TheTripletDaddy

Yes. For west side bank access, you can take Reservoir Rd off of Evergreen Mills. I went exploring a couple of weeks ago and it's a part-paved/part-gravel road that dead ends at the reservoir. There are a ton of no parking signs, but there were several parked cars there where I turned around. There's also a locked gate to an open area where some kayak rental company seems to have gained permission to access and pull their cars/boats beyond the gate. As far as dam access, I see people walking on the east side of the dam all of the time when I'm fishing the north end. I'm assuming they're accessing it by parking at Edgar Tillet Memorial Park and walking north.

I haven't seen any ramps being built, but I've been fishing in my Bass Raider 10e and have seen others in some jon boats--all with electric motor--not to mention all of the kayakers. Also, I checked in with Dustin, who's the main NVRPA contact for Beaverdam, about the electronic fish survey they did in April and any restocking plans. This is what he sent back... "With regard to the fish study, it was performed on April 21st and the results were favorable considering the extended drawdown. VA DGIF performed an hour of electrofishing which resulted in a rate of 31 bass per hour with 17 of those being Preferred Fish (PF) which is equivalent to 15" or greater in Largemouth Bass. With the firm re-open date being uncertain in their planning period last fall, VA DGIF was unable to secure any stocking resources for this year however in consideration of the pending re-opening they will be diverting any excess stocking resources they have to Beaverdam this year and will include it in the planning later this year for the 2021 District Stocking Plan." I'm not sure how "31 bass per hour w/ 17 of those being 15 inches or greater" compares to other fisheries, but it sounds good and, more importantly, like I need to step up my game considering I've only caught one that was 15"+ in the last six weeks.

Assuming you folks have been following, but Beaverdam Reservoir is completely open again (for the last 4-5 weeks). Though, it's been tough going for the 8-10 times I've been out there. Had one 3lb'ish largemouth, less than a handful of 1-2lb'ers, one catfish, and several crappie. Besides a decent sized crappie I snagged while trolling the west wall heading north towards the dam, everything else I've caught has been on the south side of the reservoir. 80% by cranking and only one in the grass beds. Could be me, but I think the closure/drainage over the last few years really put a hurting on the fish population. Also, I was told by someone on the lake who talked to the folks who did the electronic survey that there are at least three generations of fish missing. It won't keep me off of the water, but it's going to be rough for a while.