The Wild Trout Mountain Stream

We hit our favorite little wild trout stream in Virginia for a family hike and to cast some dry flies. This stream is so unique with all the waterfalls surrounded by boardwalks and steel structuring that was decades old. The kids were rocking their recently Bo Nickal-signed Penn State shirts - probably not the most stealthy attire, but it worked. The kids all got to reel in some little wild rainbows and they LOVED watching the ‘eats’! It wont be long until they are casting themselves and then I can sit back and just bring the camera.

Good Friday Brookies

It's been a nice little tradition to do a some fishing on Good Friday in Virginia.  It hasn't been an intentionally designed tradition, but rather just seemed to have evolved.  Stranger then the fact I seem to end up fishing on Good Friday; I keep ending unintentionally doing the same thing year after year.

I didn't really put the trend together until this last Virginia trip when I passed the same tiny white mountain church with their 20' white cross and a purple cloak blowing in the wind.  It's a striking scene at the base of the Blue Ridge Mountains and I certainly take notice.  

The rest of this experience is for me, but these fishing days are special.  There is a certain peace that I have never been able to find anywhere but on a solo trip to a the mountain stream, especially in late March.  The entire forest appears dead from winter, but if you looks closely, you will send the first signs of rebirth.  Lots of symbolism.  The entire valley through the promise of spring is closer than we realize.  And on this day, a couple of the biggest brookies in the stream were kind enough to take a dry fly.

The Great Viking Campout

Each year a group of high school buddies get together to camp out for the weekend.  At this point in our live's we have the means to do a little better than the $15/night campground, but we dig camping.  I didn't come up with it, but camping is really the only prerequisite for the annual trip. We all grew up in the country, so there is that element of nostalgia.  But, probably more important at this age, is that no one needs to get in a bar fight or get a DUI, so we camp.  We typically just play corn hole, Polish horseshoes, listen to Tom Petty and usually partake in one main event to pretend the whole weekend isn't about drinking. 

This year was my year to pick location and I took the boys near my old stomping grounds on the South Fork of the Shenandoah River, Virginia.  The river was super high and murky for this time of year, which made the fishing tough.  But we all caught some smallies and the day was absolutely beautiful.  

The highlight of the float was a class 2 rapid that had a knack for swallowing canoes.  Only one out of three canoes in our our convoy made it through dry and I was glad to be in this good fortune.  Similar to allowing your friends to putt first on the green, going last has some of those same advantages.   While, watching your friends kamikaze cluelessly down the river wont guarantee your own success, it sure helps to know what line NOT to take.   There were a lot of rods and tackle boxes lost that day and we were able to document the floating yard sale once we made it through.

We capped Saturday night with a Penguins playoff game.  We may have been camping in the middle of nowhere, but missing the game was not an option.  These boys came prepared and with an extension chord, flatscreen, and Apple TV, we were able to catch the game right out of the back of a Jeep Cherokee.  We didn't win the game that night, but I'd venture to say we had the best seats on the planet.  I'm feeling another Cup run.

Chasing wild rainbows with the twins

In PA we have an abundance of wild brookies, but not as many wild rainbows (those spots will remain very secretive)!  In the mountains of Virginia though wild rainbows can be found. 

The Cascades Creek, in Hot Springs Virginia is one of the most unique fly fishing experiences due to the amazing Cascades that plunge through the gorge AND the man-made bridges and walk ways. 

I’m not spot burning here….if you want to pay to fish this Gorge section it’s about $50.  A little known fact is with a Trout Unlimited membership, it’s like $25.  I am not the kind that likes the pay-to-play on streams, but I can make exceptions (oh, sweet DePuys...)   In this case I feel the money goes to the upkeep of the stream and it honestly keeps the traffic down.  And ‘most’ of the fisherman from the resort are fishing the stocked waters down below.  I’ve heard they put big ones in there, but we always go upstream and fish for the little wild ones on dries.  So, the only people we usually see are hikers on the ‘gorge tour’. 

I took Jack along with my sis-in-law, Meg, one day and then came back and took Clara the next day.  they were wonderful days and I really love spending time in this gorge.  It' so beautiful.  Of all the kids Clara shows the most interest, as she can just actually focus on what you are telling her and teaching.  She is a very good student for a young age of 4.5. Jack was a bit more interested playing in the dirt with stick figures.  Boy will be boys. 

Cicada Fly Fishing on the Jackson River, VA

For the wife's birthday, we took a float down the Jackson River tailwater in Virginia.   The Brood V cicadas were just starting so we wanted to see if we could drum a few fish up to the surface.  On the Jackson tailwater, this would be a feat as fish just don't rise.  

As soon as we started off the cicadas were rocking.  We went into a good run of chutes and fast water and Spence missed a couple browns and had a toad of a brown on within the first ¼ mile.  She ended up catching a standard sized wild rainbow that was already pretty full of cicadas.

At this point, I was giddy, as I thought the whole float would be like this.  But the cicadas were only in the first mile of water we floated and only around the fast water.  Half way through the float the cicadas were a distant memory.  I reluctantly rigged up a double nymph rig and Spence eventually started catching them again.  All small rainbows.  No browns nymphing for sure.  But the rainbows were plenty and wild and lots of fun.  

Instead of a birthday card, the kids and I made a Stanley Cup out of juice bottle and containers and tin foil.  While we were gone the kiddos took it up a notch and decorated Lord Stanley a bit.  I like the upgrade.  Now the Penguins need to just close out the Cup versus San Jose tonight on home ice!

Virginia Fly Fishing Report

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.

Wild Virginia Rainbows

Spence and I took the afternoon to spend together the best way we know how - which is hiking up through a mountain stream fishing dry flies to wild rainbows.  There is not many other places I know of with wild rainbows, so this stream is very special.  In addition, it has one of the coolest, most picturesque streams I've fished.  

I knew the trip was going to be special when we walked to the first big plunge pool and scared a bear from taking an afternoon drink right out of the place I wanted to fish!   

Wild rainbow fishing (think brookies) is exactly what you want when you dont fish as much as you want.  The fish were not selective and happily ate a decently presented dry fly.  No match the hatch, techinical Euro nymphing, micro drag, etc, etc.  Just happy hungry trout in a beautiful setting.  Stealth and an accurate cast was all you needed.  We only took one little 3 wt and I found it more fun watching Spence fish then I did myself.  Plus its loads of fun busting on each other after missing a fish, which happens often when the little 4" fish tried eating a bug that is bigger then his mouth.  

Later the at evening, my father-in-law and I took Jack back to the bottom of this creek that held some stocked trout. I had a more difficult time catching a trout that clearly had no idea what I was trying to pass off as food, but alas I triumphed.  And a happy 3 year old was the winner!

Virginia Brookie Fishing

Spent the afternoon tossing dry flies to eager little brookies in Virginia while visiting the family.  I saw Blue Quills and a few Quill Gordons.  Happiness is spring time mayflies and a hike with my good loyal dog, Cooper.