Our family spent the long extended Easter weekend in Hot Springs, Virginia. And with a few extra sets of hands, I was able to do more fishing in four days than I did most of last summer. With the windows down in the mini van, music rocking and a mini-cooler of iced down beer, these Virginia trout were in trouble.
Lower Jackson River below Lake Moomaw - Tailwater
I've fished this tailwater more than a few times now and every time I wade out, I think "I should be in my drift boat". Not that I am not happy to just be fishing,...but its a big, strong river more easily covered with a boat. More importantly, there isn't many places to actually even fish this river with the Posted waters and that 'King's Grant / Crown Grant' access law which basically says the landowner owns the bottom of the river. I've seen some landowners go as far as getting custom designed POSTED signs to state 'no wading or anchoring on their stream bed. It's so ridiculous, I get angry typing about it. The wild rainbows are plentiful and tailwater strong and the big browns are just plain elusive (as usual). I saw a few blue quills emerging in the afternoon, but nothing working the surface. All I can say is, I cant wait to bring my boat.
Upper Jackson River above Lake MooMaw - freestone
I've fished the Upper Jackson before in the special regulations areas and have done OK. This time I explore the open waters in Hidden Valley and surrounded by the bait / hardware crowd. It was a pretty section of stream, but I dint see one fish caught (including myself) and I was convinced it was 'fished out'. At least, that is what I will tell myself.
Back Creek
Back Creek is tailwater absolutely loaded with 13-16" rainbows. Before getting too excited, this is a man made stream and the rainbows were stocked. Whereas the Lower Jackson was a tailwater, all the fish - both rainbows and browns - are wild. These Back Creek trout were squishy pellet heads and an 8" wild Jackson trout would pull it around the stream. The one thing it had going for it was it was relatively remote and had plenty of casting room. So, if I want to take the kids one day and get them on fish, I may return.
Wild rainbow stream
On Easter Sunday, I went hiking with Hunter in the backpack, my 3 wt and a parachute Adams. We found a little stream full of wild rainbows. if you can stream bust me from the pictures, more power to you. We caught a handful of 5-9" wild rainbows and Hunter just squealed with joy each fish we caught that he wanted to touch (including the minnows). It was such as nice afternoon Easter hike.
