Stocked Trout Streams - On this snow/rainy day you might not find many people on the stocked trout streams but this weather is helping the streams maintain their levels. Just be careful as you are hiking or walking into the stream and watch for ice along the rocks. All of the local stocked trout streams are clear and fishable. We are doing best with streamers and nymphs. Lots of times in these conditions, I like to use a Shenandoah Silver Ghost Streamer size 10 on a Classic 9ft 4X Leader with a Mr. Rapidan Soft Hackle (Brown) Nymph size 12 on a 2-ft dropper below it. Fish this across stream very tight against the riffle stripping it 4 inches every 6 seconds. If you don't like to use two flies at once then try each of these individually. For the latest streams stocked, see the VA DWR website.
The view pictured above is a section of Big Stoney Creek in Edinburg on 1/25/23. I understand areas more north of us have received more snow, whereas we are getting a mixture of snow/ice/rain.
Mountain Trout Streams - There is snow and ice on the Skyline Drive and Shenandoah National Park. All of the Skyline Drive is currently closed due to the weather. Even though you can access the streams from the lower boundaries, the water temperature is so cold that the brook trout are just not feeding. So while you are waiting for the streams to warm up, consider reading my book Trout Fishing in the Shenandoah National Park to learn more.
We still have openings in our On The Stream Trout Schools that start at our fly shop in Edinburg, VA with a classroom presentation and then proceed to a native brook trout in the GW National Forest for hands-on instruction. Spring 2023, reserve your spot today!