Claytor Lake
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Claytor Lake in Pulaski County, Virginia is a 4,500 acre (18 km²), 21 mile (34 km) long man made lake on the New River created for a hydroelectric project of Appalachian Power Company. Located in Claytor Lake State Park, it is named for W. Graham Claytor (1886-1971) of Roanoke, Virginia, a vice president of Appalachian Power who had supervised construction of the dam and creation of the lake in 1939.
Hiwassee Trestle, on the New River Trail, a former railroad line, crosses Claytor Lake. The bridge was built in 1931 by Virginia Bridge and Iron Co. of Roanoke, a subsidiary of the Norfolk and Western Railway. The trestle is 951 feet long.
Popular activities at Claytor Lake include powerboating, sailing and various watersports.
Fishing has also become a major attraction at Claytor Lake. The most plentiful fish in the lake are referred to by the locals as Bluegills and are a form of perch. Most commonly they are in the 6" to 8" range and weigh less than a pound. Catfish are also popular in Claytor Lake, some of them getting quite large (well over 50Lbs.). The main sporting varieties are Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth BAss and Striped Bass. Large and small mouth bass fishing tournaments are a regular seasonal event at Claytor Lake with weights of 15 to 20Lbs. per fisherman being an average winning catch. All tournament fishing is catch and release and most is done by local clubs. Striped bass fishing occurs year round with various techniques. The average Striper, as they are locally known, is about 8 Lbs. but catches close to 30 Lbs, have been reported.
Several high cliffs of shale rock ring the lake coastline; This material is loose and unstable, and therefore, climbing is not permitted although many people (unlawfully), do climb and jump from these cliffs into the lake below.
