Last stocked
May 14, 2020
Plants on record
9
Species recorded
0
Elevation
239 ft
Access and facts
- Water type
- river section
- Nearest town
- Scottsville, VA
- Shore access
- Yes
- Boat ramp
- Yes
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.
Sources: water_type , access.shore , access.boat_ramp , shore_notes , nearest_town , fishing_notes , watch_outs , angler_notes
How Hardware River is stocked
The first plant of the year usually falls in the fourth week of July. In 2020 it was March 2, 2020, earlier than usual.
Scottsville Lake (6.6 mi), Rockfish River (13.3 mi), Tye River (23.1 mi), Moormans River (28.7 mi), and Swift Run (31.6 mi) were stocked more recently.
Fishing Hardware River
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.
Sources: dwr.virginia.gov
What to watch for
The low-lying areas along the flood plain of the James are always subject to flooding and on occasion are completely under water.
What anglers say
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.
Stocking history
| 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 |
Species stocked here
No species recorded here yet.