I’m going to miss Frank Smethurst. I thought Frank was a great host for the show, seemed like a real nice guy with just enough irreverence but always polite and gracious with everyone he interviewed and fished with. Jed also seems like he’ll be a great host, and judging by watching his previous show, this guy is an awesome fly caster.
Another big week for the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries, stocking those trout all over the state. And looks like another cold weekend here in Virginia. Temps on Sunday are only expected to hit the upper 30’s, and only the low 40’s today through Saturday. It’s a good bet that that is going to turn off dry fly fishing for brook trout in the mountains.
So, go catch some dumb stocked trout! In my area, Lake Thompson (aka Thompson WMA Pond) has once again filled itself back up after mysteriously draining last year, so the state is once again stocking it. I have never fished there but have pestered some of the guys who are persistently on the banks hauling out trout for supper. They had some nice rainbows on stringers last time I was there. I just got a 300 grain Scientific Anglers Wet Tip Express for my Scott A3 switch rod, so I may head down there to see how fast that line gets down to those fish. But next week, I swear it’s going to warm up and I’m going to head up to Shenandoah National Park with my new used Winston WT 7 foot 3 weight. This thing is a joy to cast.
I realize I have posted a lot of trout stocking info for Virginia in recent months, and that’s not exactly brook trout fishing material. Bear with me, though. A lot of people find this useful. For many of us, fishing for brook trout in late fall through mid-winter (during and after they spawn) is considered at least unfair, and really, damaging to the populations of fish. So hopefully the trout stocking info has helped people find other places to go during the winter months. I also try to add a little extra info on particular places I’ve fished before in the hope that it is helpful.
Anyway, in the next few weeks the amount of brook trout fishing content should increase. The weather is now turning for the season (and for the better) and I plan to make time to fish a lot of streams and report about it here. Next week I have a Winston WT 7 foot 3 weight fly rod arriving for a full on-stream review, and in conjunction with a detailed report on the Shenandoah National Park stream I visit to do that. So things will be picking up.
The latest Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries Outdoor Report has an item about a trout fisherman who, after catching his limit of stocked trout on Passage Creek, decided he wanted more. So he allegedly changed clothes and returned to the stream to catch more fish, thereby exceeding his daily limit and being charged with a violation of the state’s fishing laws.
If you want to fish Passage Creek and have never been there to do it (and will abide by the laws of the state), it’s a beautiful stream and worth checking out mid-week in the winter. Keep in mind that it is not managed like a wild trout stream. It is a put-and-take fishery, so the fish don’t last long… especially when people take more than their fair share. A good way to fish Passage Creek is to either park near the fish hatchery (see map below) and hike upstream, past the dam and into the deeper water. Another good option is to park at the Signal Knob parking area, cross the street towards the stream and fish upstream from there. I think that spot gets less pressure and I’ve caught what I believe are some wild rainbows in that stretch — I believe it because they were really tiny and they crashed a dry fly like eager brook trout. This was before last year’s long, dry summer so who knows what’s there now, and I haven’t been there since then.
Whoops, I’ve been asleep at the wheel and missed this last week. LOTS of places were stocked last week, and this little cold snap has made brook trout fishing during our false spring a week ago seem like a distant memory. But soon…
Almost a year ago I fished the North River Gorge and caught a couple small rainbows. It’s a beautiful place and a good hike in and out to fish the interior parts of the Gorge. If you drive in almost to Elkhorn Lake there is a small campground and parking on the upstream end of the Gorge. There may be better places to fish but this is certainly a nice getaway while you’re waiting for the mountain streams to warm up a little.
Looks like Fairfax County, Virginia, will be stocking Lake Fairfax with trout this spring, and looks like it’s already begun. From February 18th through April 29th, the county will stock rainbow trout in the lake. Not only will you need a valid Virginia freshwater fishing license, but (here’s the catch) you’ll also need to purchase a Lake Fairfax fishing pass. At $12 per day or $45 for the season ($40 if you’re under 16 or over 63), it’s not exactly a bargain. However, for a quick getaway near home if you live nearby it could be worth it.
The Trout Unlimited Rapidan Chapter’s annual Fly Fishing Show is tomorrow, February 26th at Fauquier High School in Warrenton, Virginia from 9:00 am to 4:30 pm. This is a larger venue than the Middleburg Community Center, where it’s been held in recent years, except for last year when it was snowed out.
In addition to the vendors, guides and the raffles for gear and a trip to fish Yellowstone National Park, they have a great speaker line up starting at 9:30 am:
Proceeds from the show benefit the chapter’s conservation projects, and if the wind keeps up tomorrow like it is right now, you won’t be out fishing anyway. So stop by the show.
Looks like a more modest trout stocking schedule this week than last time. Probably a good time to hit Passage Creek, mid-week, before the crowds get there this weekend.
