stocking

More fish, more more more… If you can’t get away to catch some brookies, here is the latest stocked stream report for Virginia. After hitting White Oak Canyon this week, I can tell you that dry fly fishing for brook trout is absolutely on! But if you have a convenient stocked trout stream next door, read on.

I can’t keep track of the Stony and Stoney Creeks in this state. And why wouldn’t you always put an “e” in that name? There is Little Stoney Creek and Stony Creek in Shenandoah County, which was just stocked (and is that really Big Stoney creek?). So was Stoney Creek in Wythe County and Big Stoney Creek in Giles County, down by Blacksburg:

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Albemarle Co.

Sugar Hollow Reservoir (04/05)

Alleghany Co.

Jerrys Run (04/06)

Clifton Forge Reservoir (04/07)

Amherst Co.

Davis Mill Creek (04/02)

Augusta Co.

Hearthstone Lake (04/04)

Bath Co.

Jackson River (Rt. 623) (04/04)

Back Creek (04/05)

Bland Co.

Lick Creek (04/04)

Buchanan Co.

Dismal River (04/07)

Carroll Co.

Crooked Creek (04/05)

Little Reed Island Creek (04/05)

Dickenson Co.

Cranesnest River (04/04)

Pound River (Flannagan Dam) (04/04)

Russell Fork River (Bartlick) (04/04)

Floyd Co.

Burkes Fork (04/06)

Little River (04/06)

West Fork Little River (04/04)

Mira Fork (04/07)

Rush Fork (04/07)

Frederick Co.

Paddy Run (04/06)

Giles Co.

Wolf Creek (04/05)

Big Stoney Creek (04/07)

Grayson Co.

Elk Creek (04/07)

Greene Co.

South River (04/07)

Swift Run (04/07)

Henry Co.

Smith River (Dam) (04/04)

Smith River (Lower) (04/04)

Highland Co.

S. Br. Potomac River (04/05)

Lee Co.

Martins Creek (04/06)

North Fork Powell River(04/06)

Nelson Co.

South Rockfish River (04/04)

Tye River (04/04)

Page Co.

Cub Run (04/06)

Roanoke Co.

Roanoke River (City) (04/05)

Roanoke River (Salem) (04/05)

Glade Creek (04/06)

Rockbridge Co.

Irish Creek (04/06)

Rockingham Co.

Briery Branch Lake (04/04)

Hone Quarry Lake (04/04)

Slate Lick Lake (04/07)

Slate Lick Run (04/07)

Shenandoah Co.

Stony Creek (04/05)

Mill Creek (04/05)

Smyth Co.

Comers Creek (04/06)

Cressy Creek (04/06)

Dickey Creek (04/06)

Hurricane Creek (04/06)

South Fork Holston River (Buller Dam) (04/06)

Middle Fork Holston River (Upper) (04/07)

Staley Creek (04/07)

Staunton (City of)

Lake Tams (04/02)

Tazewell Co.

Laurel Creek (04/04)

Washington Co.

Tennessee Laurel (04/05)

Whitetop Laurel (Upper) (04/05)

Whitetop Laurel (Lower) (04/05)

Wythe Co.

Gullion Fork Ponds (04/06)

Stoney Creek (04/06)

West Fork Reed Creek (04/06)

Another big week for the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries, stocking those trout all over the state. And looks like another cold weekend here in Virginia. Temps on Sunday are only expected to hit the upper 30’s, and only the low 40’s today through Saturday. It’s a good bet that that is going to turn off dry fly fishing for brook trout in the mountains.

So, go catch some dumb stocked trout! In my area, Lake Thompson (aka Thompson WMA Pond) has once again filled itself back up after mysteriously draining last year, so the state is once again stocking it. I have never fished there but have pestered some of the guys who are persistently on the banks hauling out trout for supper. They had some nice rainbows on stringers last time I was there. I just got a 300 grain Scientific Anglers Wet Tip Express for my Scott A3 switch rod, so I may head down there to see how fast that line gets down to those fish. But next week, I swear it’s going to warm up and I’m going to head up to Shenandoah National Park with my new used Winston WT 7 foot 3 weight. This thing is a joy to cast.

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Albemarle Co.

Mint Springs Lake (Middle) (03/19)

Mint Springs Lake (Upper) (03/19)

Alleghany Co.

Clifton Forge Reservoir (3/23)

Amherst Co.

Piney River (S. Fk. and Proper) (03/24)

Augusta Co.

North River (Gorge) (03/21)

North River (Natural Chimneys) (03/21)

South River (Ridgeview Park) (03/24)

Bath Co.

Cowpasture River (03/18 after 4PM)

Back Creek (03/22)

Bland Co.

Lick Creek (03/21)

Wolf Creek (03/23)

Botetourt Co.

Jennings Creek (03/23)

Middle Creek (03/21)

North Creek (03/21)

Buchanan Co.

Russell Fork River (03/21)

Dismal River (03/22)

Chesapeake (City of)

Northwest River Park (03/23)

Craig Co.

Barbours Creek (03/24)

Potts Creek (03/21)

Dickenson Co.

Frying Pan Creek (03/21)

Pound River (Flannagan Dam) (03/23)

Russell Fork River (Bartlick) (03/23)

Russell Fork River (Haysi) (03/23)

Fauquier Co.

Thompson WMA Pond

Floyd Co.

Burkes Fork (03/22)

Little River (03/22)

Frederick Co.

Clearbrook Lake (03/24)

Wilkins Lake (03/24)

Giles Co.

Big Stoney Creek (03/19)

Wolf Creek (03/22)

Grayson Co.

Hales Lake (03/19)

Lee Co.

Martins Creek (03/24)

North Fork Powell River (03/24)

Madison Co.

Hughes River (03/21)

Rose River (03/21)

Montgomery Co.

Craig Creek (03/23)

Newport News (City of)

Lake Biggins (03/23)

Roanoke Co.

Glade Creek (03/22)

Tinker Creek (03/22)

Rockingham Co.

Briery Branch Lake (03/23)

Hone Quarry Lake (03/23)

Hone Quarry Run (03/23)

South River (Grottoes) (03/24)

Scott Co.

Stock Creek (03/24)

Shenandoah Co.

Passage Creek (03/21)

Peters Mill Creek (03/21)

Mill Creek (03/22)

Stony Creek (03/22)

Tazewell Co.

Lake Witten (03/23)

Laurel Creek (03/21)

Lincolnshire Lake (03/24)

Wythe Co.

Cripple Creek (Rte. 94) (03/24)

I realize I have posted a lot of trout stocking info for Virginia in recent months, and that’s not exactly brook trout fishing material. Bear with me, though. A lot of people find this useful. For many of us, fishing for brook trout in late fall through mid-winter (during and after they spawn) is considered at least unfair, and really, damaging to the populations of fish. So hopefully the trout stocking info has helped people find other places to go during the winter months. I also try to add a little extra info on particular places I’ve fished before in the hope that it is helpful.

Anyway, in the next few weeks the amount of brook trout fishing content should increase. The weather is now turning for the season (and for the better) and I plan to make time to fish a lot of streams and report about it here. Next week I have a Winston WT 7 foot 3 weight fly rod arriving for a full on-stream review, and in conjunction with a detailed report on the Shenandoah National Park stream I visit to do that. So things will be picking up.

Now on to the weekly trout stocking report. Note that the South River, which is coming back into its own, has been stocked.

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Alleghany Co.

Clifton Forge Reservoir (03/11 Late)

Pounding Mill Creek (03/16)

Smith Creek (03/16)

Augusta Co.

Back Creek (03/14)

Mills Creek (03/14)

Braley Pond (03/15)

Hearthstone Lake (03/15)

Elkhorn Lake (03/15)

Bath Co.

Douthat Lake (03/17)

Jackson River (Hidden Valley) (03/17)

Botetourt Co.

Roaring Run (03/12)

Carroll Co.

Crooked Creek (03/17)

Little Reed Island Creek (03/17)

Lovills Creek (03/14)

Stewarts Creek (03/14)

Floyd Co.

Goose Creek (03/15)

Laurel Fork (03/15)

Franklin Co.

Pigg River (03/17)

Giles Co.

Dismal Creek (03/16)

Grayson Co.

Fox Creek (03/14)

Helton Creek (03/14)

Middle Fox Creek (03/14)

Greene Co.

South River (03/14)

Swift Run (03/14)

Henry Co.

Smith River (Lower) (03/14)

Madison Co.

Robinson River (03/17)

Nelson Co.

South Rockfish River (03/16)

Page co.

Hawksbill Creek (03/16)

Patrick Co.

Dan River (above Talbott) (03/15)

Poorhouse Creek (03/16)

Round Meadow Creek (03/15)

South Mayo River (North Fork) (03/16)

South Mayo River (South Fork) (03/16)

Roanoke County

Roanoke River (City) (03/16)

Roanoke River (Salem) (03/16)

Rockbridge Co.

South River (03/14)

Rockingham Co.

Dry River (03/17)

Russell Co.

Big Cedar Creek (03/17)

Scott Co.

Bark Camp Lake (03/17)

Smyth Co.

Middle Fork Holston River (Marion) (03/12)

Staley Creek (03/12)

Staunton (City of)

Lake Tams (03/15)

Warren Co.

Happy Creek (03/17)

Wise Co.

Clear Creek (03/16)

Middle Fork Powell River (03/16)

Wythe Co.

Stoney Creek (03/14)

West Fork Reed Creek (03/14)

Cripple Creek (Ravens) (03/15)

Another whopping load of fish deposited in your favorite streams last week, including Passage Creek (which I mentioned last week), the Upper North River (to complete the Gorge and the Natural Chimneys sections which were stocked a couple weeks ago) and many better rivers including the Bullpasture, South Branch of the Potomac, the Maury, the Hughes and Rose Rivers and the rest.

Amherst Co.

Davis Mill Creek (03/11)

Pedlar River (Upper) (03/11)

Augusta Co.

Lower Sherando Lake (03/09)

North River (Upper) (03/07)

Upper Sherando Lake (03/09)

Bath Co.

Bullpasture River (03/11)

Douthat Lake & Wilson Creek (03/11)

Pads Creek (03/08)

Bedford Co.

Liberty Lake (03/08)

Bland Co.

Lick Creek (03/08)

Botetourt Co.

Jennings Creek (03/07)

McFalls Creek (03/07)

Craig Co.

Potts Creek (03/09)

Fauquier Co.

Thompson WMA Pond (03/05)

Floyd Co.

Little Indian Creek (03/07)

Mira Fork (03/07)

Rush Fork (03/07)

Franklin Co.

Pigg River (03/08)

Runnett Bag Creek (03/08)

Giles Co.

Wolf Creek (03/07)

Grayson Co.

Big Wilson Creek (03/09)

Elk Creek (03/08)

Highland Co.

Bullpasture River (03/11)

S. Br. Potomac River (03/08)

Lee Co.

Martins Creek (03/07)

North Fork Powell River (03/07)

Madison Co.

Hughes River (03/09)

Rose River (03/09)

Montgomery Co.

Pandapas Pond (03/07 & 3/11)

Nelson Co.

Tye River (03/08)

Page Co.

Upper Passage Creek (03/07)

Patrick Co.

Ararat River (03/09)

Clarks Creek (03/09)

Rockcastle Creek (03/10)

Pulaski Co.

Peak Creek (03/11)

Rockbridge Co.

Maury River (03/08)

Mill Creek (03/08)

Rockingham Co.

Briery Branch Lake (03/10)

Hone Quarry Lake (03/10)

Silver Lake (03/07)

Scott Co.

Big Stony Creek (03/10)

Little Stony Creek (03/10)

Straight Fork (Lower) (03/10)

Shenandoah Co.

Passage Creek (03/10)

Smyth Co.

South Fork Holston River (Buller Dam) (03/09)

South Fork Holston River (Lower) (03/11)

Tazewell Co.

Laurel Creek (03/08)

Lake Witten (03/09)

Lincolnshire Lake (03/11)

Washington Co.

Beartree Lake (03/08)

Straight Branch (03/08)

Wythe Co.

Gullion Fork Ponds (03/10)

Rural Retreat Lake Pond (03/05)

Whoops, I’ve been asleep at the wheel and missed this last week. LOTS of places were stocked last week, and this little cold snap has made brook trout fishing during our false spring a week ago seem like a distant memory. But soon…

Almost a year ago I fished the North River Gorge and caught a couple small rainbows. It’s a beautiful place and a good hike in and out to fish the interior parts of the Gorge. If you drive in almost to Elkhorn Lake there is a small campground and parking on the upstream end of the Gorge. There may be better places to fish but this is certainly a nice getaway while you’re waiting for the mountain streams to warm up a little.

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Anyway, here’s the stocking list from last week:

Alleghany Co.

Jerry’s Run (02/28)

Amherst Co.

Pedlar River (Lower) (03/02)

Augusta Co.

Braley Pond (03/03)

Elkhorn Lake (03/01)

Hearthstone Lake (03/03)

North River (Natural Chimneys) (02/28)

North River (Gorge) (02/28)

South River (Ridgeview Park) (03/02)

Falls Hollow (03/04)

Bath Co.

Back Creek (03/02)

Jackson River (Rt. 623) (03/04)

Bland Co.

Laurel Fork Creek (03/02)

Wolf Creek (03/02)

Buchanan Co.

Dismal River (03/02)

Carroll Co.

Crooked Creek (03/03)

Little Reed Island Creek (03/03)

Dickenson Co.

Cranesnest River (03/04)

Pound River (Flannagan Dam) (03/04)

Russell Fork River (Bartlick) (03/04)

Fauquier Co.

Thompson WMA Pond (02/28)

Floyd Co.

Burkes Fork (02/28)

Burkes Fork (03/04)

Little River (03/04)

Frederick Co.

Clearbrook Lake (03/02)

Hogue Creek (03/02)

Wilkins Lake (03/02)

Giles Co.

Big Stoney Creek (03/03)

Dismal Creek (03/02)

Grayson Co.

Hales Lake (03/04)

Henry Co.

Smith River (Dam) (03/01)

Smith River (Lower) (03/01)

Madison Co.

Robinson River (03/04)

Montgomery Co.

Poverty Creek (03/02)

Toms Creek (03/02)

Page Co.

Hawksbill Creek (03/04)

Patrick Co.

Dan River (Below Powerhouse) (03/01)

Roanoke Co.

Glade Creek (03/02)

Roanoke River (City) (02/28)

Roanoke River (Salem) (02/28)

Tinker Creek (03/02)

Rockingham Co.

South River (Grottoes) (03/02)

Scott Co.

Bark Camp Lake (03/01)

Shenandoah Co.

Stony Creek (03/03)

Smyth Co.

Hurricane Creek (02/28)

Tazewell Co.

Lincolnshire Lake (02/26)

Washington Co.

Tennesse Laurel (03/03)

Whitetop Laurel (Lower) (03/03)

Whitetop Laurel (Upper) (03/03)

Wythe Co.

Cripple Creek (Rt. 94) (03/01)

Cripple Creek (Ravens) (03/03)

Looks like Fairfax County, Virginia, will be stocking Lake Fairfax with trout this spring, and looks like it’s already begun. From February 18th through April 29th, the county will stock rainbow trout in the lake. Not only will you need a valid Virginia freshwater fishing license, but (here’s the catch) you’ll also need to purchase a Lake Fairfax fishing pass. At $12 per day or $45 for the season ($40 if you’re under 16 or over 63), it’s not exactly a bargain. However, for a quick getaway near home if you live nearby it could be worth it.

Looks like a more modest trout stocking schedule this week than last time. Probably a good time to hit Passage Creek, mid-week, before the crowds get there this weekend.

Whoah, Nellie. The Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries has been busy this week.