Rainbow Trout Stocked · 12 plants · last May 8, 2026 Best: dawn, dusk Cave Mountain Lake fishing
Cave Mountain Lake fishing is stocked with Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout, and Brook Trout on a reservoir. It is stocked about 3.1 times a year since 2017, most often in April and May. Species guides list dawn and dusk for Rainbow Trout and dawn, day, and dusk for Brown Trout and Brook Trout.
- Last stocked
- May 8, 2026
- · Rainbow Trout
- Plants on record
- 31
- Species recorded
- 3
- Elevation
- 1,159 ft
Fish at Cave Mountain Lake
Rainbow Trout Stocked · 12 plants · last May 8, 2026 Best: dawn, dusk 
Brook Trout Stocked · 5 plants · last April 4, 2025 Best: dawn, day, dusk 
Brown Trout Stocked · 2 plants · last April 2, 2026 Best: dawn, day, dusk How Cave Mountain Lake is stocked
The first plant of the year usually falls in the first week of April. In 2026 it was April 2, 2026, about when it usually is.
Stocking history
| Date | Species | Quantity | Avg. length | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 8, 2026 | Rainbow Trout | – | – | report |
| April 15, 2026 | Rainbow Trout | – | – | report |
| April 2, 2026 | Brown Trout | – | – | report |
| April 2, 2026 | Rainbow Trout | – | – | report |
| May 2, 2025 | Rainbow Trout | – | – | report |
| April 14, 2025 | Rainbow Trout | – | – | report |
| April 4, 2025 | Brook Trout | – | – | report |
| May 3, 2024 | Brook Trout | – | – | report |
| May 3, 2024 | Rainbow Trout | – | – | report |
| April 18, 2024 | Brook Trout | – | – | report |
| April 3, 2024 | Brook Trout | – | – | report |
| May 5, 2023 | Rainbow Trout | – | – | report |
| April 20, 2023 | Rainbow Trout | – | – | report |
| April 5, 2023 | Rainbow Trout | – | – | report |
| May 13, 2022 | Rainbow Trout | – | – | report |
| April 21, 2022 | Brook Trout | – | – | report |
| April 21, 2022 | Rainbow Trout | – | – | report |
| April 6, 2022 | Brown Trout | – | – | report |
| April 6, 2022 | Rainbow Trout | – | – | report |
| May 7, 2021 | – | – | – | report |
| April 24, 2021 | – | – | – | report |
| April 6, 2021 | – | – | – | report |
| May 3, 2019 | – | – | – | report |
| April 20, 2019 | – | – | – | report |
| April 1, 2019 | – | – | – | report |
| May 19, 2018 | – | – | – | report |
| May 4, 2018 | – | – | – | report |
| April 6, 2018 | – | – | – | report |
| May 25, 2017 | – | – | – | report |
| May 5, 2017 | – | – | – | report |
| April 6, 2017 | – | – | – | report |
Access and facts
- Water type
- reservoir
- Nearest town
- Natural Bridge, VA
- Facilities
- restrooms, camping
USFS Cave Mountain Lake (7 acres, CCC-built in the late 1930s with a 35-foot dam) has a sand swim beach and fishing piers. From Natural Bridge take VA 130 east 3.2 miles, SR 759 for 3.2 miles, then SR 781 1.6 miles. Day-use fee; campground open early April to late October.
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.
Nearest lakes
Public land at Cave Mountain Lake
Cave Mountain Lake is inside George Washington and Jefferson National Forest.
Boundaries from Public Lands DB, part of the same network.
Common questions
What fish are at Cave Mountain Lake?
Fishing Cave Mountain Lake usually means Rainbow Trout: Rainbow Trout accounts for 12 of 19 plants on record, ahead of Brook Trout and one more. Rainbow Trout was last stocked May 8, 2026. Brook Trout was last stocked April 4, 2025. Brown Trout was last stocked April 2, 2026.
When is Cave Mountain Lake stocked?
Last stocked May 8, 2026. It is stocked about 3.1 times a year since 2017, most often in April and May. The first plant of the year usually falls in the first week of April. In 2026 it was April 2, 2026, about when it usually is. No plants recorded in 2020.
How do you get on Cave Mountain Lake?
The nearest town is Natural Bridge, VA. Facilities include restrooms and camping. USFS Cave Mountain Lake (7 acres, CCC-built in the late 1930s with a 35-foot dam) has a sand swim beach and fishing piers. From Natural Bridge take VA 130 east 3.2 miles, SR 759 for 3.2 miles, then SR 781 1.6 miles. Day-use fee; campground open early April to late October.