A drag free drift is almost always necessary to entice trout. Almost always — see Murray’s Fly Shop’s latest tip for brook trout fishing and nailing those trout hanging in the tails of pools.
Monthly Archives: March 2012
12 posts
Virginia, land of the stocked trout! I mean, that’s a long list right there. The North River in multiple places. The South River near Grottoes. The Jackson above Lake Moomaw. I met someone this past week on the Shenandoah River who told me Paddy Run is worth checking out. Not the easiest place to get to, but looks like there could be some brook trout upstream where it ascends up Great North mountain. A whole bunch of places to explore…
- Alleghany Co.
- Jerrys Run (03/10)
- Amherst Co.
- Rocky Row Run (03/13)
- Augusta Co.
- Braley Pond (03/14)
- Hearthstone Lake (03/14)
- North River (Gorge) (03/15)
- North River (Natural Chimneys) (03/15)
- North River (Upper) (03/15)
- South River (Ridgeview Park) (3/12)
- Bath Co.
- Jackson River (Hidden Valley) (03/12)
- Back Creek (03/13)
- Bland Co.
- Lick Creek (03/13)
- Botetourt Co.
- Middle Creek (03/12)
- North Creek (03/12)
- Buchanan Co.
- Dismal River (3/12)
- Carroll Co.
- Lovills Creek (03/14)
- Stewarts Creek (03/14)
- Craig Co.
- Barbours Creek (03/12)
- Dickenson Co.
- Pound River (Flannagan Dam) (03/14)
- Russell Fork River (Bartlick) (03/14)
- Franklin Co.
- Runnett Bag Creek (03/14)
- Pigg River (03/14)
- Frederick Co.
- Clearbrook Lake (03/12)
- Hogue Creek (03/12)
- Winchester Lake (03/12)
- Paddy Run (03/13)
- Grayson Co.
- Elk Creek (03/13)
- Henrico Co.
- Dorey Park Lake (03/12)
- Henry Co.
- Smith River (Dam) (03/13)
- Smith River (Lower) (03/13)
- Nelson Co.
- South Rockfish River (03/15)
- Patrick Co.
- Ararat River (03/12)
- Clarks Creek (03/12)
- Dan River (Above Talbott) (03/15)
- Round Meadow Creek (03/15)
- Richmond (City of)
- Shield Lake (03/12)
- Rockingham Co.
- South River (Grottoes) (03/12)
- Silver Lake (03/13)
- Shenandoah Co.
- Passage Creek (03/14)
- Peters Mill Creek (03/14)
- Tazewell Co.
- Lake Witten (03/12)
- Laurel Creek (03/13)
- Little Tumbling Creek (03/15)
- Washington Co.
- Big Brumley Creek (03/15)
- Big Tumbling Creek (03/15)
- Wythe Co.
- Cripple Creek (Ravens) (03/15)
- Stoney Creek (03/14)
- West Fork Reed Creek (03/14)
Not a lot happening in Maryland with regard to the stocked trout streams this past week, but here are the spots…
| County | Location | Date | Map |
| Garrett | Casselman River, A Delayed Harvest Area (2750 RB/GN) | Mar 15 | GO > |
| Washington | Antietam Creek (500 RB/GN) | Mar 14 | GO > |
| Washington | Blairs Valley Lake (1925 RB/GN) | Mar 14 | GO > |
| Washington | Greenbrier Lake (1445 RB/GN) | Mar 14 | GO > |
| Frederick | Cunningham Falls Lake (1445 RB/GN) | Mar 14 | GO > |
| Baltimore | Avalon Pond, Under 16, Greater than 64 and Blind Only (240 RB/GN) | Mar 13 | GO > |
Stocked trout streams in West Virginia this past week… The South Branch of the Potomac continues to get DNR love. I’m having trouble finding recent fishing reports but it’s been stocked multiple times in the past three months and the weather has warmed up — it should be fishing very well!
March 15, 2012
- Bullskin Run
- Camp Creek
- Curtisville Lake
- Deer Creek (Nicholas)
- East Fork Greenbrier River
- East River
- Evitts Run
- Glade Creek of New River
- Huey Lake
- Laurel Creek of Cherry River
- Little Beaver Lake
- Little River East Fork Greenbrier River
- Little River West Fork Greenbrier River
- Long Marsh Run
- Mash Fork
- Mash Fork of Camp Creek (Children & Class Q)
- Middle Creek
- Mill Creek of Opequon Creek
- New Creek
- North Fork of Patterson Creek
- North Fork of South Branch
- Raleigh Co. Airport Pond (Children & Class Q)
- Spruce Knob Lake
- West Fork Greenbrier River
March 14, 2012
- Cacapon Park Lake
- Dillons Run
- Fort Ashby Reservoir
- Glady Fork
- Jennings Randolph Tailwaters
- Mill Creek of South Branch
- Opequon Creek
- Panther Creek
- Paw Paw Creek
- Poorhouse Pond
- R.D. Bailey Tailwaters
- Rhine Creek
- Rocky Marsh Run
- Shavers Fork (Bemis)
- Shavers Fork (lower section)
- Shavers Fork C&R (Stuarts Park)
- South Branch (Franklin)
- Tuckahoe Lake
- Whiteday Creek
- Williams River
- Wolf Creek
March 13, 2012
- Anderson Lake
- Anthony Creek
- Big Sandy Creek
- Buckhannon River
- Buffalo Creek (Brooke)
- Castleman Run Lake
- Cedar Creek Lake
- Coopers Rock Lake
- Edwards Run
- Gandy Creek
- Knapps Creek
- Laurel Fork (Randolph)
- Left Fork of Right Fork of Buckhannon River
- North Fork of Cherry River
- Middle Wheeling Lake
- Miletree Lake
- Paint Creek
- Paint Creek (C&R)
- Pond Fork
- Right Fork of Buckhannon River
- South Fork of Cherry River
March 12, 2012
- Brandywine Lake
- Brushy Fork lake
- Buffalo Fork Lake
- Cherry River
- Cranberry River
- Deer Creek (Pocahontas)
- Greenbrier River
- Jimmy Lewis Lake
- Krodel Lake
- Pipestem Lake
- Shavers Fork (upper section)
- South Branch (Smoke Hole)
- South Fork of Cranberry River
- Summersville Tailwaters
- Wallback Lake
March 9, 2012
- Gandy Creek
- Laurel Fork (Randolph)
- Mill Creek Reservoir
- Moores Lake
- Potts Creek
- Rich Creek (Monroe)
- Right Fork of Middle Fork River
- South Fork of Potts Creek
- Teter Creek Lake
- Warden Lake
- Williams River
March 8, 2012
- Berwind Lake
- Burnsville Tailwaters
- Cranberry River
- Dry Fork (McDowell)
- Dry Fork (Randolph, Tucker)
- Glady Fork
- James P. Bailey Lake
- Larenim Park Lake
- Seneca Lake
- Shavers Fork (Bemis section)
- Shavers Fork (lower section)
- Shavers Fork (upper section)
- South Branch (Franklin)
- South Mill Creek Lake
- Stonewall Jackson Tailwaters
- Summit Lake
- Sutton Tailwaters
- Watoga Lake
And the land that we love — Virginia has stocked a boatload of trout streams this past week, like everywhere you ever wanted to go!
- Amherst Co.
- Piney River (South Fork & Proper) (03/06)
- Augusta Co.
- Falls Hollow (03/03)
- Upper Sherando Lake (03/08)
- Lower Sherando Lake (03/08)
- Bath Co.
- Jackson River (Rt. 623) (03/06)
- Douthat Lake and Wilson Creek (03/07)
- Bedford Co.
- Liberty Lake (03/08)
- Bland Co.
- Laurel Fork Creek (03/06)
- Wolf Creek (03/06)
- Botetourt Co.
- Roaring Run (03/05)
- Jennings Creek (03/06)
- McFalls Creek (03/06)
- Carroll Co.
- Crooked Creek (03/07)
- Little Reed Island Creek (03/07)
- Chesapeake (City of)
- Northwest River Park (03/06)
- Fauquier Co.
- Thompson WMA Pond (03/03)
- Giles Co.
- Big Stoney Creek (03/06)
- Dismal Creek (03/06)
- Grayson Co.
- Big Wilson Creek (03/08)
- Greene Co.
- South River (03/07)
- Swift Run (03/07)
- Lee Co.
- Martins Creek (03/07)
- North Fork Powell River (03/07)
- Madison Co.
- Hughes River (03/08)
- Rose River (03/08)
- Nelson Co.
- Tye River (03/05)
- Newport News (City of)
- Lake Biggins (03/06)
- Page Co.
- Hawksbill Creek (03/07)
- Patrick Co.
- Dan River (Below Powerhouse) (03/05)
- Rockcastle Creek (03/08)
- Roanoke Co.
- Roanoke River (City) (03/07)
- Roanoke River (Salem) (03/07)
- Rockingham Co.
- Briery Branch Lake (03/07)
- Hone Quarry Lake (03/07)
- Hone Quarry Run (03/07)
- Shenandoah Co.
- Mill Creek (03/06)
- Stony Creek (03/06)
- Smyth Co.
- South Fork Holston River (Lower) (03/03)
- South Fork Holston River (Buller Dam) (03/07)
- Comers Creek (03/07)
- Cressy Creek (03/07)
- Dickey Creek (03/07)
- Hurricane Creek (03/07)
- Wise Co.
- South Fork Powell River (03/07)
- Wythe Co.
- Rural Retreat Lake Pond (03/03)
- Cripple Creek (Ravens) (03/07)
- Guillion Fork Ponds (03/08)
The latest trout streams stocked in Maryland this past week. “I hope you’re seeing this Vince!” I really hope so, too.
| County | Location | Date | Map |
| Calvert | Hutchins Pond (125 RB/GN) | Mar 6 | GO > |
| Charles | Hughesville Pond (100 RB/GN) | Mar 6 | GO > |
| Charles | Myrtle Grove Pond (250 RB/GN) “I hope you’re seeing this Vince!” |
Mar 6 | GO > |
| Charles | Wheatley Pond (160 RB/GN) | Mar 6 | GO > |
| Prince Georges | Allens Pond (175 RB/GN) | Mar 6 | GO > |
| Prince Georges | Melwood Pond (125 RB/GN) | Mar 6 | GO > |
| Allegany | Town Creek Delayed Harvest Area- (1500 RB/GN) | Mar 6 | GO > |
| Garrett | North Branch Potomac River at Barnum – (997 RB/GN) | Mar 1 | GO > |
| Garrett | North Branch Potomac River, Westernport – (960 RB/GN) | Mar 1 | GO > |
| Cecil | Howard’s Pond – (300 RB/GN) | Mar 1 | GO > |
| Cecil | Rising Sun Pond (<16, >65 & Blind) – (300 RB/GN) | Mar 1 | GO > |
| Baltimore | Stansbury Park Pond – (725 RB/GN) | Feb 29 | GO > |
| Howard | Centennial Lake – (725 RB/GN) | Feb 29 | GO > |
| Howard | Little Patuxent River (2 Fish/day) – (1200 RB/GN) | Feb 29 | GO > |
| Caroline | Tuckahoe Creek – (350 RB/GN) | Feb 29 | GO > |
Here are the trout streams that were stocked in West Virginia this past week… Gotta get to the North Branch of the South Fork of the Potomac. They stock it frequently.
March 8, 2012
- Berwind Lake
- Burnsville Tailwaters
- Cranberry River
- Dry Fork (McDowell)
- Dry Fork (Randolph, Tucker)
- Glady Fork
- James P. Bailey Lake
- Larenim Park Lake
- Seneca Lake
- Shavers Fork (Bemis section)
- Shavers Fork (lower section)
- Shavers Fork (upper section)
- South Branch (Franklin)
- South Mill Creek Lake
- Stonewall Jackson Tailwaters
- Summit Lake
- Sutton Tailwaters
- Watoga Lake
March 7, 2012
- Big Clear Creek
- Cacapon Park Lake
- Conaway Run Lake
- Coonskin Park Lake (Children & Class Q)
- East Fork Greenbrier River
- Elk River
- Horseshoe Run
- Kanawha State Forest Pond (Children & Class Q)
- Kimsey Run Lake
- Little Clear Creek
- Little River East Fork Greenbrier River
- Little River West Fork Greenbrier River
- Logan County Airport Pond (Children & Class Q)
- Meadow Creek of New River
- Miller Fork Pond (Children & Class Q)
- Milligan Creek
- Opequon Creek
- Red Creek
- Rocky Marsh Run
- South Branch (Smoke Hole)
- Spruce Knob Lake
- Thomas Park Lake
- Tilhance Creek
- Tygart Headwaters
- Underwood Lake (Children & Class Q)
- West Fork Greenbrier River
March 6, 2012
- Anthony Creek
- Barboursville Lake
- Bullskin Run
- Dog Run Lake
- Evitts Run
- French Creek Pond
- Horse Creek Lake
- Knapps Creek
- Laurel Fork of Holly River
- Left Fork of Holly River
- Middle Creek
- Mill Creek of Opequon Creek
- New Creek
- North Fork of Lunice
- North Fork of Patterson Creek
- North Fork of South Branch
- Ridenour Lake
- Rockhouse Lake
- Spruce Laurel Fork
- Tuscarora Creek
- Tygart Tailwaters
March 5, 2012
- Bear Rocks Lake
- Blackwater River (not stocked in Canaan Valley State Park due to construction)
- Lost River
- North River
- Rollins Lake
- Trout Run
- Waites Run
- Wheeling Creek
- Wood Pond (Children & Class Q)
March 2, 2012
- Clover Run
- Newburg Lake
- Paw Paw Creek
- Whiteday Creek
I’m filing this under Fishing Reports. This is not a fishing report per se, but it’s relevant…
Due to a winter that never really arrived, the Mid Atlantic states are experiencing an early spring. Everything has been happening sooner this year. In my yard, the crocuses started blooming over two weeks ago and they’re fading now. That is at least two weeks early. Daffodils are flowering all over, again, two weeks earlier than usual. Following these botanical cues are the bugs, the hatches, and of course the fish. Fishing season is coming sooner this year for sure.
Reports are confirming all of this. Douglas Dear from Rose River Farm in Syria Virginia reported this past week that Quill Gordons have started hatching — two weeks early. Murray’s Fly Shop reported Quill Gordons coming off the water yesterday afternoon in Shenandoah National Park as well. Bryan Kelly at Kelly’s White Fly Shop in Shepherdstown, West Virginia sent an email yesterday about smallmouth bass fishing around Harper’s Ferry on the Potomac and Shenandoah Rivers: “We are starting to guide this month. The fish are moving out of their winter patterns towards pre-spawn behavior. Spawn will be early, and summer patterns will be early… You need to be early…” If this pre-spawn behavior is starting now, that’s closer to three weeks earlier than last year in my neck of the woods along the main stem of the Shenandoah. Incidentally, he goes on to mention that the cicadas will be emerging along the northern section of the Blue Ridge this year, so tie up some big cicada patterns.
So this could be shaping up as a phenomenal early season for us. Hopefully it’s not going to mean that the hot, low clear water conditions come early and stay longer, too. Perhaps we’ll see a nice stretch of cool rains in mid to late spring to break us out of this warm dry pattern we’ve gone through this winter.
Here is a super easy blue winged olive pattern from Orvis News. The thing I love about this video is how simple this fly is to tie. After having entertained myself with a lot of complicated fly tying recipes, I’ve definitely settled on the less-is-more approach. The basic steps in this video are similar to how I tie just about all of my dry flies now, the exceptions being Royal Wulffs, Patriots and Stimulators. Basically, if it’s a Catskill type of dry fly, this is how I do it. I even “cheat” on things like an Adams. Instead of using some feather tips I just use some synthetic material like Z-Lon or whatever I have lying around that will be visible when the fly is floating in the current — much faster to tie and I don’t think the fish have any idea it’s not a “textbook” pattern on the top.
The latest trout stocking info from Virginia. The Jackson, notably. I mentioned Hogue Creek in Frederick county (not too far a drive for me) quite some time ago and still have not been there. Passage Creek is another recently stocked stream in the area if you live in Northern Virginia and consider anything up to an hour and a half drive “in the area.” It was just stocked last month, too.
- Amherst Co.
- Pedlar River (Lower) (02/29)
- Albemarle Co.
- Moorman’s River (North Fork) (03/01)
- Sugar Hollow Reservoir (03/01)
- Bath Co.
- Jackson River (Hidden Valley) (02/29)
- Floyd Co.
- Burkes Fork (03/01)
- Little River (03/01)
- Frederick Co.
- Hogue Creek (02/28)
- Grayson Co.
- Hales Lake (03/01)
- Henry Co.
- Smith River (Lower) (02/28)
- Roanoke Co.
- Glade Creek (02/29)
- Tinker Creek (02/29)
- Rockbridge Co.
- Maury River (02/27)
- Mill Creek (02/27)
- Shenandoah Co.
- Tomahawk Pond (02/27)
- Passage Creek (03/01)
- Smyth Co.
- South Fork Holston (Lower) (02/28)