VA Trout

[JohnCSullivan]

My brother was given the use of a ski villa near Massanutten Ski Resort. We were thinking of going late March-early April.

Does anyone know when the fishing picks up in that area of Virginia? Is it all stocked, or are their native rivers?

[ditch]

brookies will be on top by then, depending on where you go in the stocked streams they might be back on top by then, bring lots of yella sallys and a 2 wt for the brooks, for the stockers try a 3 wt......snp has had a hart year though just fyi.........with the drought not only did the low water take out a lot of fish, predators in the area got quite a few apparently as well, if you'd like i could either show ya'll or give you directions to my spring fed honey hole for brookies, it holds some big ones, but you'll get numbers more than anything, ive had afternoons with 40-50 fish in the springtime...........

[Salmo trutta]

I was at Massanuten with the family two weekends ago. Of course I brought a rod but never made it into SNP. I did try to fish two of the privately stocked trout ponds within the resort with the kids. My fly line would freeze and my guides chocked with ice after only two casts. It was bitterly cold. No fish. But it is stocked with trout and costs $3 a day to fish for non owners, no matter what age. One pond is probably 2 acres in size but is constantly drawn down and the water is used for snow making. The other is half an acre in size. Both heavily silted in and in poor quality. But I just had to wet a line on a family skiing weekend.

But SNP is right next door and a delrome atlas will show the way to many good places. I remember thinking it was perfectly situated in the heart of some decent trout fishing but my expertise lies in Western Maryland as I'm a virgin to Va trout waters.

The skiing was pathetic as there were only 12 trails open on the busiest weekend of the year and they were all short as can be. The staff was very helpful though. But the resort as a whole is something I've never seen before. There's a huge indoor and outdoor water park, pricey but fun. You can surf there even. Water slides, bikinis in February.... not a bad way to spend a day. The kids loved it.

Tubing with it's own lift. Two people at once increased your velocity by 10 fold and often we would hit the back padded wall with tremendous force. Be careful there and make sure the heavier guy is in the front to avoid squashing the children.

A few nice restaurants on site, a beautiful over look where you can see for miles in either direction.

Close enough to Harrisonburg to hit the N. Fork of the Shenandoah for smallmouth.

[old town angler]

You have some nice Native brookie action nearby. Within 45 minutes to an hour drive , mostly on small backroads and fire roads. I fish the mountains all winter, only thing that stops me is my guides freezing up. No crowds, no snakes, few hikers and plenty of action. I usually use dry flies and have no problem catching fish. B-mail me over this site when your getting close to going and I can get you a list of good spots nearby.

[Salmo trutta]

To stop guides from freezing there is some expensive orvis ice off stuff or pam butter spray, gink dry fly floatant, chapstick, vasoline..... theres more I'm sure. I didn't have any the other day but most of them work.

THe pam spey is best applied the night before you head out. The oil keeps the ice from forming or sheds the water quickly.

[bluto]

Call Billy at Blue Ridge angler Fly Shop, Harrisonburg, VA...think that's the correct info - he has a number of nice pay-to-fish streams that limit anglers. SNL is also worth a shot, again ask Billy.

FYI, did a quick google - wonder if he closed his shop....bummer if he did. That would make 2 VA fly shops closed recently, the other the Angler's Lie in
Arlington. I you would liek I can call a friend who knows Billy and see if his streams are still avaiable. Drop me a bmail.

Mossy Creek is nearby and the haul across the mtn to the Rose/Rapidan is also very doable.

[bluto]

Man, this is a bummer...I looked up another Harrisonburg flyshop - new name to me - Mossy Creek, here's the link: Mossy Creek Fly Fishing :: Contact Information

looks like they are handling the private streams Billy had - Suzie Q and Riverbend...guess all is not lost.

The last time I was in Harrisonburg - 2 or 3 years ago - Billy's shop was slow. He and Amy were great folks to deal with always full of info.

[ditch]

im pretty sure billy is still in the area, when he ran the fly shop with amy they started a soccer shop next door to it, im not 100% sure but i think he's still at the soccer shop, i'll give him a call tomorrow to check it out, mossy has been fishing horribly as of lately, only one fish caught in the past week and a half...not sure how thats gonna pick up by the time you come this way
the trows are cool guys, i go there about twice a week, very hardcore orvis guys....dunno if thats a good thing or not to ya'll......

[JohnCSullivan]

I saw Mossy and the 2 private streams you mentioned regarding Billy. I will be in touch when we get closer to the trip. Thanks for the help guys.

[boondoggle]

Ditch,

Where's the rest of your usual name?