It’s a fishing day

Kerr Lake (Buggs Island) fishing conditions · Virginia

Tomorrow, 2 pm–3 pmLargemouth bass

The bite peaks at 78.

Log a trip here
Right now: 68 for largemouth bass, marginalTap or drag along the water to move through the next 36 hours

Largemouth bass, hour by hour

Each float is an hour. The deeper it rides, the better the bite. The strip underneath runs daylight, dusk and dark; the red rule marks the best window. Click any hour to read it.

  1. 683 am
  2. 68
  3. 68
  4. 686 am
  5. 68
  6. 58
  7. 589 am
  8. 58
  9. 58
  10. 5812 pm
  11. 58
  12. 68
  13. 683 pm
  14. 68
  15. 68
  16. 686 pm
  17. 68
  18. 68
  19. 689 pm
  20. 68
  21. 68
  22. 68Tue
  23. 68
  24. 68
  25. 683 am
  26. 68
  27. 68
  28. 686 am
  29. 68
  30. 55
  31. 639 am
  32. 63
  33. 63
  34. 6312 pm
  35. 63
  36. 78
Go, 85+Worth the trip, 70+Marginal, 55+Sit it out

Right now

Water
No reading

Largemouth bass range 55–85°

Wind
1 mph

From the north

Flow
2.82 cfs

steady · +0% in 24 h

Light
Dark

Sunrise 7:31 am

Sky
Clear

No rain expected

Air
43°F

NWS hourly forecast

Barometer
Falling

Measured, last 3 hours

Moon
100% lit

Full

What’s biting

Each species is scored against its own water-temperature range and tide preference, then wind, weather and warnings. The rules are Virginia non-tidal (VDWR) regulations for these waters.

Largemouth Bass

Largemouth bass

Micropterus salmoides

78Worth the tripTomorrow, 2 pm–3 pm

Water

No water reading here right now. Largemouth bass bite in 55–85° water, best near 72°.

Why

Fish feed actively ahead of a pressure drop. Light chop — baitfish active, fish willing to feed. Holds 3–25 ft down.

Keep

5 a day

Open. Keep fish within the limits. Virginia statewide: 5 bass a day combined (largemouth and smallmouth), no statewide length limit. Many rivers and lakes have their own length rules, among them the James and New rivers (no bass 14–22", 1 over 22"), the Shenandoah (no bass 11–14"), and Kerr, Gaston, Leesville and Smith Mountain (only 2 of 5 under 14").

Verified Oct 23, 2026 · Virginia non-tidal (VDWR)

Season here: Mar–Nov. More on largemouth bass

Striped Bass

Striped bass

Morone saxatilis

78Worth the tripTomorrow, 2 pm–3 pm

Water

No water reading here right now. Striped bass bite in 50–72° water, best near 62°.

Why

Fish feed actively ahead of a pressure drop. Light chop — baitfish active, fish willing to feed. Holds 5–35 ft down.

Keep

20" minimum · 4 a day

Open. Keep fish within the limits. Virginia landlocked striped bass and hybrids: 4 a day combined, none under 20", open all year. Kerr, Claytor, Gaston and Smith Mountain have their own seasonal rules.

Verified Oct 23, 2026 · Virginia non-tidal (VDWR)

Season here: Apr–Jun, Sep–Nov. More on striped bass

Crappie

Crappie

Pomoxis spp.

78Worth the tripTomorrow, 2 pm–3 pm

Water

No water reading here right now. Crappie bite in 50–80° water, best near 65°.

Why

Fish feed actively ahead of a pressure drop. Light chop — baitfish active, fish willing to feed. Holds 3–20 ft down.

Keep

25 a day

Open. Keep fish within the limits. Virginia statewide: 25 crappie a day combined, no length limit. Exceptions include a 9" minimum on Kerr Reservoir and no daily limit on Lake Gaston.

Verified Oct 23, 2026 · Virginia non-tidal (VDWR)

Season here: Mar–Jun, Oct–Nov. More on crappie

Channel Catfish

Channel catfish

Ictalurus punctatus

78Worth the tripTomorrow, 2 pm–3 pm

Water

No water reading here right now. Channel catfish bite in 60–85° water, best near 75°.

Why

Fish feed actively ahead of a pressure drop. Light chop — baitfish active, fish willing to feed. Holds 5–30 ft down.

Keep

20 a day

Open. Keep fish within the limits. Virginia statewide: channel, white and flathead catfish 20 a day, no length limit. No daily limit in rivers below the fall line.

Verified Oct 23, 2026 · Virginia non-tidal (VDWR)

Season here: Apr–Nov. More on channel catfish

Blue Catfish

Blue catfish

Ictalurus furcatus

78Worth the tripTomorrow, 2 pm–3 pm

Water

No water reading here right now. Blue catfish bite in 55–85° water, best near 72°.

Why

Fish feed actively ahead of a pressure drop. Light chop — baitfish active, fish willing to feed. Holds 10–60 ft down.

Keep

20 a day

Open. Keep fish within the limits. Virginia statewide: 20 blue catfish a day, no length limit. On Kerr Reservoir and its rivers, only 1 a day over 32".

Verified Oct 23, 2026 · Virginia non-tidal (VDWR)

Season here: Year-round. More on blue catfish

Common Carp

Common carp

Cyprinus carpio

78Worth the tripTomorrow, 2 pm–3 pm

Water

No water reading here right now. Common carp bite in 52–86° water, best near 72°.

Why

Fish feed actively ahead of a pressure drop. Light chop — baitfish active, fish willing to feed. Holds 1–15 ft down.

Keep

no daily limit

Open. Keep fish within the limits. Virginia inland waters: carp may be possessed in unlimited numbers for personal use.

Verified Oct 18, 2026 · Virginia non-tidal (VDWR)

Last checked 8 days ago. Rules may have changed.

Season here: Apr–Oct. More on common carp

The water

  • Water temperatureNo reading
  • River2.82 cfs · steady · +0% in 24 h
  • Barometer30.42 inHg, falling

Sun, moon & solunar

  • Sunrise today7:31 am
  • Sunset today6:24 pm
  • MoonFull, 100% lit
  • Minor solunarToday 7:30 am–8:30 am
  • Major solunarToday 12:10 pm–2:10 pm
  • Minor solunarTonight 6:00 pm–7:00 pm

Solunar tables are a popular heuristic. A peer-reviewed test found they don’t predict catch on their own, so here they only nudge the score when the tide or moon already agree. How the score works

Fishing report

No current report covers these waters.

We only show reports an agency has published, with their date. Virginia DWR has the state’s fishing pages.

Licenses and rules: VA DWR/VMRC · fish-consumption advisory

About this spot

Virginia's largest lake, a 50,000-acre Roanoke River reservoir on the North Carolina line — largemouth bass, striped bass, crappie, and trophy catfish.

Nearby

Public spots within 40 miles, with the same 36 hours of floats.

Lake Gaston31 mi · North CarolinaBest tomorrow 12 pm–3 pm
70Worth the trip

Questions people ask

Do I need a fishing license to fish at Kerr Lake (Buggs Island)?

Yes (anglers age 16 and older). To fish at Kerr Lake (Buggs Island) you need a Virginia freshwater fishing license issued by DWR (and a separate trout license for designated stocked trout waters October 1 through June 15). See the agency's current rules: https://dwr.virginia.gov/fishing/regulations/licenses/

What fish are commonly targeted at Kerr Lake (Buggs Island)?

Kerr Lake (Buggs Island) is listed on this site for 6 commonly-targeted species: Largemouth Bass, Striped Bass, Crappie, Channel Catfish, and 2 more. Which species is currently in season and which is scoring highest today is shown in the per-species ranking on this page.

When is the best time to fish at Kerr Lake (Buggs Island)?

It depends more on the species and the day's conditions than on a fixed "best hour." Water temperature, weather, and — at tidal locations — the stage of the tide drive activity most. The per-species ranking on this page scores every target species at Kerr Lake (Buggs Island) against today's live conditions, so the fish near the top are your best bets right now; check back as conditions change through the day.

What kind of access does Kerr Lake (Buggs Island) have?

Kerr Lake (Buggs Island) has multiple access types — pier, shoreline, and at least one public boat ramp.

Which state's fishing regulations apply at Kerr Lake (Buggs Island)?

Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources (DWR) freshwater regulations apply at Kerr Lake (Buggs Island). Size limits, creel limits, and seasonal closures are listed per species on each species page. Always confirm against the agency source linked from each regulation block — emergency closures can take effect mid-season.

Is Kerr Lake (Buggs Island) tidal water?

No. Kerr Lake (Buggs Island) is non-tidal — water level varies with rainfall, seasonal flow, and (where applicable) upstream dam releases rather than tidal exchange.