MARCH 3, 1849

U S. . DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish & Wildlife Service

Rappahannock

River Valley

National Wildlife

Refuge

Fishing at 

Wilna Pond

Fish & Wildlife Service U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service Rappahannock River Valley National Wildlife Refuge

894/333 1470

Federal Relay Service

for the deaf and hard-of-hearing

1 800/877 8339

U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service

1 800/344 WILD

http://www.fws.gov

September 2005

y
Introduction National Wildlife Refuges are the

only federally managed lands where

Wildlife Comes First! While our

mission is to conserve and protect fish

and wildlife and their habitats, we

encourage wildlife-dependent

recreation when it is compatible with

the primary purposes of the refuge.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

has designated six priority public uses

on national wildlife refuges, which

are: wildlife observation,

interpretation, environmental

education, photography, hunting, and

fishing. The refuge is pleased to offer

all six of these uses at the Wilna Unit

of the Rappahannock River Valley

National Wildlife Refuge.

Fishing

Regulations

In order to provide a safe, enjoyable

experience for our visitors, while

promoting a self-sustaining fishery

and protecting other wildlife, the

following regulations are in effect at

Wilna Pond. These regulations will be

strictly enforced, so please be an

informed visitor. Wilna Pond Fishing Regulations are

as follows: ■ Open daily, sunrise to sunset. ■ During the period when the Wilna

Unit is open for deer hunting, we

will be closed to all other uses,

including sport fishing.

■ Pre-scheduled environmental

education field trips have priority

use of the Wilna Pond area,

including the fishing pier. Anglers

can check the field trip schedule by

calling (804) 333-1470.

■ All anglers age 16 and older must

possess a valid Virginia State

Freshwater Fishing License. 

■ We prohibit fishing by any means

other than by use of one or more

attended poles with hook and line

attached. 

■ We prohibit the use of lead sinkers. ■ We require catch-and-release

fishing only for largemouth bass.

Other finfish species may be taken

in accordance with state

regulations.

■ We prohibit the take of any reptile,

amphibian, or invertebrate species

for use as bait or for any other

purpose.

■ We prohibit the use of live minnows

as bait.

■ We prohibit use of boats propelled

by gasoline motors, sail, or

mechanically operated paddle

wheel.

■ We permit bank fishing on the

earthen dam, but we prohibit

fishing from the aluminum catwalk. 

■ Please help us keep the Wilna Pond

area unspoiled by being

responsible - carry out what you

carry in!

■ If you see something that needs

our attention, please contact the

refuge office, 804/333 1470. Largemouth Bass
Boating Laws All Virginia boating laws apply to

Wilna Pond

■ All boats powered by an electric

motor must possess a valid state

registration.

■ Each boat must have a personal

floatation device (PFD) on board of

proper size and fit for each person.

■ A type 4 PFD is required for all

boats regardless of length, except

for canoes, kayaks, inflatable rafts,

and boats registered in another

state.

■ A fire extinguisher is required on

all boats that have permanent fuel

tanks, closed storage

compartments in which

combustible or flammable

materials are stowed, and double

bottoms not sealed to the hull or

that are not completely filled with

flotation material.

■ All boat safety equipment must be

USCG approved, serviceable, and

readily accessible.

Fish species known to be in Wilna

Pond include: 

■ Largemouth bass (Micropterus

salmoides)

■ Bluegill sunfish (Lepomis

macroshirus)

■ Flier (Centrarchus macropterus)

■ Yellow bullhead catfish (Ameiurus

natalis)

■ American eel (Anguilla rostrata)

Largemouth bass and bluegill sunfish

are numerically the most dominant

sport fishes in the pond.

If you need more information, please

contact refuge headquarters at

804/333 1470 during regular business

hours (Monday-Friday, 8:00 a.m. - 4:30

p.m.), or e-mail the refuge at

fw5rw_evrnwr@fws.gov 

For assistance in finding other fishing

opportunities in your area, please

contact the Virginia Department of

Game and Inland Fisheries at

http://www.dgif.state.va.us/ or 

804/367 1000.

Fish Species

Yellow bullhead catfish

Bluegill sunfish
From

Tappahannock: 

Directions to

Wilna Pond

■ From US-17, take US-360 E

(toward Warsaw). Follow US-360 E

for 4.1 miles.

■ Turn left onto Rt 624/Newland Rd.

Follow Rt 624 for 4.2 miles.

■ Turn left onto Strangeway/Rt 636.

Follow Strangeway for 0.2 miles

■ Turn right onto Sandy Lane/Rt

640. Follow Sandy Lane for 1.1

miles.

■ Turn left into Rappahannock River

Valley NWR.

■ Follow the signs to Wilna Pond. 

From Warsaw: ■ Take US-360 W (toward

Tappahannock).

■ Turn right onto Rt 624/Newland

Rd. Follow Rt 624 for 4.2 miles.

■ Turn left onto Strangeway/Rt 636.

Follow Strangeway for 0.2 miles.

■ Turn right onto Sandy Lane/Rt

640. Follow Sandy Lane for 1.1

miles.

■ Turn left into Rappahannock River

Valley NWR.

■ Follow the signs to Wilna Pond. 

From Montross: ■ Take VA-3 E to US-360 (Warsaw).

■ Turn right onto US-360 W (toward

Tappahannock). Follow US-360 W

for 3.2 miles.

■ Turn right onto Rt 624/Newland

Rd. Follow Rt 624 for 4.2 miles.

■ Turn left onto Strangeway/Rt 636.

Follow Strangeway for 0.2 miles.

■ Turn right onto Sandy Lane/Rt

640. Follow Sandy Lane for 1.1

miles.

■ Turn left into Rappahannock River

Valley NWR.

■ Follow the signs to Wilna Pond. 

From

Fredericksburg: 

■ Take VA-3 E toward Warsaw. 

■ Turn right onto Rt 624/Flat Iron.

(Flat Iron becomes Newland Road

when you enter Richmond County).

■ Follow Rt 624 for 10.9 miles.

■ Turn right onto Sandy Lane.

Follow Sandy Lane for 1.2 miles.

■ Turn right into Rappahannock

River Valley NWR.

■ Follow the signs to Wilna Pond. 

From Richmond: ■ Take US-360 E towards

Mechanicsville. Follow US-360 E to

Tappahannock.

■ Turn left onto US-360 E/US-17 N.

Follow US-360 E/US-17 N for 2.5

miles.

■ Turn right (6th traffic light) onto

US-360 E. Follow US-360 E for 4.1

miles.

■ Turn left onto Rt 624/Newland Rd.

Follow Rt 624 for 4.2 miles.

■ Turn left onto Strangeway/Rt 636.

Follow Strangeway for 0.2 miles

■ Turn right onto Sandy Lane/Rt

640. Follow Sandy Lane for 1.1

miles.

■ Turn left into Rappahannock River

Valley NWR.

■ Follow the signs to Wilna Pond. 

American eel