Stream Category: A
Wild Trout: Unknown
Stocked Trout: Brook, Brown, and Rainbow
Other Species of Note: Possibility of Steelhead
Gear:
Dry Flies: Adams, Caddis
Nymphs: Pheasant tail, Prince, Hares Ear, Stonefly patterns, Copper John, Perdigon, Squirmy Wormy, Mop, Hot Spot Flies
Streamers: Sex Dungeon, Kreelex, Wooly Buggers
Waders: Yes
Net: Yes
Wading Stick: Yes!!!!!!!
Casting: Overhead, Roll, Spey, and Tuck
About:
Back Creek is one of those streamers that will fool you in a heart beat, make sure you have a wading stick. This is the only stream I have ever fell in and ruined a phone. It happened so quickly that I didn’t even have a chance to recover. This stream moves fast, even at its lowest, beware of sudden shelfs in the water you are wading in.
As far as the stream itself, well all i can simply say is “beautiful.” This is a stream out of a story book, the down side is that unless you live close by then it will be a drive. However the drive is also beautiful. It is definitely a freestone creek with lots of limestone. The fish here have so many places to post up and hide in that it is unreal. But don’t be dishearten by this fact: yes you will lose flies a lot on this stream if you are fishing deep like you should, but the rewards are marvelous fish and one of the most secluded areas to fish in. I have never been out west to the Rocky Mountains, however this area makes me feel like that is how every stream is out west.
Honestly I have caught fish at this stream on almost everything, they are vicious.. However you must read the water, and sight fish. Look for deep holes or shelfs that fish can hide in, they are there. I prefer hot spot and mop flies on this stream the most, just because it gives those fish a little more to entice them to strike. But most streamer patterns also work, just be prepared to be hung up a lot.
So if you noticed on the “Wild Trout” section I put “Unknown,” this because there is a lot of speculation on whether this stream actually holds wild trout or if just continues to hold hold-over trout. Either way you can fish this stream year round and catch fish in it, just like the Jackson River. Also there is a slight chance that you might catch a steelhead in this stream. They were introduced by the State of Virginia into Lake Moomaw, with the hopes that they would go up the Jackson River towards Hidden Valley and also up Back Creek to spawn. However, again, there is much speculation as if this ever succeeded. I for one have never caught a steelhead on Back Creek.
I highly recommend this stream, big fish do exist in this stream and it is one of the few that you can fish year round.
Additional comments:
Parking can easily be found throughout Back Creek, just be mindful of the “No Trespassing” signs. Also you will definitely be in bear country, be mindful of this. Also do not expect to get cell phone service, make sure you let someone know that you are going here and when you expect to be back.
Directions:
Fly Bum Outdoors 