Philpott Lake
Philpott Lake is a man-made reservoir in Virginia created by Philpott Dam. It stretches into Franklin, Henry, and Patrick counties and sits at about 974 feet (297 meters) above sea level. The lake covers roughly 2,900 acres (about 1,200 hectares) and has around 100 miles (160 kilometers) of shoreline.
The surrounding land, managed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, covers about 6,424 acres. The dam and lake were built to control flooding on the Smith River, generate hydroelectric power, and provide recreational opportunities.
Construction on Philpott Dam began in 1948 and was completed in 1952. The area is known for fishing records: Virginia’s state record for lake trout was set here in 1966, and the coho salmon record in 1971. The last reported stocking of Pacific salmon was around late 1972 or early 1973, possibly Chinook or coho.
This page was last edited on 2 February 2026, at 07:23 (CET).