Rainbow Trout Stocked · 35 plants · last April 23, 2026 Best: dawn, dusk Briery Branch Reservoir fishing
Briery Branch Reservoir fishing is stocked with Rainbow Trout, Brook Trout, and Tiger Trout on a reservoir. Also recorded: Largemouth bass, Bluegill, and Channel catfish. It is stocked about 7.7 times a year since 2016, most often in March and April. Species guides list dawn and dusk for Rainbow Trout, Tiger Trout, and Largemouth bass, dawn, day, and dusk for Brook Trout and Bluegill, and dusk and night for Channel catfish.
- Last stocked
- October 21, 2026
- · Rainbow Trout
- Plants on record
- 86
- Species stocked
- 3 (+3 also recorded)
- Elevation
- 1,992 ft
Fish at Briery Branch Reservoir
Rainbow Trout Stocked · 35 plants · last April 23, 2026 Best: dawn, dusk 
Brook Trout Stocked · 10 plants · last April 8, 2025 Best: dawn, day, dusk 
Tiger Trout Stocked · 1 plant · last October 21, 2025 Best: dawn, dusk 
Largemouth bass Confirmed present Best: dawn, dusk Best: dawn, dusk
Largemouth bass species guide
Bluegill Confirmed present Best: dawn, day, dusk Best: dawn, day, dusk
Bluegill species guide
Channel catfish Confirmed present Best: dusk, night Best: dusk, night
Channel catfish species guideLargemouth bass and bluegill are also present. Channel catfish stockings have been discontinued, so anglers should expect lower catch rates. Bank access is available, and a small boat or canoe could be carried down a path on the roadside of the dam from a small parking area. (dwr.virginia.gov, accessed September 22, 2026)
Drafted by AI from the cited sources and checked before publishing.
How Briery Branch Reservoir is stocked
North River (7.9 mi) and Elkhorn Lake (9.2 mi) were stocked more recently. North River is also stocked with Rainbow Trout, Brook Trout, and Tiger Trout and Elkhorn Lake is also stocked with Rainbow Trout, Brook Trout, and Tiger Trout.
Stocking history
| Date | Species | Quantity | Avg. length | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| October 21, 2026 | Rainbow Trout | – | – | report |
| April 23, 2026 | Rainbow Trout | – | – | report |
| April 14, 2026 | Rainbow Trout | – | – | report |
| March 19, 2026 | Rainbow Trout | – | – | report |
| March 2, 2026 | Rainbow Trout | – | – | report |
| February 24, 2026 | Rainbow Trout | – | – | report |
| November 18, 2025 | Rainbow Trout | – | – | report |
| October 21, 2025 | Tiger Trout | – | – | report |
| October 21, 2025 | Rainbow Trout | – | – | report |
| May 23, 2025 | Rainbow Trout | – | – | report |
| May 15, 2025 | Rainbow Trout | – | – | report |
| May 8, 2025 | Rainbow Trout | – | – | report |
| April 25, 2025 | Rainbow Trout | – | – | report |
| April 8, 2025 | Brook Trout | – | – | report |
| April 8, 2025 | Rainbow Trout | – | – | report |
| March 12, 2025 | Brook Trout | – | – | report |
| March 12, 2025 | Rainbow Trout | – | – | report |
| November 14, 2024 | Rainbow Trout | – | – | report |
| October 23, 2024 | Rainbow Trout | – | – | report |
| May 15, 2024 | Rainbow Trout | – | – | report |
| April 30, 2024 | Brook Trout | – | – | report |
| April 10, 2024 | Brook Trout | – | – | report |
| March 30, 2024 | Brook Trout | – | – | report |
| March 30, 2024 | Rainbow Trout | – | – | report |
| March 13, 2024 | Rainbow Trout | – | – | report |
| February 26, 2024 | Rainbow Trout | – | – | report |
| January 25, 2024 | Rainbow Trout | – | – | report |
| October 27, 2023 | Rainbow Trout | – | – | report |
| May 18, 2023 | Rainbow Trout | – | – | report |
| April 20, 2023 | Brook Trout | – | – | report |
| April 20, 2023 | Rainbow Trout | – | – | report |
| April 3, 2023 | Brook Trout | – | – | report |
| April 3, 2023 | Rainbow Trout | – | – | report |
| March 27, 2023 | Brook Trout | – | – | report |
| March 10, 2023 | Rainbow Trout | – | – | report |
| February 21, 2023 | Rainbow Trout | – | – | report |
| January 5, 2023 | Rainbow Trout | – | – | report |
| October 26, 2022 | Rainbow Trout | – | – | report |
| May 18, 2022 | Rainbow Trout | – | – | report |
| April 28, 2022 | Rainbow Trout | – | – | report |
| April 13, 2022 | Brook Trout | – | – | report |
| April 13, 2022 | Rainbow Trout | – | – | report |
| March 29, 2022 | Rainbow Trout | – | – | report |
| March 1, 2022 | Rainbow Trout | – | – | report |
| February 8, 2022 | Brook Trout | – | – | report |
| December 8, 2021 | Rainbow Trout | – | – | report |
| October 27, 2021 | Rainbow Trout | – | – | report |
| May 19, 2021 | – | – | – | report |
| May 5, 2021 | – | – | – | report |
| April 7, 2021 | – | – | – | report |
| March 17, 2021 | – | – | – | report |
| March 3, 2021 | – | – | – | report |
| January 21, 2021 | – | – | – | report |
| December 15, 2020 | – | – | – | report |
| October 21, 2020 | – | – | – | report |
| May 18, 2020 | – | – | – | report |
| April 30, 2020 | – | – | – | report |
| April 7, 2020 | – | – | – | report |
| March 3, 2020 | – | – | – | report |
| January 16, 2020 | – | – | – | report |
| December 17, 2019 | – | – | – | report |
| October 30, 2019 | – | – | – | report |
| May 6, 2019 | – | – | – | report |
| April 29, 2019 | – | – | – | report |
| April 11, 2019 | – | – | – | report |
| March 20, 2019 | – | – | – | report |
| March 5, 2019 | – | – | – | report |
| December 19, 2018 | – | – | – | report |
| November 28, 2018 | – | – | – | report |
| October 17, 2018 | – | – | – | report |
| May 15, 2018 | – | – | – | report |
| April 26, 2018 | – | – | – | report |
| April 9, 2018 | – | – | – | report |
| March 29, 2018 | – | – | – | report |
| March 14, 2018 | – | – | – | report |
| February 28, 2018 | – | – | – | report |
| December 5, 2017 | – | – | – | report |
| October 19, 2017 | – | – | – | report |
| May 19, 2017 | – | – | – | report |
| April 27, 2017 | – | – | – | report |
| April 18, 2017 | – | – | – | report |
| March 22, 2017 | – | – | – | report |
| March 9, 2017 | – | – | – | report |
| February 14, 2017 | – | – | – | report |
| December 12, 2016 | – | – | – | report |
| October 31, 2016 | – | – | – | report |
Access and facts
- Water type
- reservoir
- Nearest town
- Dayton, VA
- Facilities
- restrooms
Briery Branch Lake, a 9-acre GW&J National Forest impoundment, sits on SR 257 about 4 miles past the village of Briery Branch, west of Dayton. Bank fishing only; a small boat or canoe can be carried down a path by the dam from a small lot. Seasonal restroom (closed Dec. 1 to April 1); no fee.
Drafted by AI from the cited sources and checked before publishing.
Advisories, closures, regulations and water conditions change. Check the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources before you go.
About Briery Branch Reservoir
According to the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources, anglers should expect lower catch rates for channel catfish over time due to the absence of continued stocking efforts. (dwr.virginia.gov, accessed September 22, 2026)
Drafted by AI from the cited sources and checked before publishing.
Nearest lakes
Public land at Briery Branch Reservoir
Briery Branch Reservoir is inside George Washington and Jefferson National Forest.
Boundaries from Public Lands DB, part of the same network.
Common questions
What fish are at Briery Branch Reservoir?
Fishing Briery Branch Reservoir usually means Rainbow Trout: Rainbow Trout accounts for 35 of 46 plants on record, ahead of Brook Trout and one more. Rainbow Trout was last stocked April 23, 2026. Brook Trout was last stocked April 8, 2025. Tiger Trout was last stocked October 21, 2025. Largemouth bass, Bluegill, and Channel catfish are recorded here outside the stocking reports.
When is Briery Branch Reservoir stocked?
Last stocked October 21, 2026. It is stocked about 7.7 times a year since 2016, most often in March and April.
How do you get on Briery Branch Reservoir?
The nearest town is Dayton, VA. Facilities include restrooms. Briery Branch Lake, a 9-acre GW&J National Forest impoundment, sits on SR 257 about 4 miles past the village of Briery Branch, west of Dayton. Bank fishing only; a small boat or canoe can be carried down a path by the dam from a small lot. Seasonal restroom (closed Dec. 1 to April 1); no fee.
Which lakes near Briery Branch Reservoir were stocked more recently?
North River (7.9 mi) and Elkhorn Lake (9.2 mi) were stocked more recently. North River is also stocked with Rainbow Trout, Brook Trout, and Tiger Trout and Elkhorn Lake is also stocked with Rainbow Trout, Brook Trout, and Tiger Trout.