Brook Trout Stocked · 21 plants · last March 19, 2026 Best: dawn, day, dusk Hearthstone Lake fishing
Hearthstone Lake fishing is stocked with Rainbow Trout and Brook Trout on a reservoir. It is stocked about 4.5 times a year since 2016, most often in March and April. Species guides list dawn and dusk for Rainbow Trout and dawn, day, and dusk for Brook Trout.
- Last stocked
- April 23, 2026
- · Rainbow Trout
- Plants on record
- 50
- Species recorded
- 2
- Elevation
- 1,780 ft
Fish at Hearthstone Lake
Brook Trout Stocked · 21 plants · last March 19, 2026 Best: dawn, day, dusk 
Rainbow Trout Stocked · 20 plants · last April 23, 2026 Best: dawn, dusk Hearthstone Lake is a 7-acre impoundment in the George Washington and Jefferson National Forests, managed for both warm-water and cold-water angling opportunities. Trout are stocked from October through May, with stocking resuming in October 2020. Existing channel catfish populations remain in the waterbody. Anglers can access the lake via a primitive boat launch or dirt parking area, and good bank access is available on the south side. (dwr.virginia.gov, accessed September 22, 2026)
Drafted by AI from the cited sources and checked before publishing.
How Hearthstone Lake is stocked
No plants recorded in 2017, 2018, and 2019.
Stocking history
| Date | Species | Quantity | Avg. length | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| April 23, 2026 | Rainbow Trout | – | – | report |
| March 19, 2026 | Brook Trout | – | – | report |
| March 6, 2026 | Brook Trout | – | – | report |
| February 25, 2026 | Brook Trout | – | – | report |
| April 8, 2025 | Brook Trout | – | – | report |
| April 8, 2025 | Rainbow Trout | – | – | report |
| March 24, 2025 | Brook Trout | – | – | report |
| December 3, 2024 | Rainbow Trout | – | – | report |
| November 14, 2024 | Rainbow Trout | – | – | report |
| October 29, 2024 | Rainbow Trout | – | – | report |
| May 20, 2024 | Brook Trout | – | – | report |
| May 9, 2024 | Brook Trout | – | – | report |
| April 30, 2024 | Brook Trout | – | – | report |
| April 17, 2024 | Brook Trout | – | – | report |
| April 17, 2024 | Rainbow Trout | – | – | report |
| March 25, 2024 | Brook Trout | – | – | report |
| March 7, 2024 | Brook Trout | – | – | report |
| February 22, 2024 | Rainbow Trout | – | – | report |
| February 12, 2024 | Rainbow Trout | – | – | report |
| May 16, 2023 | Brook Trout | – | – | report |
| May 16, 2023 | Rainbow Trout | – | – | report |
| May 4, 2023 | Brook Trout | – | – | report |
| April 20, 2023 | Brook Trout | – | – | report |
| April 20, 2023 | Rainbow Trout | – | – | report |
| March 20, 2023 | Brook Trout | – | – | report |
| March 20, 2023 | Rainbow Trout | – | – | report |
| February 21, 2023 | Brook Trout | – | – | report |
| January 5, 2023 | Rainbow Trout | – | – | report |
| November 1, 2022 | Rainbow Trout | – | – | report |
| October 26, 2022 | Rainbow Trout | – | – | report |
| May 24, 2022 | Brook Trout | – | – | report |
| May 12, 2022 | Brook Trout | – | – | report |
| May 12, 2022 | Rainbow Trout | – | – | report |
| April 5, 2022 | Brook Trout | – | – | report |
| April 5, 2022 | Rainbow Trout | – | – | report |
| March 26, 2022 | Brook Trout | – | – | report |
| March 26, 2022 | Rainbow Trout | – | – | report |
| February 16, 2022 | Brook Trout | – | – | report |
| December 8, 2021 | Rainbow Trout | – | – | report |
| November 16, 2021 | Rainbow Trout | – | – | report |
| October 27, 2021 | Rainbow Trout | – | – | report |
| May 19, 2021 | – | – | – | report |
| April 28, 2021 | – | – | – | report |
| April 7, 2021 | – | – | – | report |
| March 17, 2021 | – | – | – | report |
| January 4, 2021 | – | – | – | report |
| December 15, 2020 | – | – | – | report |
| November 16, 2020 | – | – | – | report |
| October 21, 2020 | – | – | – | report |
| December 8, 2016 | – | – | – | report |
Access and facts
- Water type
- reservoir
- Nearest town
- Stokesville, VA
Hearthstone Lake, a 7-acre GW&J National Forest impoundment north of Stokesville off Forest Development Road 101, has good bank access on the south shore, a primitive boat launch, and paddle access. No restrooms, camping, dock, or 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 Hearthstone Lake
According to the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources, biologists are developing a plan to restock, but anglers will need to be patient while fish populations recover. Anglers should also expect lower catch rates over time due to the absence of continued channel catfish 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 Hearthstone Lake
Hearthstone 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 Hearthstone Lake?
Fishing Hearthstone Lake usually means Brook Trout: Brook Trout accounts for 21 of 41 plants on record, ahead of Rainbow Trout. Brook Trout was last stocked March 19, 2026. Rainbow Trout was last stocked April 23, 2026.
When is Hearthstone Lake stocked?
Last stocked April 23, 2026. It is stocked about 4.5 times a year since 2016, most often in March and April. No plants recorded in 2017, 2018, and 2019.
How do you get on Hearthstone Lake?
The nearest town is Stokesville, VA. Hearthstone Lake, a 7-acre GW&J National Forest impoundment north of Stokesville off Forest Development Road 101, has good bank access on the south shore, a primitive boat launch, and paddle access. No restrooms, camping, dock, or fee.
Which lakes near Hearthstone Lake were stocked more recently?
North River (4.2 mi) and Elkhorn Lake (5.8 mi) were stocked more recently. North River is also stocked with Rainbow Trout and Brook Trout and Elkhorn Lake is also stocked with Rainbow Trout and Brook Trout.