Follow these rules and you’ll be on them all day long. Spin fisherman will also find luck pursuing some of the river’s larger specimens with trout magnets, live bait, or spinners like the Joe’s Fly during this time of year. Philpott Lake | Bassett Virginia’s best smallmouth bass and trout reservoir waters are those of Philpott Lake, a 2,880-acre shimmering lure with 100 miles of shoreline. Near Ridgeview park in Waynesboro the river is “Designated stocked trout water”. Located in the heart of the Shenandoah Valley near Harrisonburg, mossy was opened to the public for fishing in 1978. More so than any other spot on this list should you be keeping a low profile. Where: Richwood, WV. Ok, this one is kind of a cop out, but not really. If you can’t figure out exactly what nymph or dry the fish are looking for and present it just right, then you’re going to have a long day. They may be the easiest to access but that’s what makes the fishing so good. My first introduction to ‘pay to play’ trout fishing was in the UK in the late 90s. So, unless you live in the western part of the state this is going to be a bit of drive, but it’s totally worth it. If you are wondering where to get started, consider these eight destinations listed below in alphabetical order. It’s located around 3 hours west of the city of Richmond. Expect to catch brook trout in 7-9” range with a few that get up to 10” or larger. Cast your line into pristine streams, lakes , and rivers like the Shenandoah River . Stocked with rainbow, browns, native brook trout, and gold rainbow trout, the North Fork of the Cherry River is a popular spot for fishing. This means that from June until fall this is the fly with which I start. Located in the heart of the Shenandoah Valley near Harrisonburg, mossy was opened to the public for... 2. You may keep three fish from this area. Anglers will enjoy casting spinners and trout magnets in the higher flows that springtime offers. Its best to approach cautiously and keep your shadow off the water as much as possible. As the season wears down, the river becomes more congested in the late summer and early fall. But fortunately, you don’t have to worry about any type of livestock getting caught in your back cast. Below the dam at Lake Moomaw lies one of the best trout streams in … Here you can catch brook, brown, and rainbow trout all while enjoying the scenic mountain scape. The stocked “put and take” sections of the creek offer opportunities for anglers interested in catching trout for dinner. Because of this the river holds a good population of trout food ranging from insects to sculpin and bait fish. If you’re looking for a guide, they also provide that service as well. Big brown trout like to hang out there and wait for a meal to float by. Trout varieties include rainbow, brown, and brook trout. You could spend a day deep sea fishing in Virginia Beach for tuna, or fishing a river in the valley for largemouth, smallmouth, and even musky. Virginia Fishing Regulations. The special regulation section provides opportunity for anglers to catch trout year-round. There’s good reason Hoover liked to fish here. Virginia has more than 2,800 miles of trout streams, in addition to numerous ponds, small lakes and reservoirs. Further down where the water isn’t moving as fast you can work dries when hatches are occurring. Once it reaches the city the large springs begin to cool the water and increase the flow as well as fish activity. If you’re looking for a monster try throwing a streamer or sculpin near the under cuts in the bank of the river. Rapidan” was named specifically after this river and works well on it. Brook trout are the only native salmonid to Virginia. These native fish have been in clean, cold, high elevation streams since the last ice age when glaciers receded. Best Fishing Spots Near Charlottesville, Virginia Best Fishing Spots Near Charlottesville, Virginia. What to catch: Brown Trout (Considered one of the most famous fly fishing spots in Virginia. Most of these fish will not be giants. DWR Fisheries Biologist, Steve Owens, hooked up at the Clinch Mountain Fee Fishing area. And it takes just the right amount of skill to make it challenging. The diversity of these streams provides opportunities for every trout angler whether you prefer fishing for wild trout or stocked trout, spin fishing or fly fishing, or fishing with bait versus artificial flies and lures. 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The lower section of the Rapidan River at Graves Mill in Shenandoah National Park. When I go fishing I really enjoy having the peace, quiet and some space to myself. Similarly to Mossy and Buffalo you will need a free permit that you can obtain when purchasing your fishing license. Rounding out our short list of top three trout waters is the Rapidan, the best-known trout stream in the Shenandoah National Park (SNP) and perhaps, some would argue, in the entire Old Dominion, for two reasons: First, fly-anglers know that the Rapidan is … This website is reader supported. Trout Fishing Virginia: Top 7 Spots for Trout Fisherman 1. Finally, the Douthat State Park fee fishing area provides opportunities to target stocked trout on the 60-acre lake and in Wilson Creek. Below is a very affordable 2wt/3wt rod suitable for these types of situations. 8 Trout Stream Destinations to Try in 2021, If you choose to fish during the pandemic it is essential that you follow, Fish alone or with family members or others that you live with and are isolating with during the Governor’s. These fee fishing areas are great places to take family members and beginners when teaching them how to trout fish. It it stocked between April 1- June 15 and you must be 15 years or younger to fish it. The Clinch Mountain fee fishing area is an excellent opportunity for anglers in the southwestern portion of the state as you can try your luck on Big Tumbling Creek, Briar Cove Creek, and Laurel Bed Creek. The entire river is single hook, artificial only. DWR stocks Mossy Creek annually with advanced fingerling brown trout as natural reproduction is limited. This creek offers 7 miles of stocked water in addition to 5 miles of special regulation water in Mount Rogers National Recreational Area. Most are aware of the brook trout fishing but few know about our spring fed rivers, and tailwaters that harbor perfect conditions to sustain brown trout as well as rainbow trout. There are also two stocked “put and take” sections of the Smith, providing diversity to the fishery with rainbow and brook trout. During the summer months the brook trout key in on terrestrial insects like ants, beetles, inchworms, and crickets. The Smith River tailwater is a popular trout fishery that’s a little over an hour drive south of Roanoke. Whether you live in West Virginia, reside nearby, or even if you’re a day’s drive from this remote corner of Appalachia, fly fishing here should be a high priority on every angler’s bucket list. The Cranberry River for Fly Fishing The Cranberry is a must for anyone looking for trout in West Virginia. High spring flows can be the best time of year to hunt for larger brown trout with streamers and sinking line. He came from the world of distilling and when he wasn’t producing whiskey, vodka, or rum he was pursuing his first passion, fishing. The river was stocked with rainbow and brown trout prior to 1993. 100% — 4 … In order to fish this river, you must carry with you a permit that you can pick up along with your license. This 1.5-mile long stretch of stream is 1 of 6 state spots designated for fly-fishing only. Second Creekis about 25 feet wide and an easy wade, packed with mayfly nymphs and scuds on the surface and a respectable population of brown trout, with an … This river has five different sections that are managed with different regulations, providing a variety of opportunities for anglers. Again, thanks to the spring feeders the water will not freeze in water but the fish will slow down significantly. Anglers can fish for both stocked and wild stream-bred trout on this stream. These commissions help keep the cost of operating neutral for me. Reference the map on the DWR website for additional information on access points. “Designated Stocked Trout Waters” are stocked from October through May with catchable-sized trout. It is the … Here you can hook into some of the biggest native Rainbow and Brown Trout, including Rainbows up to 14” long and trophy sized Browns. The wild rainbows alone in the South Fork are worth the trip. 701 ramp and the cover adjacent to the old Rt. Any purchases you make through links on this site earn us a commission at no additional cost to you. High and off-color water conditions align to make for some of the best streamer fishing in the state. This is also “Designated Stocked Trout Water”. Both fly and spin anglers will enjoy the wild trout opportunities on the Jackson. The area that is stocked gives you easy access via parking. The Corner at Spencers' Highland. Virginia Trout Stocking Schedule: The Best Fishing in 2021 Trout fishing across the upper southeast (like West Virginia) and the mid-Atlantic is a popular pastime. It doesn’t matter if your a beginner trout fisherman or a novice, these waters contain the best trout fishing VA has to offer. This area is stocked annually with fingerling rainbow and brown trout, thanks to the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources as well as the local “South River Fly Shop”. Hatches of sulphurs, caddis, BWOs, and tricos keep the trout busy throughout the year. In Virginia’s Blue Ridge, we’re thankful our fishing opportunities serve both ends of the spectrum. The South is a wonderful river to spin fish in the springtime. Stay at least 6 feet away from other anglers you encounter and try to avoid crowded access points. Anglers who fish Briery will find that early spring fishing is best on the upper end in the shallows near the Rt. For anyone who doesn’t know, blue lining is the term given to fishing streams that does not show up with a name on a map, but instead is just a blue line. Both fly anglers and spin anglers will enjoy the fee fishing areas. The main spot to fish from is directly below the dam, however there are 5 other public fishing areas open to the public that provide access to the river. The fish in this area are wary of flies, so your presentation will be key. Since there is no wading allowed anglers are forced to fish from steep banks. Williams River. Wash your hands regularly with soap and water for 20 seconds or using alcohol-based sanitizer even while afield or afloat. The... 3. South Fork Holston River The South Fork Holston River rises in Smyth County, Virginia near Sugar Grove and is home to the Virginia state brown trout record. Streamer fishing can be productive in higher stained flows and anglers should look to fish hatches of sulphurs in the spring and BWOs in the fall and winter months. The months of April and May provide fine dry fly fishing in high spring flows during most years. If you want to catch trout consistently and in large numbers, you need to buy the right type of trout bait. Virginia Beach Fishing Pier . It winds up working out well because it leaves the native trout to people who are only interested in catch and release. Any type of beetle, spider, or ant will be your best bet, and thanks to the springs feeding the river the water stays nice and cool even during the hottest days. Do you have a favorite Virginia trout stream that didn’t make this list? These areas are untouched by humans and other fisherman. Cranberry River. The local fly shop is Mossy Creek Outfitter. This gives Virginia more native brook trout stream miles than all other southeastern states combined. One of the best times to fish this stream is after a heavy storm event. It’s located In the Northern section of the Shenandoah National Park and thanks to a local flood after 1995 had little to no trout. The special regulation sections are located near the Buller Fish Cultural Station and one section is catch and release only. Cost: $10 for adults, $5 for kids, and $2 for spectators . If you really want to you could consistently catch these fish on dry flies year-round. % of the Hipcamps for your dates are already booked. The river is located in Smyth and Washington counties, and there are two different special regulation sections and two designated stocked trout fishing areas that lie in the Smyth County portion. Any loud smack of a fly hitting the water or standing up too quickly could send them flying to cover. The middle and lower part of the river can be reached by hiking in from skyline drive. The permit itself costs nothing, but caught without one and you will be penalized. Terrestrial fishing in the summer months is especially exciting with ants, beetles, crickets, and hoppers. After a big rainfall you can break out your larger streamers to see if you can land some of those big brown and rainbows that hide in the river. However, if you can downsize the length as well as the weight then do so. A variety of caddis and mayfly hatches keep the trout happy throughout the spring, summer, and fall and can provide for technical fly fishing situations. Be a #Trailsetter and check out some of the best experiences for fishing in Virginia’s Blue Ridge! The months of September and October can be the best time of year to search for big browns on Whitetop Laurel as they get aggressive before the spawn. Brook trout are the only native salmonid to Virginia. Unlike Mossy, wading is allowed. Trout are often in the 20" range.) We are members of the amazon associates program. 4 Briery Creek Lake, Farmville Briery Creek Lake / Facebook Camp Hoover, located near the headwaters, is named after President Hoover who would often use the area as a retreat and even had a cabin in the area. 705 roadbed. Which means the fish stocked in this section are of mature size and ready to be caught. Photo by Meghan Marchetti / DWR, By Alex McCrickard, DWR Aquatic Education Coordinator. Try throwing a streamer or a wooly bugger after a rain storm to try and entice some of those big browns to leave their hole and hit your fly. The south offers both warmwater and cold-water fishing. Finally, the Douthat State Park fee fishing area provides opportunities to target stocked trout on the 60-acre lake and in Wilson Creek. When fishing below the dam you’ll have the most luck using nymphs with long light leaders. Stay at home when you are sick, except to get medical care. When the dam is not releasing copious amounts of water (always check the USGS before heading out) it is wadable and several areas allow for back casting. Trout fishing in Whitetop Laurel picks up momentum in late February or March. Come on in! Cattle litter the banks, so make sure to watch your step around the cow pies, because wading or accessing the water in any way is not allowed. If you enjoyed this article please feel free to share it on your favorite social media platform. The summer time will generally bring lower flows of water where the trout get spookier than normal. The lake was pretty empty so we had the whole place to ourselves. During the fee fishing season, which opens the first Saturday in April, the daily permit is $8. Upstream of the city in the Lyndhurst area, Trout Unlimited has partnered with landowners to give the public a 3-mile section of the river to fish. There are 600 documented native brook trout streams in Virginia, totaling more than 2,000 miles of native brook trout water. Primarily the fish will hover around the 10-12” range, but people have been to know to pull our 18” or larger wild rainbow or brown trout. Drift boat is also allowed and is the preferred way to fish it but keep in mind, you may not paddle to shore to reel in a fish on private property. Opening Hours: Sunrise to Sunset . However, this is a very technical stream. Bears, fishing, and rainbow trout! This creek in the Mount Rogers National Recreation Area makes its way onto many local Trout fishing lists, and with good reason. Take a fishing trip to Harrisonburg where you’ll be close to some of the best Virginia trout fishing. Easy Winter Bass Fishing Strategies Sure to Catch More Fish! Fall is a great time to throw streamers to try and entice those big brown trout to come out. Here you can throw streamers for big browns, nymph for bows, and toss dries to brookies on crystal clear mountain streams. There is not much to get a back cast hooked on but be wary of the few bushes or tree present. The stream is sustained by its stocking program but occasionally the spawn is successful. The Elk River, located in central West Virginia, is a 172-mile tributary of The Kanawha River, giving anglers plenty of area to ply their craft. The diversity of these streams provides opportunities for every trout angler whether you prefer fishing for wild trout or stocked trout, spin fishing or fly fishing, or fishing with bait versus artificial flies and lures. Fee Fishing Areas (Clinch Mountain, Crooked Creek, Douthat State Park). Catching a wild trout on 2wt rod is a wild ride and something all fly fisherman should get to experience. You’ll typically be catching fish in the 6-9” range. The author with a nice brown trout from the upper section of the public stretch on Mossy Creek. Fly anglers fishing Mossy Creek must carry the free landowner permit, which can be acquired online at www.gooutdoorsvirginia.com. Here anglers can try their luck fishing for stocked trout. Once you’ve located an area look for spots to park and hike into. Located in Franklin and Henry counties, this tailwater provides 31 miles of special regulation brown trout water from Philpott Dam downstream to the Route 636 bridge. It is always best to avoid respect other people’s private property but the Jackson deserves a little extra attention. There are no fishing gear regulations on this river so fly fisherman and spin casters will be competing for space. Seven miles is stocked trout water, while five miles is special regulation. The most abundant hatches in Virginia occur during the months of April and May, and the probability of catching several brook trout over 10 inches is high. The Murray's Flying Beetle size 14 is my favorite fly once the major hatches are sparse. However, with 3,500 miles of trout streams across the state it can be hard to know where to start. The special regulation area is single hook artificial only, and is loaded with wild trout. Whitetop Laurel in Washington County, Virginia. Another successful day of fishing at Virginia lake. Try to fish near home as much as possible and avoid traveling long distances. Thanks to the dam releasing water year-round the area below it will stay in the high 50’s to low 60’s year-round. But what most people don’t think about is trout fishing in Virginia. Purchasing items from this site pays us a small commission at no extra cost to you. The lake is stocked with both warm water fish, like bass, sunfish, crappie, and catfish, and cold water fish, such as trout. Mossy Creek. Virginia is loaded with small streams that fall off mountains into larger rivers which feed into even larger rivers. Whitetop Laurel is a large trout stream located in Washington County near the town of Damascus. The river is not too difficult to navigate and there are areas where roll casting must be done, but certain sections are large enough that back casting can be possible. The stream has good numbers of mayflies, caddisflies, and stoneflies, providing for exciting hatches and fly fishing opportunities. Fly fishing is the most popular but you can also use ultra-light spinning gear. Trout Unlimited, private land owners and the Department of Game and Fisheries came together to create a world-class fishery. The landowners are very protective over their property, and they have brought several successful civil trespass claims against anglers. By purchasing items listed on this site I make a small commission. The brown trout in the Smith are wild stream-bred fish and some can reach quite impressive sizes, although the average fish is 8 to 12 inches long. As with all lists I’m sure there will be some people who argue some of the spots listed. Nymphing with scuds and small bead head pheasant tails can work well year-round if you are skilled enough to work your flies through the channels between the aquatic vegetation. Besides keeping an eye out for private property signs the river itself is not too difficult to fish. Finally, the last area reaches from Grand Caverns park to Grottoes Town Park. Anglers looking to spin fish will find success with single hook spinners and other lures that imitate forage fish. This river is similar to Mossy in that, the private land owners have worked with the department of game to allow the public to fish here. You’re only allowed to use artificial lures and flies , and catch-and-release is strongly encouraged (like most places on this list). So, the potential to catch wild trout is possible, but slim. Fly anglers can have a blast fishing caddis and mayfly patterns in addition to general attractors. The Catchable Trout Stocking Program is the best known and most popular. The best fishing on the Green River is in the early spring when the crowds are sparse. This is one of if not the most popular section of the river due to its convenience of the city. There is also a Youth Only Stocked Trout Water section located in Basic Park that is great for introducing kids to trout fishing. This is a catch and release area so no fish may be retained and must be immediately released to the water. These native fish have been in clean, cold, high elevation streams since the last ice age when glaciers receded. You are allowed two fish per day but they must be 16” or larger. The Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources stocks trout in designated waters from fall through spring, but experienced trout anglers can find good fishing opportunities year round. The Department’s three Fee Fishing Areas provide excellent “put and take” trout fishing opportunities. It also flows directly through the Mount Rogers National Recreation Area which is host to the largest peak in Virginia at 5,728’. The stocked put and take areas usually only hold fish during the stocking season (October 1-June 15). Keep a low profile and be as stealthy as possible. Which means there is no way to rinse off. Fly anglers will enjoy nymphing the many riffles and pools on the South. The centrally located Cranberry River is surrounded by forest service land and is a remote... 2. It is an offshoot of the Gauley River and begins on the far southeastern side of the Monongahela National Forest. On large trout streams you can catch many trout with it by casting it across stream right below the riffles and twitching it along the stream bottom as the current pushes it downstream. Terrestrials are the fly to use come summer time. Do not float in a raft, drift boat, john boat, or canoe with friends that you are not isolated with during the “stay at home” order. 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