Published October 31, 2026 | Written by the Mission Realty Team.
Eight Richmond-area places have a public fishing water that a state or county page names outright: a city lake in Byrd Park, a pond in Glen Allen, a 3,100-acre reservoir on the Chesterfield-Dinwiddie line and more. The best fit depends on how you fish. Henrico’s park lakes are bank-only, Lake Chesdin has public ramps, and the Powhatan lakes are being held below normal level for spillway repairs.
Every size, rule and date below comes from a Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources (DWR) waterbody page or a Chesterfield County page, all read on October 29, 2026. Rules and closures change, so check the linked page before you go. This post says nothing about how well any water fishes, because we found no source we could cite for that.
How we picked, and why the list runs alphabetically
No dataset ranks Richmond-area neighborhoods by fishing access, so we did not invent a ranking. Each entry is a place where an agency page names a public water and where it sits. The list runs alphabetically by place, which is not a ranking. We describe waters and rules, not the people who live nearby. Fishing is one factor in a move, so confirm commute, flood risk and the rest on your own. Our post on neighborhoods near state parks and nature preserves covers the parks side.
| Place | Water named by the agency | Size the page lists |
|---|---|---|
| Byrd Park, Richmond | Swan Lake, Shields Lake, Boat Lake (DWR) | 12 acres, 7 acres, not listed |
| Ettrick, Chesterfield | Appomattox River Trail trailhead (county) | Not listed |
| Glen Allen, Henrico | Crump Park Pond (DWR) | 1 acre |
| Lake Chesdin, Chesterfield-Dinwiddie line | Lake Chesdin (DWR) | About 3,100 acres |
| Midlothian, Chesterfield | Mid-Lothian Mines Park pond (county) | Not listed |
| Pocahontas State Park, Chesterfield | Swift Creek Lake (DWR) | 156 acres |
| Powhatan | Powhatan Lakes (DWR) | 66 acres combined |
| Woodlake, Chesterfield | Swift Creek Reservoir (Mission community page) | Not listed |
Byrd Park, Richmond: three city lakes
DWR lists Byrd Park on Boulevard Avenue with Swan Lake at 12 acres and Shields Lake at 7 acres, both with open shoreline for anglers, plus Boat (Fountain) Lake. Hours are sunrise to sunset, except Boat Lake, which stays open until 10:00 p.m. in summer. DWR says catchable trout are stocked in Shields Lake from November through March, and a trout license is required there from November 1 through April 30. It also notes that Boat Lake has a history of fish kills from oxygen depletion.
Wrong for: anyone who wants to launch a boat or fish after dark outside Boat Lake’s summer hours. Byrd Park does not have its own page on our site yet, so start with the City of Richmond guide. DWR also lists two Bryan Park ponds of about 6 acres each just north of the I-64 and I-95 intersection.
Ettrick, Chesterfield: bank fishing on the Appomattox River Trail
Chesterfield County’s water access page lists bank fishing at the Appomattox River Trail, Ettrick/VSU Trail Head, and fishing from the Appomattox River Canoe Launch. The county notes that whitewater rapids downstream of the launch may be a hazard for most paddlers, and that a fishing license is required to fish in Chesterfield County. No swimming is allowed from any county park property.
Wrong for: anyone who needs a powerboat ramp. The county page names Dutch Gap Boat Landing as the only power boat access site it lists. Read our Ettrick community page for the area itself.
Glen Allen, Henrico: a one-acre pond and four other county lakes
DWR describes Crump Park Pond as a 1-acre pond on Courtney Road in Glen Allen with bank fishing and picnicking, no boat ramp and no concessions. Channel catfish are stocked there annually, and DWR lists bluegill and redear sunfish as abundant. DWR says all Henrico County park lakes are open from dawn to dusk and no boats are allowed.
Henrico’s other park waters on the same page are Dorey Park Pond (5 acres), Echo Lake (12 acres, the largest county impoundment), Three Lakes Park (three lakes of about 3 acres each, with Lake No. 2 closed to fishing) and the two Deep Run Park ponds (about 2 acres each). At Dorey Park Pond, DWR says trout are stocked five times from November through March and a trout license is required for anglers 16 and older from November 1 to April 30.
Wrong for: boaters and evening anglers, given the dawn-to-dusk, no-boats rule. See our Glen Allen page and the Henrico County guide.
Lake Chesdin: a 3,100-acre reservoir on the Chesterfield-Dinwiddie line
DWR puts Lake Chesdin at about 3,100 acres on the Chesterfield-Dinwiddie County line, run by the Appomattox River Water Authority as a water supply reservoir. A public boat ramp and handicap-accessible fishing pier just upstream of the dam are open 24 hours a day. Three fee-based ramps, Seven Springs Marina on the north shore plus Whippernock Marina and Lake Chesdin Campground on the south shore, add rentals, bait and camping. Chesterfield’s page also lists pier fishing at the Lake Chesdin Canoe Launch and warns of motorized boat traffic there.
DWR lists the species present, including largemouth bass, crappie, walleye, striped bass and several catfish, along with daily limits, such as 5 bass in aggregate and an 18-inch minimum for walleye and saugeye. Check the page for the full table.
Wrong for: anyone who wants a quiet paddle, given the boat traffic the county notes. We have no community page for the Lake Chesdin shoreline, so use the Chesterfield County guide and the Chesterfield page.
Tell us which of these areas you want to follow and we will set up a saved search for them.
Midlothian, Chesterfield: a pond at Mid-Lothian Mines Park
The county’s water access page lists pond fishing at Mid-Lothian Mines Park. It also lists pond fishing at Goyne Park, at the disc golf course, and bank fishing at John J. Radcliffe Conservation Area and Falling Creek Ironworks Park, though it does not tie those to a neighborhood. The same license rule applies.
Wrong for: anyone who wants a large water. The page lists no sizes for these ponds. See our Midlothian page.
Pocahontas State Park: Swift Creek Lake west of Chester
DWR calls Swift Creek Lake a 156-acre impoundment inside Pocahontas State Park at 10301 State Park Road, on Beach Road west of Chester. It is open for fishing from dawn to dusk nearly year-round. A boat ramp serves private boats, gasoline motors are prohibited, and the park rents canoes, kayaks, rowboats and paddleboats from Memorial Day through Labor Day. DWR lists a 15-inch minimum and a limit of 2 per day for largemouth bass. Its most recent survey on the page, from June 7, 2018, counted 1,252 fish of 14 species, mostly gizzard shad and bluegill.
Wrong for: anyone who wants to fish at night or run a gas motor. Chester has no community page on our site yet, so start with the Chesterfield County guide.
Powhatan: two lakes in a wildlife management area
DWR lists the Powhatan Lakes at 66 acres combined, off Route 60 near Route 522 just west of Powhatan, inside the Powhatan Wildlife Management Area. Anglers 17 and older need an access permit unless they hold a Virginia hunting, freshwater fishing or trapping license or a current boat registration. There are two improved boat launches, and electric motors are allowed while gas motors are not. Largemouth bass have a 14-to-22-inch protected slot.
When we read the page, it carried three notices: channel catfish stocking has been discontinued until further notice, the middle fishing pier on Lower Powhatan Lake is closed for repairs, and both lakes are being kept 4 to 6 feet below normal level because of spillway storm damage. Confirm the current status before driving out.
Wrong for: anyone who needs restrooms, since the page lists none. See the Powhatan page and the Powhatan County guide.
Woodlake: a community built around Swift Creek Reservoir
Our Woodlake community page describes it as a master-planned community built around Swift Creek Reservoir in Chesterfield County. We did not find a DWR or county page that describes public fishing access on the reservoir itself, so we make no claim about it. Swift Creek Lake at Pocahontas State Park, above, is a different water.
If the reservoir matters to you, ask the association and the county before you rely on any access assumption. For buying near a creek or reservoir, our post on the Bay Act buffer rules near Midlothian creeks and reservoirs explains what limits building near the water, and our lowest flood risk neighborhoods post covers flooding.
Wrong for: anyone who needs documented public access today.
How to turn this into a home search
Pick the water first, then the area. You do not need to live beside a public water to fish it, so weigh price, commute and flood risk before distance to the shore. If proximity still matters, set a saved search around the places you like and compare them with our property search. Our featured lenders can run budget numbers, and our buyer services explain how we work.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a fishing license in Chesterfield County?
Yes. Chesterfield County’s water access page says a fishing license is required to fish in the county.
Which of these waters stock trout?
DWR says Shields Lake in Byrd Park and Dorey Park Pond in Henrico are stocked with trout from November through March, with a trout license required from November 1 to April 30 (anglers 16 and older at Dorey Park).
Can I bring a boat to Henrico’s park lakes?
No. DWR says all Henrico County park lakes are open dawn to dusk and no boats are allowed.
Can I use a gas motor at Swift Creek Lake?
No. DWR says gasoline motors are prohibited at Swift Creek Lake and only electric motors may be used.
Is Lake Chesdin open at night?
DWR says the public boat ramp and handicap-accessible fishing pier just upstream of the dam are open 24 hours a day. The fee-based ramps run on their own terms.
Are the Powhatan lakes at normal level?
When we read DWR’s page on October 29, 2026, both lakes were being kept 4 to 6 feet below normal level because of spillway storm damage. Check the page for updates.
Can I swim at these places?
Chesterfield says no swimming is allowed from any county park property, and DWR lists swimming as prohibited at the Powhatan Lakes.
Which neighborhood is best for fishing?
No dataset ranks neighborhoods for fishing, so we do not. Pick a water that matches your boat, schedule and license, then compare nearby areas on price, commute and flood risk.
Tell us which of these areas you want to follow and we will set up a saved search for them.
