Poorhouse Creek

Stream Category: C

Wild Trout: Brook

Stocked Trout: Brook

Other Species of Note: None

Gear:

Dry Flies: None

Nymphs: Prince, Hares Ear, Pheasant Tails, Squirmy Wormies, Mop Flies

Streamers: None

Waders: No

Net: No

Wading Stick: No

Casting: Tuck 

About:

Pourhouse Creek might be one of the best of the three smalls streams in downtown Sturat. It is by far not the largest stream in the world, but it at least looks like a stream that will hold trout, and one that is easily fishable. There are tons of pull off spots, so you don’t have to worry about having your car hit, and there are very few no trespassing signs on this creek.

As far as the creek is concerned, it is freestone/sandy bottom stream-with  deep holes, long flats and big rocks/structures that trout can hold up behind. I would fish this creek using fast sinking nymphs and let them drift through these deep holes, that or use streamers and fish above the hole. Over all Pourhouse is decent at best, but still not worth the drive if you do not live in the local area.

 

 

Directions:

South Mayo River (SF)

Stream Category: C

Wild Trout: Brook

Stocked Trout: Rainbow and Brown

Other Species of Note: None

Gear:

Dry Flies: None

Nymphs: Prince, Hares Ear, Pheasant Tails, Squirmy Wormies, Mop Flies

Streamers: None

Waders: No

Net: No

Wading Stick: No

Casting: Tuck 

About:

The South Mayo River in this section is both still a creek and forming into a small river. The Upper portions of the this section reminds me a lot of the NF section, it is small and very hard to fish. There are tons of foliage blocking the the river, which is very frustrating trying to get to river. Not to mention you have to watch for no trepassing signs constantly through this section. However once the South Mayo River, and the NF Section, and Pourhouse merged into one small river the South Mayo river starts to shine.

There is a small park in the industrial park part of Sturat that the city of Sturat is trying to convert into a Greenway, like the Cities of Roanoke and Salem. It is in this section that the South Mayo River is the most accessible, it has deep holes, long flats, and actual trout. Honestly this will be the best place for a person to fish, not to mention it has its own parking lot.

Additional comments:

Still, like I have said before, there are tons of other mountain streams that could easily be stocked with trout in Patrick County that would be better fisheries. Also, unless you live in Sturat, there are tons of better streams located in that area that hold nice trout and are a lot more accessible.

Directions:

South Mayo River (NF)

Stream Category: C

Wild Trout: None

Stocked Trout: Brown and Rainbow

Other Species of Note:

Gear:

Dry Flies: Adams, Terrestials

Nymphs: Hares ear, pheasant tail, prince, stone, perdigon, squirmy wormy, and mop

Streamers: tiny, tiny minnow and wooly buggers

Waders: yes

Net: yes

Wading Stick: no

Casting: Tuck

 

About:

The South Mayo River (NF) might be one of the crappiest streams in the state of Virginia, with so much other water to stock I have no clue why the state of Virginia would stock such a stream. The water can be cold at times, and it does come from from fresh mountain water, however the creek is very, very tiny… it is not a river yet. 

Personally I love fishing all water, and yes some creeks can be very tiny and still have amazing fish living in them. However this portion of the South Mayo River is not one of them and it should be abandoned for more ripe streams in Patrick County near the Blue Ridge Parkway.

If you do not heed my warning and decide to fish this area, be prepared to be disappointed because the fish here get fished out quickly, and be prepared to tuck cast only. 

Additional comments: 

There are very few pull offs, so once you are at one of these stay there. Also lock up your vehicle, though I love Patrick County it is still not a safe place to leave cars unlocked. 

Directions:

Rock Castle Creek

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: