Jackson River (Tailwater)

Stream Category: Special Regulation

 

Wild Trout: Brown and Rainbow

Stocked Trout: Brown and Rainbow

Other Species of Note: None

 

Gear:

Dry Flies: Adams, Caddis, and Terrestrials

Nymphs: Stone Flies, Pheasant Tail, Prince, Hares, Midges, Mop Flies, and Squirmmy Wormies, Perdigon

Streamers: Kreelex, Minnow Patterns, Articulated Minnow Patterns

Waders: Yes

Net: Yes

Casting: Tuck, Roll, and Overhead

About:

What can I say about the Jackson River below Lake MooMaw other than it tough as shit to fish… well it is tough as shit to fish and you will probably get skunked. I am just being honest with everyone; this place is gorgeous, I have seen a bald eagle here, I have caught a lot trout (fingerling to 20+ inches), but more often than not I have been skunked.

 

The Jackson River below Lake MooMaw is a freestone tailwater river, with lots of vegetation during the summer time, and lots of water during the winter months. It can be very shallow at times, then other times it can be very deep. Be careful when you fish here, and for god’s sake if you here an alarm going off get out of the water.

Realistically during the summer months if you are going to fish the section right below the dam you need to stick to dry flies, nymphs will get caught on the vegetation 90% of the time. If you plan on nymph fishing, hit towards the banks, the rapids, or the gigantic slow run (not mention deep) towards the end of the section. Streamer fishing is basically in the rapids and the gigantic run, just like nymph fishing you will run into a lot of vegetation towards the very beginning of the section. If you own a switch or spey rod, the long gigantic slow run will be perfect for swinging flies, it will also help you to get to spots that you would not be able to get to because of the depth of the stream.

All in all I still like fishing here, there is nothing like fishing a tail water. Even if the tail water is extremely difficult to fish.

Additional Comments: Parking can be found on the road leading to foot of the dam. Also fair warning, do not cross the line when it comes to the no trespassing signs, those people mean business.

Directions:

 

Wilson Creek

Stream Category: A and Fee Fishing During May-October

Wild Trout:

Stocked Trout: Brook

Other Species of Note: None

Gear:

Dry Flies: Adams, Caddis, and Terrestrials

Nymphs: Stone Flies, Pheasant Tail, Prince, Hares, Midges, Mop Flies, and Squirmmy Wormies

Streamers: Kreelex, Minnow Patterns

Waders: Yes

Net: Yes

Casting: Tuck, Roll, and Overhead

About:

Wilson Creek to be honest is a hit or miss stocked, freestone, tail water stream that is open year round. It resides in both Bath and Alleghany Counties, and both sides are stocked year round. The water that is supplied to Wilson Creeek is from Douthat Dam/Lake. I have personally been there many times year round; sometimes there is water, sometimes there is no water. I am baffled how the state of Virginia can make this stream a pay stream like Big Tumbling Creek and Cripple Creek, without having the water to support the stream. I am confounded on how they release the water from the dam, you would think that they would release it often to support Wilson Creek so that it would always have the correct water supply. Sadly this is not the case.

Honestly, I love and loathe Wilson Creek. When it has water and it has been stocked, you can catch nice sized brook trout all day long, However when there is no water, the brook trout are often easily spooked and very hard to find (except under a few bridges). What I suggest to do if you want to fish during normal fishing season is to wait until you see that Wilson Creek has been stocked, using VDGIF’s website, and if it has recently rained or snowed then fish this creek. During the summer months, other than calling the park to get a fishing report, there is no way of knowing that the stream has water or not (unless it has been raining for several days there).

When the stream has water; there are fast runs and nice sized holes that trout hold up in. However I do suggest fishing up stream instead of downstream. These brookies have some very good eye sight, and they will often see you before you see them. Keep your rig lite and simple; if you are nymph fishing I would suggest using a lite strike indicator (like the New Zealand strike indicator), I do not recommend euro nymph fishing here. Realistically you need to be able to cast up stream so that the fish will not see you, even if are fishing from a bank. Streamer fishermen need to stick to the bridges only, or if you have a very long cast, walk around the hole you are going to fish so that the fish will not be spooked by seeing you. Honestly I have never tried dry fly fishing at Wilson Creek, but if I did I would use a dry/dropper rig and keep to the traditional Virginia dry flies.

 

Additional Notes: Parking can be found throughout the park, please make sure to pay the fee for parking. 

Directions:

 

Pads Creek

Stream Category: Put and Take Class -B

Wild Trout: None

Stocked Trout: Brook Trout

Other Species of Note: None

Gear:

Dry Flies: Adams, Caddis, 

Nymphs: Stone Flies, Pheasant Tail, Prince, Hares, Midges, Mop Flies, and Squirmmy Wormies

Streamers: Kreelex, Minnow Patterns 

Waders: Yes

Net: Yes

Casting: Tuck, and Roll.

About:

Pads Creek might be one of the most hidden jewels in all of Bath County. Yes this stream is a Put and Take Stream, and we all know how much I do not like Put and Take Streams, but if you are going here you better have a good 4 wheel drive vehicle that you are willing to take through a stream. That at least puts a damper on some of those that like to follow the stocking trucks, well that and Pads Creek is literally in the middle of a no where gorge. If you go here make sure you carry (you can never be too cautious), take lots of food, water, and something to sleep in. Realistically I am not trying to be a pessimist, but stuff does happen, it is always a good idea to be prepared for anything. 

Now for what all of you have come here for: the fishing. Pads creek is a sandstone/limestone/shale creek that is gorgeous to fish. Ok well let me first say, the road that leads to Pads Creek is very flat and very straight dirt road that is fun as hell to drive, honestly I would go there to just fly down that road over and over again. But I digress, fishing here very simple, keep it simple. Find a good drop off pool, throw above it, watch it come down, and expect to get a fish every time. Yes they might not be citation size, but this creek is very easy and fun to fish. You can streamer fish, you can nymph fish, and you can dry fly fish. This is one of those streams that I would take some to teach them how to fish on, because it has almost every scenario that one encounters in stream fishing here in Virginia.   

Additional Notes: 

Park where ever you like, just make sure you are off the road, especially if I come through flying.

Directions: