Lake Anna State Park, Spotsylvania County, VA
Chain Pickerel fishing today
Skip the Chain Pickerel trip today.
15/100
Why today scores 15
- Thunderstorms — Get off the water immediately when storms approach
Right now at Lake Anna State Park
- Water temp
- unavailable
- Air temp
- 83°F
- Wind
- 3 mph W
- Tide phase
- incoming
- Sunrise / sunset
- 6:26 AM / 7:53 PM
- Moon
- first quarter, 33% illuminated
- Solunar windows today
- 12:50 AM - 1:50 AM · 4:50 AM - 6:50 AM · 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM · 5:20 PM - 7:20 PM
- Forecast
- Mostly Sunny then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
About Chain Pickerel
Esox niger. Native toothy predator of mill ponds, blackwater rivers, and grassy shorelines — especially common on the Eastern Shore. Hits spinners, spoons, and minnow plugs aggressively. Cold-weather fishery when bass have shut down.
Preferred water temp: 45–80°F (ideal 60°F). Preferred tide: either.
VA regulations
- Daily creel limit
- 5
Non-tidal VA: 5 per day, no statewide minimum size. Lake Gaston and Buggs Island (Kerr Reservoir) have no daily limit. Less restrictive on size than MD (which requires 14-inch minimum).
Source: NTVA regulations. Last verified: 2026-04-22.