Fishing Report

Summary: VDWR Walleye Report - Shenandoah River Walleye can be found in the Shenandoah River from Warren Dam in Front Royal downstream beyond the Virginia / West Virginia State line. Although they are not as numerous in the Shenandoah as they are in other rivers, their population is stable and the fish are showing good growth rates reaching lengths exceeding 25 inches. In the spring of 2014 VDWR began an annual stocking program of Walleye fry in the Shenandoah River to supplement the natural population and increase the number of Walleye present for anglers to target. In 2025 the river received its 11th stocking of 15,381 fingerling walleye. Half of the allocation are stocked just upstream of Morgan’s Ford Landing. The remainder are spread out evenly between the boat ramps at Farms Riverview, Route 50, Lockes, and Rt 7. Anglers should expect to see steady catch rates and better numbers of big Walleye in 2026 due to the surplus fingerlings stocked in 2023. During our January sample we captured 25 Walleye at a rate of 9.2 fish per hour, which is right on the long-term average (Figure 1). During the February spawning run biologists and technicians handled 72 fish (catch rate = 38 fish per hour). The Walleye averaged 22 inches in length, with the largest female topping 27” (Figure 2). Most fish sampled were of legal harvest size or greater. Good numbers of young Walleye were captured during general population sampling during the fall. Higher numbers of young fish bodes well for the population going forward. Anglers should target the spring spawning run and focus on the 11-mile section from the landing at Morgan’s Ford to Route 50. The remainder of the year Walleye can be found throughout the Main Stem within the deeper pools. We continue to run into anglers who are turning on to this fishery, so plan a trip to the Shenandoah soon.

The Check Station

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