Last stocked
April 23, 2026
Plants on record
85
Species recorded
3
Elevation
1,992 ft
Access and facts
- Water type
- reservoir
- Nearest town
- Dayton, VA
- Shore access
- Yes
- Boat ramp
- No
- ADA accessible
- No
- Fee required
- No
Briery Branch Lake, a 9-acre GW&J National Forest impoundment west of Dayton via Route 257 then Route 924, has bank-only fishing. A small boat or canoe can be carried down a path by the dam; no ramp, restrooms, or fee.
Sources: water_type , access.shore , access.boat_ramp , access.ada , access.fee , shore_notes , nearest_town , fishing_notes , angler_notes
How Briery Branch Reservoir is stocked
The first plant of the year usually falls in the second week of February. In 2026 it was February 24, 2026, later than usual.
Elkhorn Lake (9.2 mi) and Dry River (10.6 mi) were stocked more recently. Elkhorn Lake is also stocked with Rainbow Trout, Brook Trout, and Tiger Trout and Dry River is also stocked with Brook Trout, Rainbow Trout, and Tiger Trout.
Fish at Briery Branch Reservoir
Fishing Briery Branch Reservoir is most likely to be for Rainbow Trout. Rainbow Trout accounts for 35 of 46 plants on record, ahead of Brook Trout and one more.
Rainbow Trout 35 plants
- Plants
- 35 of 85
- Last stocked
- April 23, 2026
Brook Trout 10 plants
- Plants
- 10 of 85
- Last stocked
- April 8, 2025
Tiger Trout 1 plant
- Plants
- 1 of 85
- Last stocked
- October 21, 2025
Fishing Briery Branch Reservoir
Briery Branch Lake is a 9-acre lake located in Rockingham County, stocked with trout and channel catfish. Largemouth 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.
Sources: dwr.virginia.gov
What anglers say
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.
Stocking history
Showing 15 of 85 plants Showing 85 plants
| Date | Species | Quantity | Avg. length | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 |
Show 70 more plants Show less
Species found here
Confirmed present independent of the stocking records above, not from a stocking event.
- Largemouth bass : Present alongside stocked trout and channel catfish in this national forest lake. (source)
- Bluegill : Present alongside stocked trout and channel catfish in this national forest lake. (source)
- Channel catfish : Historically stocked; stockings have since been discontinued. (source)
Species stocked here
Depth-by-season, top lures, and bait notes for each species stocked here are on its own species guide, linked above.