the link on this page for the state's rules.

When is the best time to fish Claytor Lake?

Common Carp fishing is usually best around Jun-Aug. The best windows are usually dusk and night.

What is biting at Claytor Lake right now?

Right now Common Carp is the most likely catch, at about 18%.