Virginia

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Virginia Trout Stocking Schedule May 4 2012

Fishing News

Better late than never — two weeks of trout stocking info from Virginia below…

Albemarle Co.: Moormans River (S. Fork) (05/02); Sugar Hollow Reservoir (05/02)
Amherst Co.: Piney River (S. Fork and Proper) (05/03)
Augusta Co.: Lower Sherando Lake (04/30); North River (Gorge) (05/03); North River (Natural Chimney) (05/03); North River (Upper) (05/03)
Bath Co.: Pads Creek (05/02)
Blands Co.: Lick Creek (05/03)
Botetourt Co.: Middle Creek (05/01); North Creek (05/01)
Dickenson Co.: Cranesnest River (05/03); Russell Fork River (Haysi) (05/03)
Floyd Co.: Little Indian Creek (04/30)
Giles Co.: Dismal Creek (05/01)
Greene Co.: South River (04/30); Swift Run (04/30)
Lee Co.: Martins Creek (04/30); North Fork Powell River (04/30)
Madison Co.: Hughes River (05/01)
Montgomery Co.: Toms Creek (05/02)
Patrick Co.: Ararat River (05/02); Clarks Creek (05/02); Poorhouse Creek (05/02)
Prince William Co.: Quantico MCB (05/03)
Roanoke Co.: Roanoke River (City) (04/30); Roanoke River (Salem) (05/02)
Rockingham Co.: Dry River (05/02); North Fork Shenandoah River (05/01)
Scott Co.: Stock Creek (Kids Fishing Day) (04/30); Bark Camp Lake (05/01)
Shenandoah Co.: Passage Creek (04/30); Peters Mill Creek (04/30)
Wise Co.: South Fork Powell River (04/30)

Albemarle Co.: Moormans River (N. Fork) (04/24); Moormans River (S. Fork) (04/24); Sugar Hollow Reservoir (04/24)
Alleghany Co.: Smith Creek (04/23)
Amherst Co.: Pedlar River (Lower) (04/26); Rocky Row Run (04/23)
Augusta Co.: Braley Pond (04/26); Elkhorn Lake (04/27); Hearthstone Lake (04/26)
Bath Co.: Bullpasture River (04/24)
Bedford Co.: Liberty Lake (04/26)
Botetourt Co.: Roaring Run (04/23); Jennings Creek (04/24)
Buchanan Co.: Dismal River (04/26)
Carroll Co.: Stewarts Creek (04/23); Crooked Creek (04/25); Little Reed Island Creek (04/25)
Craig Co.: Barbours Creek (04/21); Potts Creek (04/24)
Dickenson Co.: Russell Fork River (Bartlick) (04/25); Pound River (Flannagan Dam) (04/25)
Frederick Co.: Clearbrook Lake (04/24); Paddy Run (04/24); Wilkins Lake (04/24)
Giles Co.: Big Stoney Creek (04/26)
Grayson Co.: Elk Creek (04/24); Hales Lake (04/24)
Henry Co.: Smith River (Lower) (04/23); Smith River (Dam) (04/25)
Highland Co.: Bullpasture River (04/24); S. Br. Potomac River (04/25)
Nelson Co.: Tye River (04/25)
Page Co.: Cub Run (04/23); Upper Passage Creek (04/23)
Patrick Co.: Dan River (Above Talbott) (04/26); Round Meadow Creek (04/26)
Pulaski Co.: Peak Creek (04/24)
Rockbridge Co.: Maury River (04/26); Mill Creek (04/26)
Rockingham Co.: Silver Lake (04/20 – after 4pm); Briery Branch Lake (04/25); Hone Quarry Lake (04/25)
Russell Co.: Big Cedar Creek (04/25)
Shenandoah Co.: Tomahawk Pond (04/24); Mill Creek (04/25); Stony Creek (04/25)
Smyth Co.
: South Fork Holston River (Buller Dam) (04/26)
Wythe Co.: Cripple Creek (Rt. 94) (04/21); Rural Retreat Lake Pond (04/25)

Virginia Trout Stocking Schedule Apr 20 2012

Fishing News

We are in full swing for trout season in Virginia. Speaking of Virginia, I caught my first fish ever in the Potomac yesterday, a kinda small smallmouth bass, casting a spinning rod from shore in very shallow water near Leesburg. I need to fish that river again (can’t believe I never have), and with the kayak.

You’ll note below that Cripple Creek in Wythe County was stocked yesterday. What a strange and moving coincidence that Levon Helm, iconic drummer and singer for The Band and crooner of “Up on Cripple Creek,” passed away yesterday. God rest your soul, Levon, you’ll be missed.

Albemarle Co.: Moormans River (S. Fork) (04/16)
Augusta Co.: North River (Upper) (04/14); North River (Gorge) (04/16); North River (Natural Chimneys) (04/16); Falls Hollow (04/17); Back Creek (04/19); Mills Creek (04/19); Lower Sherando Lake (04/19)
Bath Co.: Back Creek (04/17); Cowpasture River (04/17)
Bedford Co.: Liberty Lake (04/19)
Buchanan Co.: Russell Fork River (04/18)
Dickenson Co.: Frying Pan Creek (04/18); Russell Fork River (Haysi) (04/18)
Fauquier Co.: Thompson WMA Pond (04/14)
Floyd Co.: Burkes Fork (04/16); Goose Creek (04/18); Little River (04/16)
Franklin Co.: Runnett Bag Creek (04/17); Pigg River (04/17)
Grayson Co.: Fox Creek (04/17); Middle Fox Creek (04/17); Helton Creek (04/17)
Madison Co.: Robinson River (04/17)
Montgomery Co.: Craig Creek (04/16); Toms Creek (04/17)
Nelson Co.: South Rockfish River (04/19)
Patrick Co.: Dan River (below Powerhouse) (04/17)
Prince William Co.: Quantico MCB (04/19)
Roanoke Co.: Glade Creek (04/18); Tinker Creek (04/18)
Rockbridge Co.: Irish Creek (04/15); South River (04/16)
Smyth Co.: South Fork Holston River (Lower) (04/19)
Tazewell Co.: Lincolnshire Lake (04/18); Lake Witten (04/18)
Washington Co.: Beartree Lake (04/19)
Wise Co.: Middle Fork Powell River (04/16)
Wythe Co.: Cripple Creek (Ravens) (04/19); Stoney Creek (04/19); West Fork Reed Creek (04/19)

Virginia Trout Stocking Schedule Apr 13 2012

Fishing News

Virginia trout stocked this past week. Lots of fish in all three states we cover. It’s prime time.

Alleghany Co.: Jerry’s Run (04/10); Clifton Forge Reservoir (04/11); Pounding Mill Creek (04/11)
Amherst Co.: Pedlar River (Lower) (04/11); Little Irish Creek (04/11)
Augusta Co.: Braley Pond (04/10); Hearthstone Lake (04/10); Elkhorn Lake (04/11)
Bath Co.: Bullpasture River (04/09); Pads Creek (04/06)
Bland Co.: Laurel Fork Creek (04/09); Wolf Creek (04/09)
Botetourt Co.: Middle Creek (04/12); North Creek (04/12)
Craig Co.: Potts Creek (04/09)
Dickenson Co.: Cranesnest River(04/09); Pound River (Flannagan Dam) (04/09); Russell Fork River (Bartlick) (04/09)
Floyd Co.: Mira Fork (04/12); Rush Fork (04/12); West Fork Little River (04/12)
Grayson Co.: Hales Lake (04/09); Elk Creek (04/10)
Greene Co.: South River (04/09); Swift Run (04/09)
Highland Co.: Bullpasture River (04/09)
Montgomery Co.: Pandapas Pond (04/10)
Nelson Co.: Tye River (04/10)
Patrick Co.: Rockcastle Creek (04/11)
Roanoke Co.: Glade Creek (04/09); Roanoke River (City) (04/11); Roanoke River (Salem) (04/11)
Rockingham Co.: Dry River (04/12)
Russell Co.: Big Cedar Creek (04/12)
Scott Co.: Big Stony Creek (04/12); Little Stony Creek (04/12)
Smyth Co.: South Fork Holston River (Buller Dam) (04/11); Comers Creek (04/11); Cressy Creek (04/11); Dickey Creek (04/11); Hurricane Creek (04/11)
Tazewell Co.: Little Tumbling Creek (04/10)
Washington Co.: Big Tumbling Creek (04/10)
Warren Co.: Happy Creek (04/12)
Wythe Co.: Rural Retreat Lake Pond (04/10); Gullion Fork Ponds (04/11)

Virginia Trout Stocking Schedule Apr 6 2012

Fishing News

Virginia trout stocking since mid-March — that’s three weeks of trout combined into this one post. Sure adds up.

Amherst Co.: Piney River (S. Fk. and Proper) (04/02)
Bath Co.: Jackson River (Hidden Valley) (04/02); Jackson River (Rt. 623) (04/05); Back Creek (04/03)
Bland Co.: Wolf Creek (03/31)
Buchanan Co.: Dismal River (04/03)
Carroll Co.: Crooked Creek (04/03 & 04/05); Little Reed Island Creek (04/03)
Fauquier Co.: Thompson WMA Pond (04/03)
Floyd Co.: Burkes Fork (04/05); Little River (04/05)
Frederick Co.: Clearbrook Lake (04/05); Hogue Creek (04/05); Wilkins Lake (04/05)
Giles Co.: Wolf Creek (04/02)
Henry Co.: Smith River (Lower) (04/03)
Madison Co.: Hughes River (04/04)
Patrick Co.: Dan River (Below Powerhouse) (04/04)
Rockingham Co.: Briery Branch Lake (04/04); German River (04/02); Hone Quarry Lake (04/04); Hone Quarry Run (04/04); North Fork Shenandoah River (04/02)
Staunton (City of): Lake Tams (04/03)
Washington Co.: Tennessee Laurel (04/04); Valley Creek (04/04)
Wythe Co.: Cripple Creek (Rt. 94) (04/03)

Albemarle Co.
: Mint Springs Lake (Upper) (3/27); Mint Springs Lake (Middle) (3/27); Moormans River (N. Fork) (3/28); Sugar Hollow Reservoir (3/28)
Augusta Co.: Braley Pond (3/29); Hearthstone Lake (3/29); South River (Ridgeview Park) (3/30)
Bath Co.: Back Creek (3/28); Douthat Lake and Wilson Creek (3/26)
Bedford Co.: Liberty Lake (3/29)
Dickenson Co.: Cranesnest River (3/26); Pound River (Flannagan Dam) (3/26); Russell Fork River (Bartlick) (3/26)
Floyd Co.
: West Fork Little River (3/27)
Franklin Co.: Pigg River (3/26)
Giles Co.
: Big Stoney Creek (3/27)
Grayson Co.: Big Wilson Creek (3/24)
Madison Co.
: Hughes River (3/26); Rose River (3/26)
Montgomery Co.: Pandapas Pond (3/28); Toms Creek (3/26)
Nelson Co.: Tye River (3/29)
Rockbridge Co.
: South River (3/27)
Rockingham Co.: Dry River (3/28); Slate Lick Lake (3/28); Slate Lick Run (3/28); South River (Grottoes) (3/30)
Smyth Co.: Middle Fork Holston River (Marion & Chilhowie) (3/28); South Fork Holston River (Lower) (3/29); Staley Creek (3/28)
Tazewell Co.: Lincolnshire Lake (3/26); Lake Witten (3/28)
Washington Co.: Beartree Lake (3/30); Straight Branch (3/30); Valley Creek (3/30)
Wythe Co.: Cripple Creek (Rt. 94)(3/28); Rural Retreat Lake Pond (3/27)

Albemarle Co.: Mint Springs Lake (Upper) (03/17); Mint Springs Lake (Middle) (03/17)
Alleghany Co.: Clifton Forge Reservoir (03/20); Smith Creek (03/20)
Amherst Co.: Davis Mill Creek (3/22); Little Irish Creek (3/19); Pedlar River (Lower) (3/19); Pedlar River (Upper) (3/22)
Augusta Co.: Back Creek (03/20); Elkhorn Lake (3/22); Mills Creek (03/20); Upper Sherando Lake (03/20)
Bath Co.: Cowpasture River (3/23); Jackson River (Rt. 623) (3/23)
Botetourt Co.: Jennings Creek (3/21)
Craig Co.: Potts Creek (03/19)
Carroll Co.: Crooked Creek (3/22); Little Reed Island Creek (3/22)
Fauquier Co.: Thompson WMA Pond (03/20)
Floyd Co.: Burkes Fork (3/23); Goose Creek (3/22); Little River (3/23)
Fredericksburg (City of): Old Cossey Pond (3/23) Closed until 9 am Saturday, March 24 when it will open for anglers 12 and under for a Kid’s Day event. The pond will reopen to the general public after 3 pm.
Giles Co.: Dismal Creek(3/21); Wolf Creek (3/19)
Grayson Co.: Elk Creek (3/21); Hales Lake (03/20)
Madison Co.: Robinson River (3/21)
Page Co.: Cub Run (3/22); Upper Passage Creek (3/22)
Patrick Co.: Dan River (below Powerhouse) (03/20)
Prince William Co.: Quantico MCB (3/23) The stocked trout waters on the base were closed for stocking today (3/23) by the marine corps. The waters will reopen at 9:00 am Saturday (3/24), except for a section reserved for a Wounded Warrior event tht will reopen at 2:00 pm Saturday. Please respect our returning service men and women.
Roanoke Co.: Glade Creek (3/19); Tinker Creek (3/19); Roanoke River (City) (03/20); Roanoke River (Salem) (03/20)
Rockbridge Co.: Irish Creek (3/21); Maury River (3/19); Mill Creek (03/19)
Rockingham Co.: Briery Branch Lake (03/19); Hone Quarry Lake (03/19); North Fork Shenandoah River (3/23)
Russell Co.: Big Cedar Creek (3/22)
Scott Co.: Bark Camp Lake (03/22)
Shenandoah Co.: Stony Creek(3/21); Tomahawk Pond (03/17)
Washington Co.: Big Tumbling Creek (3/23); Tennessee Laurel (03/20); Whitetop Laurel (Upper) (03/20); Whitetop Laurel (Lower) (03/20)
Wise Co.: Clear Creek (3/21); Middle Fork Powell River (3/21)
Wythe Co.: Cripple Creek (Rt. 94) (03/17)

What a Drag

Fishing Tactics

A drag free drift is almost always necessary to entice trout. Almost always — see Murray’s Fly Shop’s latest tip for brook trout fishing and nailing those trout hanging in the tails of pools.

Virginia Trout Stocking Schedule Mar 16 2012

Fishing News

Virginia, land of the stocked trout! I mean, that’s a long list right there. The North River in multiple places. The South River near Grottoes. The Jackson above Lake Moomaw. I met someone this past week on the Shenandoah River who told me Paddy Run is worth checking out. Not the easiest place to get to, but looks like there could be some brook trout upstream where it ascends up Great North mountain. A whole bunch of places to explore…

View Larger Map

Alleghany Co.: Jerrys Run (03/10)
Amherst Co.: Rocky Row Run (03/13)
Augusta Co.: Braley Pond (03/14); Hearthstone Lake (03/14); North River (Gorge) (03/15); North River (Natural Chimneys) (03/15); North River (Upper) (03/15); South River (Ridgeview Park) (3/12)
Bath Co.: Jackson River (Hidden Valley) (03/12); Back Creek (03/13)
Bland Co.: Lick Creek (03/13)
Botetourt Co.: Middle Creek (03/12); North Creek (03/12)
Buchanan Co.: Dismal River (3/12)
Carroll Co.: Lovills Creek (03/14); Stewarts Creek (03/14)
Craig Co.: Barbours Creek (03/12)
Dickenson Co.: Pound River (Flannagan Dam) (03/14); Russell Fork River (Bartlick) (03/14)
Franklin Co.: Runnett Bag Creek (03/14); Pigg River (03/14)
Frederick Co.: Clearbrook Lake (03/12); Hogue Creek (03/12); Winchester Lake (03/12); Paddy Run (03/13)
Grayson Co.: Elk Creek (03/13)
Henrico Co.: Dorey Park Lake (03/12)
Henry Co.: Smith River (Dam) (03/13); Smith River (Lower) (03/13)
Nelson Co.: South Rockfish River (03/15)
Patrick Co.: Ararat River (03/12); Clarks Creek (03/12); Dan River (Above Talbott) (03/15); Round Meadow Creek (03/15)
Richmond (City of): Shield Lake (03/12)
Rockingham Co.: South River (Grottoes) (03/12); Silver Lake (03/13)
Shenandoah Co.: Passage Creek (03/14); Peters Mill Creek (03/14)
Tazewell Co.: Lake Witten (03/12); Laurel Creek (03/13); Little Tumbling Creek (03/15)
Washington Co.: Big Brumley Creek (03/15); Big Tumbling Creek (03/15)
Wythe Co.: Cripple Creek (Ravens) (03/15); Stoney Creek (03/14); West Fork Reed Creek (03/14)

Virginia Trout Stocking Schedule Mar 9 2012

Fishing News

And the land that we love — Virginia has stocked a boatload of trout streams this past week, like everywhere you ever wanted to go!

Amherst Co.: Piney River (South Fork & Proper) (03/06)
Augusta Co.: Falls Hollow (03/03); Upper Sherando Lake (03/08); Lower Sherando Lake (03/08)
Bath Co.: Jackson River (Rt. 623) (03/06); Douthat Lake and Wilson Creek (03/07)
Bedford Co.: Liberty Lake (03/08)
Bland Co.: Laurel Fork Creek (03/06); Wolf Creek (03/06)
Botetourt Co.: Roaring Run (03/05); Jennings Creek (03/06); McFalls Creek (03/06)
Carroll Co.: Crooked Creek (03/07); Little Reed Island Creek (03/07)
Chesapeake (City of): Northwest River Park (03/06)
Fauquier Co.: Thompson WMA Pond (03/03)
Giles Co.: Big Stoney Creek (03/06); Dismal Creek (03/06)
Grayson Co.: Big Wilson Creek (03/08)
Greene Co.: South River (03/07); Swift Run (03/07)
Lee Co.: Martins Creek (03/07); North Fork Powell River (03/07)
Madison Co.: Hughes River (03/08); Rose River (03/08)
Nelson Co.: Tye River (03/05)
Newport News (City of): Lake Biggins (03/06)
Page Co.: Hawksbill Creek (03/07)
Patrick Co.: Dan River (Below Powerhouse) (03/05); Rockcastle Creek (03/08)
Roanoke Co.: Roanoke River (City) (03/07); Roanoke River (Salem) (03/07)
Rockingham Co.: Briery Branch Lake (03/07); Hone Quarry Lake (03/07); Hone Quarry Run (03/07)
Shenandoah Co.: Mill Creek (03/06); Stony Creek (03/06)
Smyth Co.: South Fork Holston River (Lower) (03/03); South Fork Holston River (Buller Dam) (03/07); Comers Creek (03/07); Cressy Creek (03/07); Dickey Creek (03/07); Hurricane Creek (03/07)
Wise Co.: South Fork Powell River (03/07)
Wythe Co.: Rural Retreat Lake Pond (03/03); Cripple Creek (Ravens) (03/07); Guillion Fork Ponds (03/08)

Early Springtime and Earlier Fishing This Year

Fishing Reports

I’m filing this under Fishing Reports. This is not a fishing report per se, but it’s relevant…

Due to a winter that never really arrived, the Mid Atlantic states are experiencing an early spring. Everything has been happening sooner this year. In my yard, the crocuses started blooming over two weeks ago and they’re fading now. That is at least two weeks early. Daffodils are flowering all over, again, two weeks earlier than usual. Following these botanical cues are the bugs, the hatches, and of course the fish. Fishing season is coming sooner this year for sure.

Reports are confirming all of this. Douglas Dear from Rose River Farm in Syria Virginia reported this past week that Quill Gordons have started hatching — two weeks early. Murray’s Fly Shop reported Quill Gordons coming off the water yesterday afternoon in Shenandoah National Park as well. Bryan Kelly at Kelly’s White Fly Shop in Shepherdstown, West Virginia sent an email yesterday about smallmouth bass fishing around Harper’s Ferry on the Potomac and Shenandoah Rivers: “We are starting to guide this month. The fish are moving out of their winter patterns towards pre-spawn behavior. Spawn will be early, and summer patterns will be early… You need to be early…” If this pre-spawn behavior is starting now, that’s closer to three weeks earlier than last year in my neck of the woods along the main stem of the Shenandoah. Incidentally, he goes on to mention that the cicadas will be emerging along the northern section of the Blue Ridge this year, so tie up some big cicada patterns.

So this could be shaping up as a phenomenal early season for us. Hopefully it’s not going to mean that the hot, low clear water conditions come early and stay longer, too. Perhaps we’ll see a nice stretch of cool rains in mid to late spring to break us out of this warm dry pattern we’ve gone through this winter.

Virginia Trout Stocking Schedule Mar 2 2012

Fishing News

The latest trout stocking info from Virginia. The Jackson, notably. I mentioned Hogue Creek in Frederick county (not too far a drive for me) quite some time ago and still have not been there. Passage Creek is another recently stocked stream in the area if you live in Northern Virginia and consider anything up to an hour and a half drive “in the area.” It was just stocked last month, too.

Amherst Co.: Pedlar River (Lower) (02/29)
Albemarle Co.: Moorman’s River (North Fork) (03/01); Sugar Hollow Reservoir (03/01)
Bath Co.: Jackson River (Hidden Valley) (02/29)
Floyd Co.: Burkes Fork (03/01); Little River (03/01)
Frederick Co.: Hogue Creek (02/28)
Grayson Co.: Hales Lake (03/01)
Henry Co.: Smith River (Lower) (02/28)
Roanoke Co.: Glade Creek (02/29); Tinker Creek (02/29)
Rockbridge Co.: Maury River (02/27); Mill Creek (02/27)
Shenandoah Co.: Tomahawk Pond (02/27); Passage Creek (03/01)
Smyth Co.: South Fork Holston (Lower) (02/28)

Updated Resources Page

Fishing News

I’ve updated the resources page to include the Washington DC area. Most notably, the Tidal Potomac Flyrodders, which is a large and growing group devoted to fishing the Potomac River right in DC. I am a member and you should consider joining, too, if you fish anywhere near the DC metro area, Northern Virginia and Maryland. Also, one of the TPFR members recently posted a Google map showing good fishing spots on the Potomac around Fletcher’s Cove.