The native brook trout fishing in the Shenandoah National Park continues to be good as we are receiving enough rain to keep these streams at good levels. If you remember, at this time last year the Park streams were so low that they closed the Park to fishing for about a month. As long as we continue to get rain, these streams should be fishable for the rest of the summer. I am switching over to terrestrials such as Shenk's Cricket size 14, Murray's Flying Beetle size 16, and Mr. Rapidan Ant size 16. Fish these upstream with a gentle twitching action. Another ploy is to fish a size 16 Mr. Rapidan Soft Hackle (olive) Nymph on a 18-inch 6X mono dropper below the dry fly.
Water levels are good by either coming in from the top (headwaters) off of Skyline Drive or by coming into the streams from the lower boundaries. For more information on access, see my book Trout Fishing in the Shenandoah National Park.
At Notice from the Shenandoah National Park ---
Beginning July 1, 2025, Shenandoah National Park will transition to a fully cashless fee system and accept only mobile or electronic payments for entrance and campground fees. In addition to using electronic forms of payment in the park, visitors can use www.recreation.gov to pay for entrance fees, campground fees and permitting fees in advance of a park trip.
In addition to accepting debit and credit cards payments in-person, visitors can purchase entrance passes in advance on Recreation.gov. All park bookstores and concession facilities such as gift shops, lodging, waysides and restaurants will continue to accept cash.
Entrance fees and campground fees are important sources of revenue used to enhance the visitor experience in national parks, supporting projects that include road and facility repair and maintenance, trail improvements, and visitor and resource protection services. Moving to a cashless system reduces the amount of time park staff spends accounting for cash, improves accountability and reduces risk, and increases the amount of fee revenue available to support critical projects and visitor services.
Little Stoney Creek, west of Edinburg is fishing well by coming in from FR92 at the top. Some anglers are getting some nice native brook action here. Waters levels are good for now.
