Stocked Trout Streams & Delayed Harvest Areas. Watching a large trout sip in adult midges in the tail of a tennis-court size stream pool at dusk presents a challenge. His delicate dimple rise form is your signal as to what's happening. By drifting a Mr. Rapidan Midge Dry size 18, 20 on a 7X leader over this trout on a slack line cast you should catch him. Having trouble seeing those size 20 flies? Then use a Mr. Rapidan Dry in a size 16. The yellow on this fly makes it a little easier to see. The Dark Stonefly Nymph size 12 and Cress Bug size 14 are working underwater.
All of the local stocked trout streams including Big Stoney Creek west of Edinburg and Passage Creek in Fort Valley are clear and at perfect water levels. Bring your hip boots and be willing to wade the stream to fish different areas. The VA DWR is continuing to stock streams throughout Virginia so check their website for more information.
Native Brook Trout in the Mountain Streams. The other day I decided to take a ride into the Park and check out the streams, since I have had customers calling for updates. I was amazed at how much the water levels had come up from all the rain in the past couple of weeks. They were much higher than I had anticipated finding. The brook trout are still spawning so I didn't fish. If you plan to fish these streams, I would use a Mr. Rapidan Dry size 14 on a Classic 7.5ft 6X leader. Be cautious as to where you wade, so that you are not stepping on the spawning beds.
If you want to learn more about fishing these small native brook trout streams:
- Read my book Trout Fishing in The Shenandoah National Park
- Sign up for an On The Stream Fly Fishing School Spring 2023
Our fly shop in Edinburg, VA will be closing at 1p.m. on November 23 and be closed on November 24 for Thanksgiving.
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