Pound Lake and Reservoir

Pound Lake and Reservoir

Pound Lake Biology Report

 

North Fork Pound Lake Reservoir

 

Directions and Contact

North Fork of Pound Lake
Rt. 1 Box 369
Pound, VA  24279

To get to the lake, take US Route 23 to Pound; turn west onto VA Route 630. Follow Route 630 for a mile to the boat landing North Fork Pound Reservoir.
 
To get to the Visitors' Center follow Route 630 for a mile to the Project Office. US Route 23 to Pound - West onto VA Route 630 - 1 mile to dam
 
For more information about camping or picnic facilities contact the U.S. Forest Service Clinch Ranger District at (276) 328-2931.
 
The Game Check  Station is Located at the Bowman's Grocery Store in Pound, VA. The address is 5855 NORTH FORK ROAD, POUND, VA 24279 Telephone: (276) 796-4056
 
For more information about the lake's fisheries contact the Marion Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries (VDGIF) office.
 
Historical Info
 
Construction began in 1966 by the US Army Corps of Engineers under the Flood Control Act of 1960.  The rock fill dam was completed in 1963 at a cost of $6.2 million.  The dam is 122 feet high and 600 feet long.  Water releases from the dam are controlled by three gates (3 feet wide, 6 feet high) located in the intake structure.  Lake elevation is maintained at 1611 feet above sea level.  During the fall the lake elevation is lowered 10 feet to hold water from fall and spring runoff.  The lake covers 154 surface acres and includes 13.5 miles of wooded shoreline.  The U.S. Forest Service obtained ownership of the lands surrounding the lake in 1983.
 
General Information
 
The North Fork of Pound River is a part of the upper reaches of the Big Sandy system.  On its way to the Ohio River, the waters from North Fork flow northeast and meet the South Fork River to form the Pound River.  The Pound River then flows into the Russell Fork River near Haysi, Virginia.  The Russell Fork cuts through the Allegheny Mountain range to join the Levisa Fork then meets the Tug Fork at Louisa and forms the Big Sandy River. 
 
Fishing Opportunities
 
Pound Lake offers fishing for largemouth, smallmouth and spotted bass, as well as bluegills, black and white crappie, channel and flathead catfish and carp. Walleye and muskies are also present, but in lower numbers. Bass are the most popular sport fish at North Fork but bluegill, walleye, catfish, crappie and muskies have also been sought after.
 
The spring electro fishing sample turned up some very nice largemouth bass. Abundant forage and a protective limit should produce very good bass fishing opportunities in the near future. Though typically small, spotted bass are abundant enough to provide good action on small surface lures or fly rod poppers.
 
Pound Lake has provided excellent bluegill fishing for many years. The bluegill fishery seems to have declined somewhat since gizzard shad and alewives were introduced in the 1990s. However, crappie fishing has been improving steadily.
 
A habitat improvement project was completed in 2002 with the U. S. Forest Service. Hinge-cut trees were developed along the shoreline at several locations in the lake. Adult crappie (six to eight inches) were also stocked. Crappie fishing should improve as a result of the habitat improvements, the stockings and the shad forage.
 
Muskies stocked in the past are still providing a few trophies. Channel catfish fishing is improving, because larger fingerlings have been available for stocking the last few years. Flathead catfish are also available for anglers.
 
The Department stocked walleye fingerlings into Pound Lake each year from 1998 to 2004. Stocked walleyes did not do very well in the lake. Anglers caught a few walleyes, and biologists have collected some during routine sampling. However, good walleye population and fishery did not develop. Walleye stocking has been discontinued at Pound Lake. The walleye stocked from 1998-2004 should provide some limited fishing opportunities for the next few years.
 
North Fork of Pound has boat ramps at the Pound and Wise landings.  These boat ramps are maintained by the US Forest Service. 
 
Camping, Picnicking and Swimming
 
There are campgrounds and picnic areas surrounding the lake at Cane Patch, Phillips Creek, Hopkins Branch, and Laurel Fork.  These campgrounds are maintained by US Forest Service. There are no designated swimming areas at North Fork of Pound Lake. Swimming is permitted at your own risk.
 
The Pound River
 
The Pound River below Flannagan Dam in Dickenson County is the largest tail-water trout fishery in southwest Virginia. The cold-water release from the dam provides a unique habitat that is suitable for trout in this 1.6-mile stretch of the Pound River, before it empties into the Russell Fork River.
The Department manages this unique resource to provide both stocked trout and special regulation trout fishing opportunities. The first 0.4 miles directly below the dam is a stocked trout area and is managed as part of the Virginia catchable trout program. This section is a category "A" stocked trout water and is stocked with legal size trout (7 inches or larger) eight times from October through May. The remaining 1.2-miles below the stocked area begins at a sign posted on the riverbank that marks the start of the special regulation section.
 
Pound River - Regulations
 
Stocked Trout Waters. Statewide Freshwater Fishing License required year-round. Special Trout License required October 1st through June 15th. Creel Limit 6 trout per day. 7-inch minimum size limit.
 
Pound River Special Regulation Area
 
Statewide Freshwater Fishing License required year-round. Only Artificial Lures with Single Hook may be used in these waters. Creel Limit - 2 trout/day. Minimum size - 16 inches. Fishing must cease when creel limit is obtained.