Hardware River fishing

Hardware River fishing: not stocked since May 14, 2020. Fishing is on a river section. Also recorded: Smallmouth bass, Channel catfish, and Largemouth bass. Species guides list dawn and dusk for Smallmouth bass and Largemouth bass and dusk and night for Channel catfish.

AI-generated illustration, not a photo of this lake
Last stocked
May 14, 2020
Plants on record
9
Species recorded
3
Elevation
239 ft

Fish at Hardware River

0 stocked · 3 confirmed present

Fishing can be excellent from the banks of both the Hardware River and the James River. Anglers may find smallmouth bass, channel catfish, largemouth bass, and a variety of sunfish. The James River also offers fast water and is known for its smallmouth bass and redbreast sunfish as it flows past the management area. (dwr.virginia.gov, accessed September 22, 2026)

Drafted by AI from the cited sources and checked before publishing.

How Hardware River is stocked

Source: Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources.

Scottsville Lake (6.6 mi), Rockfish River (13.3 mi), Tye River (23.1 mi), Swift Run (31.6 mi), and Moormans River (33.3 mi) were stocked more recently.

Stocking history

Source: Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources.
Date Species Quantity Avg. length Source
May 14, 2020–––report
March 2, 2020–––report
November 21, 2019–––report
May 2, 2019–––report
March 7, 2019–––report
October 31, 2018–––report
May 11, 2018–––report
October 27, 2017–––report
October 11, 2016–––report

Access and facts

Water type
river section
Nearest town
Scottsville, VA

DWR's Hardware River WMA (1,034 acres) borders the river's mouth on the James. A concrete boat ramp gives small boat and canoe access to the James just upstream of the Hardware, with bank fishing for smallmouth bass, catfish and sunfish. Access is off Route 6 east of Scottsville.

Drafted by AI from the cited sources and checked before publishing.

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Advisories, closures, regulations and water conditions change. Check the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources before you go.

About Hardware River

The low-lying areas along the flood plain of the James are always subject to flooding and on occasion are completely under water. (dwr.virginia.gov, accessed September 22, 2026)

According to the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources, the James River, as it flows past the management area, offers fast water and is best known to anglers for its smallmouth bass and redbreast sunfish. (dwr.virginia.gov, accessed September 22, 2026)

Drafted by AI from the cited sources and checked before publishing.

Nearest lakes

Scottsville Lake 6.6 mi last stocked May 14, 2026 Rockfish River 13.3 mi last stocked March 12, 2026 Tye River 23.1 mi last stocked May 27, 2026 Swift Run 31.6 mi last stocked May 11, 2026 Moormans River 33.3 mi last stocked May 12, 2026

Common questions

What fish are at Hardware River?

Smallmouth bass, Channel catfish, and Largemouth bass are recorded here outside the stocking reports.

When is Hardware River stocked?

Not stocked since May 14, 2020.

How do you get on Hardware River?

The nearest town is Scottsville, VA. DWR's Hardware River WMA (1,034 acres) borders the river's mouth on the James. A concrete boat ramp gives small boat and canoe access to the James just upstream of the Hardware, with bank fishing for smallmouth bass, catfish and sunfish. Access is off Route 6 east of Scottsville.

Which lakes near Hardware River were stocked more recently?

Scottsville Lake (6.6 mi), Rockfish River (13.3 mi), Tye River (23.1 mi), Swift Run (31.6 mi), and Moormans River (33.3 mi) were stocked more recently.

Sources (1) +