Last stocked
April 16, 2026
Plants on record
89
Species recorded
4
Elevation
1,838 ft
Access and facts
- Water type
- reservoir
- Nearest town
- Stuarts Draft, VA
- Shore access
- Yes
- Boat ramp
- Yes
- ADA accessible
- Yes
- Facilities
- restrooms, camping
GWNF's Sherando Lake Recreation Area's 25-acre Lower Lake has a sand swim beach with an ADA-accessible ramp to the water and a bathhouse, a hand-carry launch (electric motor, canoe or kayak only), and stocked trout fishing outside the swim area. Stuarts Draft is about 15 minutes away.
Sources: water_type , access.shore , access.boat_ramp , access.ada , shore_notes , nearest_town , facilities , fishing_notes , watch_outs
How Sherando Lake is stocked
The first plant of the year usually falls in the third week of February. In 2026 it was January 14, 2026, earlier than usual.
Davis Mill Creek (18.7 mi), Irish Creek (18.7 mi), and Tye River (22.3 mi) were stocked more recently. Davis Mill Creek is also stocked with Brook Trout, Irish Creek is also stocked with Rainbow Trout, Brook Trout, and Tiger Trout, and Tye River is also stocked with Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout, Brook Trout, and Tiger Trout.
Fish at Sherando Lake
Fishing Sherando Lake is most likely to be for Rainbow Trout. Rainbow Trout accounts for 35 of 53 plants on record, ahead of Brown Trout and 2 more.
Rainbow Trout 35 plants
- Plants
- 35 of 89
- Last stocked
- April 16, 2026
Brown Trout 11 plants
- Plants
- 11 of 89
- Last stocked
- April 16, 2026
Brook Trout 6 plants
- Plants
- 6 of 89
- Last stocked
- February 18, 2026
Tiger Trout 1 plant
- Plants
- 1 of 89
- Last stocked
- May 21, 2024
Fishing Sherando Lake
The 25 acre Lower Lake offers opportunities for fishing and boating outside the designated swimming area. Fishing is in stocked trout waters during the spring and fall seasons in this lake. Fishing only is available at the 7 acre Upper Lake, which is also stocked during the spring and fall seasons.
Sources: recreation.gov
What to watch for
Food must be stored in a locker or locked vehicle due to bear activity. Gasoline motors are not permitted on either lake; only electric trolling motors, canoes, kayaks, or similar boats are allowed. No boat ramp is available for either the Upper or Lower Lake. Cell phone coverage is unreliable on-site.
Stocking history
Showing 15 of 89 plants Showing 89 plants
| Date | Species | Quantity | Avg. length | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| April 16, 2026 | Brown Trout | – | – | report |
| April 16, 2026 | Rainbow Trout | – | – | report |
| March 3, 2026 | Rainbow Trout | – | – | report |
| February 18, 2026 | Brook Trout | – | – | report |
| January 14, 2026 | Rainbow Trout | – | – | report |
| December 15, 2025 | Rainbow Trout | – | – | report |
| November 10, 2025 | Rainbow Trout | – | – | report |
| October 15, 2025 | Rainbow Trout | – | – | report |
| May 21, 2025 | Rainbow Trout | – | – | report |
| April 22, 2025 | Rainbow Trout | – | – | report |
| March 17, 2025 | Brown Trout | – | – | report |
| March 17, 2025 | Rainbow Trout | – | – | report |
| March 7, 2025 | Rainbow Trout | – | – | report |
| February 26, 2025 | Rainbow Trout | – | – | report |
| December 17, 2024 | Rainbow Trout | – | – | report |
| November 4, 2024 | Rainbow Trout | – | – | report |
| October 22, 2024 | Rainbow Trout | – | – | report |
| May 21, 2024 | Tiger Trout | – | – | report |
| May 21, 2024 | Brook Trout | – | – | report |
| April 16, 2024 | Brook Trout | – | – | report |
| April 16, 2024 | Rainbow Trout | – | – | report |
| March 22, 2024 | Brook Trout | – | – | report |
| March 22, 2024 | Rainbow Trout | – | – | report |
| March 6, 2024 | Brown Trout | – | – | report |
| March 6, 2024 | Rainbow Trout | – | – | report |
| February 26, 2024 | Rainbow Trout | – | – | report |
| December 19, 2023 | Rainbow Trout | – | – | report |
| November 29, 2023 | Brown Trout | – | – | report |
| October 24, 2023 | Rainbow Trout | – | – | report |
| May 11, 2023 | Brown Trout | – | – | report |
| May 11, 2023 | Rainbow Trout | – | – | report |
| April 14, 2023 | Brook Trout | – | – | report |
| April 14, 2023 | Brown Trout | – | – | report |
| March 23, 2023 | Rainbow Trout | – | – | report |
| March 6, 2023 | Rainbow Trout | – | – | report |
| February 24, 2023 | Brown Trout | – | – | report |
| February 24, 2023 | Rainbow Trout | – | – | report |
| December 8, 2022 | Rainbow Trout | – | – | report |
| November 2, 2022 | Rainbow Trout | – | – | report |
| October 20, 2022 | Brown Trout | – | – | report |
| October 20, 2022 | Rainbow Trout | – | – | report |
| May 17, 2022 | Brown Trout | – | – | report |
| May 17, 2022 | Rainbow Trout | – | – | report |
| May 2, 2022 | Brown Trout | – | – | report |
| May 2, 2022 | Rainbow Trout | – | – | report |
| April 18, 2022 | Brook Trout | – | – | report |
| April 18, 2022 | Rainbow Trout | – | – | report |
| March 21, 2022 | Rainbow Trout | – | – | report |
| March 4, 2022 | Rainbow Trout | – | – | report |
| February 1, 2022 | Brown Trout | – | – | report |
| February 1, 2022 | Rainbow Trout | – | – | report |
| December 1, 2021 | Rainbow Trout | – | – | report |
| October 20, 2021 | Rainbow Trout | – | – | report |
| May 25, 2021 | – | – | – | report |
| May 5, 2021 | – | – | – | report |
| April 20, 2021 | – | – | – | report |
| March 19, 2021 | – | – | – | report |
| March 12, 2021 | – | – | – | report |
| February 9, 2021 | – | – | – | report |
| December 30, 2020 | – | – | – | report |
| November 9, 2020 | – | – | – | report |
| March 5, 2020 | – | – | – | report |
| February 3, 2020 | – | – | – | report |
| November 22, 2019 | – | – | – | report |
| October 22, 2019 | – | – | – | report |
| May 28, 2019 | – | – | – | report |
| May 23, 2019 | – | – | – | report |
| April 8, 2019 | – | – | – | report |
| March 19, 2019 | – | – | – | report |
| March 4, 2019 | – | – | – | report |
| December 5, 2018 | – | – | – | report |
| November 14, 2018 | – | – | – | report |
| October 26, 2018 | – | – | – | report |
| May 23, 2018 | – | – | – | report |
| May 1, 2018 | – | – | – | report |
| April 2, 2018 | – | – | – | report |
| March 6, 2018 | – | – | – | report |
| January 16, 2018 | – | – | – | report |
| December 12, 2017 | – | – | – | report |
| November 29, 2017 | – | – | – | report |
| October 24, 2017 | – | – | – | report |
| May 23, 2017 | – | – | – | report |
| May 5, 2017 | – | – | – | report |
| April 10, 2017 | – | – | – | report |
| March 8, 2017 | – | – | – | report |
| January 17, 2017 | – | – | – | report |
| December 7, 2016 | – | – | – | report |
| November 8, 2016 | – | – | – | report |
| October 20, 2016 | – | – | – | report |
Show 74 more plants Show less
Species stocked here
Depth-by-season, top lures, and bait notes for each species stocked here are on its own species guide, linked above.