Shenandoah National Park is well known as a prime destination for backpackers and campers seeking to explore a piece of unblemished mountain wilderness. But the 102-mile long park, created in 1936, also offers something special for sportsmen and women: some of the finest wild brook trout streams in the East.
Over 40 streams cascade down both the east and west slopes of the Blue Ridge Mountains inside the Park, beckoning anglers with their crystalline pools and gurgling rapids.
Introductions of stocked fish by the Virginia Wildlife Department have been confined to much lower, valley stretches of these streams. Fortunately, the rainbows that were stocked have not migrated up and taken over the native brook trout habitat.
The size of fish you catch in the park is not large, but their beauty and wariness make them a challenging quarry and a joy to fish for.
Most of these secluded streams are reached either by hiking in from dirt or gravel roads in the lowlands, or by parking on the Skyline drive and walking a mile or two down steep mountain trails.
Mature trees, some centuries old, grow thick on surrounding slopes and the air smells heavy of fir, spruce, hemlock, mountain laurel and pine The water is cold and clear, splashing loudly over current-polished stones.
While most of the park’s brook trout run 6-9 inches, sometimes you’ll latch onto a brute in the 10-12-inch class. Those are very old fish and deserve to be gently released.
Only artificial lures with single hooks and flies are allowed on the streams. Some are designated as catch-and-release while others have strict size and creel limits to protect the fishery.
When going after Shenandoah Park’s skittish brook trout, keep in mind how shy and wary these native fish are. Don’t walk loudly or stumble over rocks as you approach the water. Keep a low profile, hunching down where necessary so they don’t see you.
Keep casts low and sidearm as much as possible. Use the upstream approach in most cases, so you can work in close for a precise cast, yet avoid spooking the wary trout.
Fly fishing is the most popular method for catching the park’s trout. The tight quarters with overhanging vegetation make a light action rod of 7-8 feet just right, with a size 3-5 double taper or weight-forward floating line. Add a 7 ½-10 foot leader tapering to a 4x-7x tippet and you’re set.
Good hatches on the streams include the Quill Gordon, Grey Fox, March Brown, Blue Quill and Little Yellow Stonefly. Various caddis flies also hatch occasionally, and terrestrials are abundant. Those land-based insects form a large part of the mountain trout’s diet. Beetles, ants, crickets, grasshoppers, leafhoppers, and caterpillars are continuously tumbling in from shoreline shrubbery.
Top dry fly offerings for the park trout include the Irresistible, Gray Wulff, Humpy, Adams, Mr. Rapidan, Blue Winged Olive, Elk Hair Caddis, and terrestrials such as ants, beetles, crickets and grasshoppers, in sizes 12-18.
For nymph fishing, the Hare’s Ear, Pheasant Tail, and Montana Stone are good choices.
For high water conditions a small streamer such as the Clouser Minnow or Muddler can score. Sizes 2-6 are best.
Ninety percent of the time, you’ll want to tie on a dry fly for fishing these wild brook trout waters. Drop your surface offerings into the crystalline pools and deep pockets behind boulders with just enough slack or curve thrown into the cast so you get a few seconds of drag-free float. That’s usually all the time it takes for a hungry brookie to swirl up and snatch your offering from the surface in a flash of orange and olive brilliance.
Spin fishing can also be productive on these streams. Good options include small in-line spinners, grubs, jigs, spoons, and small plastic mini-worms. Remember, only one hook is allowed so bend down or snip off any extra hooks on the lure.
Tackle needs for spin fishing are simple. Use a 5-6 foot ultralight rod and 2-4 pound line.
Tip: Concentrate on the largest pools and swift deep runs when using spinning gear. Pocket water is best reserved for fly fishing.
Work upstream, so you can approach the fish without being seen. A slow steady retrieve just barely faster than the current is best.
For current information on stream conditions or guided trips in the park, get in touch with fishing author and instructor Harry Murray at Murray’s Fly Shop on US 11in Edinburg, Virginia, 540/984-4212; info@murraysflyshop.com. He also offers hands-on classes on fly fishing the park’s waters.
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