Situated on the outskirts of the City of Charlottesville lies one of the best small fishing lakes in Virginia, the 450-acre Rivanna Reservoir. It’s owned and operated by the City of Charlottesville as one of several water supply lakes for the City and Albemarle County. Rivanna Reservoir has a history of providing excellent fishing for anglers. Although situated in an urban setting, the reservoir offers miles of undisturbed, forested shoreline and a number of secluded coves. The lake contains largemouth bass, bluegill, both black and white crappie, redear sunfish, and channel catfish.

One drawback to this lake is the limited angler access. The boat ramp is not well designed and the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources is working to improve this situation. There is limited parking. The upside to this situation is that it limits use of the lake. If you want relative solitude, a peaceful experience, and a scenic backdrop to your fishing experience, this is a great place to go. Gas motors are prohibited, but electric motors may be used.