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Lake Chesdin, Virginia, USA

With some of the best freshwater sport fishing and recreation in Virginia, it’s hard to believe that Lake Chesdin is only 30 minutes from metropolitan Richmond. Just ten minutes from Colonial Heights and Petersburg with easy public access, Lake Chesdin is a fantastic place for a vacation or lakefront living in Central Virginia. Lake Chesdin, also known as Chesdin Reservoir, is an impoundment of the Appomattox River….
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    • All About Lake Chesdin, VA

    Lake Locations: USA - US South Region - Virginia - Central Virginia -

    With some of the best freshwater sport fishing and recreation in Virginia, it’s hard to believe that Lake Chesdin is only 30 minutes from metropolitan Richmond. Just ten minutes from Colonial Heights and Petersburg with easy public access, Lake Chesdin is a fantastic place for a vacation or lakefront living in Central Virginia.

    Lake Chesdin, also known as Chesdin Reservoir, is an impoundment of the Appomattox River. The lake was formed by the construction of the George F. Brasfield Dam, also known as the Lake Chesdin Dam. Created in 1968 as a drinking water supply reservoir, the lake sits on the Chesterfield and Dinwiddie County lines in east-central Virginia. It is controlled by the Appomattox River Water Authority.

    Lake Chesdin’s wooded shoreline and quiet coves make it the perfect setting for several lakefront communities, including golf communities on both the Chesterfield and Dinwiddie sides of the reservoir. Its proximity to Richmond, Colonial Heights, and Petersburg means it is possible to work in the city and come home to the beautiful waters of Lake Chesdin. There is real estate for sale, including waterfront lots, as well as a few vacation rentals on the lake — visitors can stay for a week or for a lifetime.

    Chesdin Reservoir is a great crappie lake, and the large mouth bass fishing is also good. Often overlooked, the lake is an exceptional catfish fishery. It is not uncommon for anglers to catch catfish in excess of six pounds, and there are plenty of two to four pound fish – the perfect size for eating. In the past, the VDGIF has stocked Lake Chesdin with walleye and striper, but the bluegill, white perch and redear sunfish are more plentiful. Recently, a fish lift was made operational in Lake Chesdin Dam to allow anadromous fish like shad and herring access to the upper Appomattox River for spawning. The VDGIF hopes that the lift will improve the spring fishing in the upper Appomattox River.

    The Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries (VDGIF) maintains a public boat ramp on Lake Chesdin. The ramp is in Dinwiddie County near the dam, and facilities include a handicap-accessible fishing pier, parking lot and porta-jons. Additionally, both the Dinwiddie and Chesterfield sides of Lake Chesdin have private marinas with boat ramps and stores for bait, tackle and rental boats. With 3,060 acres of water to explore, Chesdin Reservoir has room for everyone, and it is a popular lake for pleasure boating and water-skiing. Quiet boaters can skim the water in its secluded coves, and the boat ramp at the dam is a popular place to put in canoes for people paddling the Appomattox River.

    After enjoying a day on or in the water, there are several lakeside restaurants to savor. Overnight accommodations include lakefront vacation rentals, which offer sweeping lake views and a cozy home base. There are also campgrounds with tent and RV sites. Nearby, Richmond, the capitol city of Virginia, has all the amenities of a large metropolitan area and a rich colonial history to explore. For visitors that prefer more wildlife, the Pocahontas State Park is a short drive from Lake Chesdin and has almost 8,000 acres of forest to explore.

    Exceptional fishing, thousands of acres of water for boating, and an easy commute to Richmond, Colonial Heights and Petersburg make Lake Chesdin the perfect place to live and play.

    Things to Do at Lake Chesdin

    These are some activities in the Lake Chesdin, VA area visitors can enjoy:

    • Vacation Rentals
    • Fishing
    • Boating
    • Canoeing
    • Kayaking
    • Water Skiing
    • Golf
    • Camping
    • Campground
    • Wildlife Viewing
    • State Park

    What Kind of Fish Are in Lake Chesdin?

    Lake Chesdin has been known to have the following fish species:

    • Bass
    • Bluegill
    • Catfish
    • Crappie
    • Largemouth Bass
    • Perch
    • Redear Sunfish (Shellcracker)
    • Shad
    • Sunfish
    • Walleye
    • White Perch
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    Find Places to Stay at Lake Chesdin

    If you’re considering a Lake Chesdin lake house rental or hotel, we’ve made it super easy to find the best rates and compare vacation accommodations at a glance. Save time using this interactive map below.

    Note: These are affiliate links and we may earn a small commission if you click and make a purchase. Read our full disclosure policy here.

    More Sites to Book a Lake Chesdin Vacation

    Our interactive Lake Chesdin lodging map above is an easy tool for comparing VRBO rental homes and nearby hotels with Booking.com, but there could be times when you need to expand your search for different types of accommodations. Here are some other lake lodging partners we recommend:

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    Lake Chesdin Statistics & Helpful Links

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    Lake Type: Artificial Reservoir, Dammed

    Water Level Control: Appomattox River Water Authority

    Surface Area: 3,060 acres

    Completion Year: 1968

    Lake Chesdin Map
    Local Weather Forecast

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