Tag: dry fly fishing

Stream Reports 4/06/15

Posted on by Patrick Frazier in Stream Reports
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Native Brook at Little Stony Creek (Cascades), Va

Top Producing Flies

Dry Flies: Midges, Adams, BWO, March Browns, Pheasant Tail, Klinkhammer

Nymphs: Zebra Midge (Black, Cream, and Brown), Soft Hackle, Pheasant Tail, Hares Ear, Prince, BWO, PMD, and Stoneflies.

Streamers: Wooly Bugger and Alevian.

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Wild Rainbow at Mill Creek, Va

Streams

Water Level

Stocking Date

Big Stony Creek

4

3/28

Little Stony Creek

4

N/A

Mile Creek

4

N/A

Wolf Creek – Giles

4

3/25

Dismal Creek

3-4

3/27

Craig Creek

3

3/31

Pandapas Pond

3

3/31

Poverty Creek

2

3/23

Toms Creek

3

3/23

Wolf Creek – Bland

3-4

3/23

Laurel Fork – Bland

3

3/23

Peak Creek

3

3/12

Peak Creek (DH)

3

10/31

Potts Creek

3-4

4/04

Brabours Creek

3

3/20

Bluestone River, WV

4

N/A

East River, WV

3

4/02

Camp Creek, WV

3

4/02

Burks Fork

3/24

Goose Creek

3/11

Laurel Fork

3/16

Little Indian Creek

3/30

Little River

3/24

Mira Fork

3/27

Rush Fork 

3/27

West Fork Little River

3/27

Chestnut Creek 

10/31

Crooked Creek

3/20

Little Reed Island Creek

3/20

Lovills Creek

4/06

Stewarts Creek

4/06

Lick Creek

3/26

Big Wilson Creek

3/25

Elk Creek

3/24

Fox Creek

3/04

Helton Creek

3/04

Middle Fox Creek

3/04

Laurel Creek

3/26

Little Tumbling Creek

3/13

Big Brumley Creek

3/13

Big Tumbling Creek

4/02

Straight Branch

4/01

Valley Creek

4/01

Whitetop Laurel (Lower)

3/19

Whitetop Laurel (Upper)

3/19

Cripple Creek (Rt. 94)

3/21

Cripple Creek (Ravens)

3/31

Stoney Creek (Wythe County)

3/23

West Fork Reed Creek

10/29

Comers Creek

3/18

Cressy Creek

3/18

Dickey Creek

3/18

Hurricane Creek

3/18

Staley Creek

3/26

Anthony Creek, WV

4/06

North Fork Anthony Creek, WV

3/24

Meadow Creek, WV

3/19

Second Creek, WV

3/20

Water Level Rates (1-Very Low. 2-Low, 3-Good, 4-High, 5-Very High) ( * is for frozen waters)

Roaring Run

Posted on by Patrick Frazier in Roaring Run

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Stream Category: B  and Special Regulation Water

Wild Trout: Brook, Brown, and Rainbow Trout

Gear:

· Dry Flies: Adams, BWO, Terrestrials, Stimulators, Royal Wulff, and Caddis

· Nymphs : Pheasant Tail, Hares Ear, Copper John, Prince, Zebra Midge, and Soft Hackles

· Streamers: Wooly Bugger

· Rod: 7’

· Waders: Chest

· Net: No

· Polarized fishing sunglasses

Casting: Back, Side, and Roll Casts

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About:

Roaring Run is very similar to Little Stony Creek in Giles County, not only in the way the stream flows but also because of its native trout population and its friendliness to fly fisherman. The difference between the Little Stony Creek and Roaring Run is that Roaring Run is not an easily accessible stream, because of this it does not receive the same traffic as Little Stony Creek. Also Roaring Run still receives stocking from the state of Virginia, some of the fingerling trout are apart of Trout Unlimited’s “Trout in the Classroom” program.

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From what I have learned Roaring Run used to be a very heavily trafficked stream for both spin fishermen and fly fishermen, even now it’s special regulation water is known for its trophy trout water. However only one citation or ”trophy trout” was caught in the 2013-2014 season according to Virginia’s Department of Game and Inland Fisheries website. From what I have personally seen the trout in this stream are far from what I would call trophies, though there are several areas that could easily hold trophy trout.

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So here comes the problem with planning; when going to Roaring Run prepare as if you were going to Little Stony Creek, bring a small fly rod (7’) that you can easily cast with under brush and rhododendrons.  However make sure that your fly rod is at least a 5 weight with a 4 to 5 weight tippet and leader, any smaller you run the risk of losing any trophy trout you encounter. For the most part you will only encounter five to ten inch trout. Also you should choose which style you are going to fish before starting to fish, personally I like to dry fly fish from the parking lot up to falls, from there I like to switch to nymphs back to the parking lot. I only use streamers in the larger holes.

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Additional Notes and Precautions:

Besides the distance from any major cities Roaring Run is a fantastic stream. Just remember this fact, make sure you have enough gas to get there and back, take plenty of food, water, and definitely make sure you take a med kit. Cell phone service here is very spotty, if you are using GPS to get to Roaring Run make sure to print off directions back to where you started or back track using the directions below.

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Directions:

From Main Street in Blacksburg:

Take Main Street to US-460 E. Once on US-460 E continue until you reach I81 N. Continue on I81 until you reach Exit 150B US11-N/Us-220 N. Once on US-220n continue for 27.9 miles the turn left onto State Rte 615. Continue on State Rte 615 for 5.5 miles then turn right onto State Rte 621. Roaring Run will be approximately be .3 miles on you left.

From I81 in Roanoke:

Take I81 to Exit 150B US11-N/Us-220 N. Once on US-220n continue for 27.9 miles the turn left onto State Rte 615. Continue on State Rte 615 for 5.5 miles then turn right onto State Rte 621. Roaring Run will be approximately be .3 miles on you left.

Barbours Creek

Posted on by Patrick Frazier in Barbours Creek

Stream Category: B (NSF)

Wild Trout: South Prong of Barbours Creek holds native Brook

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Gear:

· Dry Flies: Adams, BWO, Terrestrials, Stimulators, Royal Wulff, and Caddis

· Nymphs : Pheasant Tail, Hares Ear, Copper John, Prince, Zebra Midge, and Soft Hackles

· Streamers: Wooly Bugger

· Rod: 7’ to 9’

· Waders: Chest

· Net: Yes

· Polarized fishing sunglasses

Casting: Back, Side, and Roll Casts

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About:

Barbours Creek is a fine stream that suffers from insufficient waters thus resulting in it being listed as NSF Virginia stream. However when the water is up and the state stocks this stream, Barbours Creek is one of the only streams that carries trophy sized brook trout. In fact brook trout is the only species of trout that the state of Virginia stocks in Barbours Creek. According to the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries website Barbours Creek had twenty two brook trout citations just in 2013-2014 season, with the largest brookie weighting in over four pounds.

The stream itself is a beautiful Virginian mountain stream. Actually I would say it is a bit more than that, it is simply breathtaking. Because of its location in the highlands of the Jefferson National Forest in Craig County, Virginia, Barbours Creek is virtually untouched by civilization. You are not going to see the all to normal stream side trash, what you are going to see is crystal water that mirrors the forest that surrounds it.

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Though Barbours Creek is a very lengthy stream that flows into Craig Creek, the state of Virginia only stocks a four mile stretch of water near the Potts Mountain Jeep Trail. Within this stretch of water prepare for many riffles and countless deep holes, with brook trout hiding in at almost every turn. Really you could park about anywhere within this stretch and catch your limit, however I suggest using the camping and parking areas that you will find. Usually by doing so you are going to find the deepest holes in Barbours Creek. If you are adventurous I suggest trying to fish the South Prong of Barbours Creek, you will find a lot of native brook trout lying in wait that have not seen heavy fishing pressure.

Additional Notes and Precautions:

Because you will be in the back country I suggest taking the proper precautions: notifying someone where you will be at and when you will be back, taking food, water, and a med kit. Also you will be in an area that is a very popular place for hunters, make sure you wear some type of blaze orange and take the proper precautions when it comes to personal protection from wild animals. You will get the occasional cell phone signal but do not count on having this throughout your day.

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Directions:

From Main Street in Blacksburg:

From Main Street going towards 460 West, turn right onto Mt Tabor Rd. Continue on Mt Tabor Rd for 10.8 miles until it merges with VA-624. Continue on VA-624 for 7.7 miles. Turn left onto VA-311 N and follow road for 10.3 miles. Turn right onto State Rte 615/Market St in New Castle and follow road for 2.8 mies. From here make a slight left onto VA-609 and continue for 2.2 miles. Turn left on to State Rte 611 and follow for 3.2 miles, by now you will see Barbours Creek on your left. Turn right onto VA-617/Barbours Creek Road continue for roughly 2.3 miles until you see the first Virginia State Stocking Sign, this sign is closely located to the Potts Creek Jeep Trail.

From I81 in Roanoke:

Take exit 141 for VA-419 toward VA-311 N/Salem/New Castle. Turn left on to VA-419 N, then turn right onto VA-311 N. Follow VA-311 N until you reach New Castle, Va. Turn right onto State Rte 615/Market St in New Castle and follow road for 2.8 mies. From here make a slight left onto VA-609 and continue for 2.2 miles. Turn left on to State Rte 611 and follow for 3.2 miles, by now you will see Barbours Creek on your left. Turn right onto VA-617/Barbours Creek Road continue for roughly 2.3 miles until you see the first Virginia State Stocking Sign, this sign is closely located to the Potts Creek Jeep Trail.