When is trout (rainbow + brown + brook) season in Virginia?

Virginia keeps trout (rainbow + brown + brook) open to fishing year-round for the 2026 regulation year — there is no closed season, though the daily bag and size limits below still apply every day.

What is the Virginia bag limit for trout (rainbow + brown + brook)?

The Virginia daily bag limit for trout (rainbow + brown + brook) is 6 / day combined trout (stocked waters); 0 / day catch-and-release reaches; 2 / day on Smith River below Philpott Dam (1 brown over 12 in). The possession limit is 12 in possession (stocked waters). Some named waters set a different limit — check the water-body overrides above.

What size trout (rainbow + brown + brook) can you keep in Virginia?

The Virginia size rule for trout (rainbow + brown + brook) is 7 in min stocked trout statewide; 9 in min Smith River rainbow; 12 in min Smith River brown; native brook trout reach-specific rules.

Do you need a license to fish for trout (rainbow + brown + brook) in Virginia?

Yes. Virginia requires a valid fishing license to fish for trout (rainbow + brown + brook), with the usual exemptions for young children, state free-fishing days, and some senior or disabled-veteran categories. A license is valid only in the state that issued it, so non-residents need a Virginia license — compare resident and non-resident Virginia fees on the state regulations page below.

Are there gear restrictions for trout (rainbow + brown + brook) in Virginia?

Yes. In Virginia, trout (rainbow + brown + brook) fishing carries these gear rules: Trout Licence ($23 resident / $30 non-resident) required to take or possess trout; Mossy Creek: fly-fishing-only, catch-and-release, free VDWR permit required on the regulated 0.6-mile reach; Rapidan River (Shenandoah National Park): catch-and-release artificial-lures-only year-round; St. Marys River (Augusta County): catch-and-release artificial-lures-only; Smith River tailwater: artificial lures + flies only on listed reaches; barbless hooks recommended; National Park reaches: confirm National Park Service rules in addition to VDWR.

Do specific Virginia waters have different trout (rainbow + brown + brook) rules?

Yes. 5 named Virginia waters carry rules that override the statewide trout (rainbow + brown + brook) regulation, including Mossy Creek (Augusta County), Rapidan River, Smith River, and 2 more. See the named water-body overrides above for the exact rule on each.

2026 regulation year

Virginia Trout (rainbow + brown + brook) 2026 — Season, Bag Limit, Size Rules

Oncorhynchus mykiss / Salmo trutta / Salvelinus fontinalis

Last updated May 26, 2026

Virginia's trout fishery splits across three tiers. Stocked-trout waters — most of the state's hatchery-supported streams + ponds — open year-round under the standard 7-inch minimum + 6-fish daily limit with a $23 resident / $30 non-resident trout licence add-on. Wild + native brook trout reaches in the Blue Ridge + Allegheny Highlands carry reach-specific rules: the Rapidan River within Shenandoah National Park is catch-and-release artificial-lures-only year-round; St. Marys River in Augusta County is catch-and-release artificial-lures-only; Whitetop Laurel Creek is fly-only on listed reaches. Mossy Creek (Augusta County) is the legendary limestone spring creek with a 0.6-mile fly-fishing-only catch-and-release reach managed by free VDWR permit — Mossy Creek is one of the few East Coast spring creeks fishing more like a Western tailwater than an Appalachian freestone, with native + holdover brown trout consistently into 18+ inches. Cold-water tailwaters — the Smith River below Philpott Dam, the Jackson River below Gathright Dam — carry trophy brown trout regulations.

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Season

Open year-round Stocked waters year-round; Mossy Creek + Rapidan + listed reaches under special regulations.

Bag & possession

Daily bag: 6 / day combined trout (stocked waters); 0 / day catch-and-release reaches; 2 / day on Smith River below Philpott Dam (1 brown over 12 in)
Possession: 12 in possession (stocked waters)

Size, slot, trophy rules

Size: 7 in min stocked trout statewide; 9 in min Smith River rainbow; 12 in min Smith River brown; native brook trout reach-specific rules

Gear restrictions

Trout Licence ($23 resident / $30 non-resident) required to take or possess trout
Mossy Creek: fly-fishing-only, catch-and-release, free VDWR permit required on the regulated 0.6-mile reach
Rapidan River (Shenandoah National Park): catch-and-release artificial-lures-only year-round
St. Marys River (Augusta County): catch-and-release artificial-lures-only
Smith River tailwater: artificial lures + flies only on listed reaches; barbless hooks recommended
National Park reaches: confirm National Park Service rules in addition to VDWR

Named water-body overrides

Where statewide rules differ on specific Virginia waters:

Mossy Creek (Augusta County)
Fly-fishing-only, catch-and-release, free VDWR permit required on the 0.6-mile regulated reach; legendary limestone spring creek
Rapidan River
Catch-and-release artificial-lures-only year-round; flagship native brook trout headwater
Smith River
12 in min brown trout, 2 / day; 9 in min rainbow, 6 / day; trophy tailwater fishery
Lake Moomaw
7 in min trout, 6 / day combined; stocked rainbow + brown + lake trout established; Allegheny Highland reservoir
Jackson River
Trophy brown trout regulations on listed reaches; artificial lures + flies only on regulated sections

Official source

Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources (freshwater) + Virginia Marine Resources Commission (saltwater) publishes the authoritative 2026 Virginiafishing regulations. Always verify the current rule before fishing — emergency closures and in-season changes can override what's published here.

The trout (rainbow + brown + brook) rules on this page are sourced from Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources (freshwater) + Virginia Marine Resources Commission (saltwater)'s official trout (rainbow + brown + brook) regulation page.

Visit official Virginia fishing regulations →

Emergency-order channel

Trout (rainbow + brown + brook) closures, slot-limit changes, and harvest pauses are posted to Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources's emergency-order feed — check it before any Virginia trip during the active season.

Frequently asked questions

When is trout (rainbow + brown + brook) season in Virginia?: Virginia keeps trout (rainbow + brown + brook) open to fishing year-round for the 2026 regulation year — there is no closed season, though the daily bag and size limits below still apply every day.
What is the Virginia bag limit for trout (rainbow + brown + brook)?: The Virginia daily bag limit for trout (rainbow + brown + brook) is 6 / day combined trout (stocked waters); 0 / day catch-and-release reaches; 2 / day on Smith River below Philpott Dam (1 brown over 12 in). The possession limit is 12 in possession (stocked waters). Some named waters set a different limit — check the water-body overrides above.
What size trout (rainbow + brown + brook) can you keep in Virginia?: The Virginia size rule for trout (rainbow + brown + brook) is 7 in min stocked trout statewide; 9 in min Smith River rainbow; 12 in min Smith River brown; native brook trout reach-specific rules.
Do you need a license to fish for trout (rainbow + brown + brook) in Virginia?: Yes. Virginia requires a valid fishing license to fish for trout (rainbow + brown + brook), with the usual exemptions for young children, state free-fishing days, and some senior or disabled-veteran categories. A license is valid only in the state that issued it, so non-residents need a Virginia license — compare resident and non-resident Virginia fees on the state regulations page below.
Are there gear restrictions for trout (rainbow + brown + brook) in Virginia?: Yes. In Virginia, trout (rainbow + brown + brook) fishing carries these gear rules: Trout Licence ($23 resident / $30 non-resident) required to take or possess trout; Mossy Creek: fly-fishing-only, catch-and-release, free VDWR permit required on the regulated 0.6-mile reach; Rapidan River (Shenandoah National Park): catch-and-release artificial-lures-only year-round; St. Marys River (Augusta County): catch-and-release artificial-lures-only; Smith River tailwater: artificial lures + flies only on listed reaches; barbless hooks recommended; National Park reaches: confirm National Park Service rules in addition to VDWR.
Do specific Virginia waters have different trout (rainbow + brown + brook) rules?: Yes. 5 named Virginia waters carry rules that override the statewide trout (rainbow + brown + brook) regulation, including Mossy Creek (Augusta County), Rapidan River, Smith River, and 2 more. See the named water-body overrides above for the exact rule on each.

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