Flowing through rolling farmland, this spring creek offers challenging conditions but is worth putting in the time for a shot at a large brown trout. Nymphing with scuds and small bead head pheasant tails can work well year-round if you are skilled enough to work your flies through the channels between the aquatic vegetation. Terrestrial fishing in the summer months is especially exciting with ants, beetles, crickets, and hoppers. Hatches of sulphurs, caddis, BWOs, and tricos keep the trout busy throughout the year. High and off-color water conditions align to make for some of the best streamer fishing in the state. One of the best times to fish this stream is after a heavy storm event. The slow currents and masses of aquatic vegetation can make Mossy Creek a particularly challenging place to fly fish. These fish grow quickly with the abundance of food in this spring creek. Fly anglers fishing Mossy Creek must carry the free landowner permit, which can be acquired online at DWR stocks Mossy Creek annually with advanced fingerling brown trout as natural reproduction is limited. This special regulation stream is fly fishing only and there are 4 miles of water open to the public thanks to a partnership between DWR, Trout Unlimited, and local landowners. Mossy Creek is a limestone spring creek in the Shenandoah Valley and is most known for its large and wary brown trout. The author with a nice brown trout from the upper section of the public stretch on Mossy Creek. Since the Jackson River is a tailwater, make sure to check the river flows and release schedule before planning your trip. A variety of caddis and mayfly hatches keep the trout happy throughout the spring, summer, and fall and can provide for technical fly fishing situations. Spin fisherman will also find luck pursuing some of the river’s larger specimens with trout magnets, live bait, or spinners like the Joe’s Fly during this time of year. High spring flows can be the best time of year to hunt for larger brown trout with streamers and sinking line. Reference the map on the DWR website for additional information on access points.īoth fly and spin anglers will enjoy the wild trout opportunities on the Jackson. Please note that some riverfront landowners have brought successful trespassing claims to anglers fishing in a couple of distinct sections of the river. There are six public access points, giving anglers a variety of float options. This larger river provides anglers the opportunity to fish from a raft or drift boat for wild trout, with many in the 12- to 16-inch range. Wild brown trout and wild rainbow trout thrive in the tailwater from Gathright Dam 18 miles downstream to Covington. The author with a 21″ brown trout caught on a large streamer while floating the Jackson River tailwater.Īnglers looking to fish a larger river for wild trout should look no further than the Jackson River tailwater. These fee fishing areas are great places to take family members and beginners when teaching them how to trout fish. Finally, the Douthat State Park fee fishing area provides opportunities to target stocked trout on the 60-acre lake and in Wilson Creek. Here anglers can try their luck fishing for stocked trout. The Crooked Creek fee fishing area is in Carroll County, not far from Galax. The Clinch Mountain fee fishing area is an excellent opportunity for anglers in the southwestern portion of the state as you can try your luck on Big Tumbling Creek, Briar Cove Creek, and Laurel Bed Creek. Both fly anglers and spin anglers will enjoy the fee fishing areas.ĭuring the fee fishing season, which opens the first Saturday in April, the daily permit is $8. These fee fishing areas also have the added bonus of being stocked numerous times a week throughout the season. The Department’s three Fee Fishing Areas provide excellent “put and take” trout fishing opportunities. DWR Fisheries Biologist, Steve Owens, hooked up at the Clinch Mountain Fee Fishing area.įee Fishing Areas (Clinch Mountain, Crooked Creek, Douthat State Park)
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