Stream Category: B
Wild Trout: Lower Sections are considered to be a Wild Trout Stream (Rainbow and Brown)
Stocked Trout: Brook, Brown, and Rainbow
Other Species of Note:
Gear:
Dry Flies: Adams, Caddis, Royal Wulff, Terrestrials
Nymphs: Caddis Puppa, Pheasant Tail, Prince, Hares, Stone, Squirmy Wormy, Mop, and Perdigon
Streamers: Small Minnow
Waders: Yes
Net: Yes
Wading Stick: No
Casting: Tuck, Overhead, and Roll
About:
Rock Castle Creek, which is located right off of the Blue Ridge Parkway, is a gym of a stream. It is one of the few streams that a person can access easily off of the parkway. The beginning of this stream reminds an angler that they are fishing in brook trout waters, that the streams are very rocky, with deep pools, and fish here are relatively small. However the stream opens up when it gets going and becomes a stream that can rather large fish.
This mountain stream, immersed in laurel thickets and deep in a very natural forested area, is extremely cold: even during the summer months. I would highly suggest wearing waders at all times, unless you are one of the few that love wading in freezing water.
Honestly I don’t know what else to say about this stream, besides fish it almost immediately when it does get stocked. No wait, I guess I can say one other thing, this stream reminds me of what all of the state of Virginia mountain streams should be like. By this I mean it is very cold, shaded, and has a lot of rocks in it, it really is the perfect stream for wild trout to be reintroduced into and become one of a few special regulation wild streams that can be accessed off of the Blue Ridge Parkway. Sadly though it is a Category B stream that gets fished out rather quickly. However if you are willing to hike off the beaten path the stream does have wild trout in it, but this is towards the end of the stream.
Additional comments:
There are very few pull off points to the stream, and some of these still leave your vehicle very close to a road that has a ton of traffic on it. Be mindful also of trespassing and take precautions when it comes to little to no cell phone service. Also, and I can not stress this enough when it comes to Blue Ridge Parkway streams, be mindful that you are in bear country, be safe.
Directions:
Fly Bum Outdoors 