Trout Fishing Guide

By C.C. McCotter

This is the one issue of the year W2 focuses on the great tradition of
trout fishing. While our region might not offer truly world class venues, it
does have some notable destinations and fisheries. Some are remote and some
are in the heart of the cities.
Finding good places to trout fish can be as simple as going online and
visiting a DNR or VDGIF website to check were trout are being stocked. You
choose your destination and prepare for your visit by purchasing the gear
you think you¹ll need. Then the big day arrives and you head to the stream
only to turn off the road and find you¹re not alone. There are as many trout
anglers as there are trout sometimes!
W2 feels your frustration and has compiled a list of reputable
destinations, tackle shops, lodges, guides and outfitters that you can also
check when planning your next trout fishing trip. We¹ve been personally to
them all and can recommend each. Have a good trout season and try to visit
as many as possible.

Fort AP Hill

Big Pine
Located some 25 miles northwest of Roanoke, nestled in the mountains of
Craig County, Big Pine on Meadow Creek offers regional trout anglers a great
opportunity to catch a Montana-sized trout. Owners Paul and Mary Beaudoin
own about a mile and quarter of Meadow Creek and a streamside trout rearing
facility that is open to the public for the daily fee of $40 per rod.
The lower section of the creek receives rainbow, gold and brook trout
almost on a daily basis. But not just ordinary trout; six-pound fish are
caught weekly. In this section, anglers can use live or artificial baits. Be
advised to bring some serious tackle. This part of Meadow Creek is
characterized by some strong hydraulics, deep pools and fast moving riffles
all under the cover of heavy and mature vegetation that makes just
presenting to the trout challenging.
The upper section is the fly fishing only portion of the Big Pine
operation. There are literally dozens of wild rainbow trout up to 10² here
with a transplanted ³steamer² or two lurking in most pools.
I stress, the lower part of Meadow Creek is a swift, challenging,
natural, mountain stream with plenty of slippery rocks. Yes, experienced
fishermen will frequently hook into 15-20 trout in the course of the day at
Big Pine. These fish are bruisers, though, and if they slip into the fast
current, you will have to use every trick in your fish fishing arsenal to
land one.
There only a limited number of anglers permitted on Meadow Creek at one
time so reservations are a must if you want to fish at Big Pine. In the
lower stretch, you are allowed to keep five fish, if you are lucky enough to
land them.
Big Pine also maintains two fully-equipped, streamside cottages that
sleep four and seven, offers a blackberry picking field, turkey and deer
hunts.
For more information call Paul at 540/864-5555, visit
www.bigpinetroutfarm.com or email him at bigpine@swva.net .

Cedar Springs Sportsmans Lodge On Cripple Creek
This is known as the grandaddy of the pay-to-play trout destinations.
Back in 1948 the Hilton family reasoned if they were raising trout, why not
open their place up for anglers, too. The daily rod fee was instituted and
the rest is history. There are over a dozen public pay streams maintained
across the region these days, but none can compare with Cedar Springs
reputation as a trophy trout fishery.
For the past 20 years, the Hilton¹s place near Rural Retreat, Virginia
has lead the state in trout citations -- doubling their closest competitor.
A 14-2 brown trout was landed in 2003 and a 12-pound rainbow caught last
year!
Two sections of streams are open to anglers. The fee is $35 per day and
there are great overnight lodging options ranging from a six-person
bunkhouse to The Lodge to a fully renovated farmhouse. Access to the stream
is very good with most of the overhanging trees and rocks of typical streams
not present.
For more information call 276/686-4505.

Green Valley Hunter¹s Paradise
Bath County, VA offers some of the most beautiful mountains scenery and
pristine trout water in the state. Owner, Lance Lyons offers guided stream
fishing and has a spring fed pond stocked with brown, rainbow brook trout.
The pond is an excellent place for the youngster to catch trout to be proud
of. Lance also maintains excellent boats to accommodate fisherman on nearby
Lake Moomaw. Accommodations are first class at Green Valley near Millboro
Springs, and will accommodate families, and large groups. There are 3
remote cabins to choose from. Contact Lance at (540) 996-4234.

Harmon¹s North Fork Cabins
Todd Harman of Harman¹s North Fork Cabins owns one glorious mile of the
land accessing North Fork of the South Branch and maintains it as catch
and-release only trophy trout fishery. In front of all cabins he has some
big fish stocked to accompany the wild brood. Fish over 20² are common.
Within a quarter mile downstream, he notes, West Virginia starts stocking
the now public access portion of the river, just a part of some 52 miles of
stocked water within a half hour drive from Seneca Rocks.
There are 14 cabins available at Harman¹s, most have all modern amenities
including hot tubs, gas log fireplaces and satellite TV. You have about 100¹
to the river in most cases. The newest section of Harman¹s is the secluded
Hopewell Canyon cabins, accessible only by private bridge over the river.
Harman¹s can be reached on the web at www.wvlogcabins.com or by calling
1-800-436-6254. .

Hemlock Springs
Guided trips on scenic mountain streams for native (brook) and rainbow
trout. The stream is limited to 5 fisherman per day, allowing an excellent
experiece without having to compete with other anglers. Tent campsites are
available with wood provided. There is also fishing in well stocked spring
fed, crystal clear ponds for quality brown and rainbow trout. Hemlock
k Springs is easily reached from I-81 and U.S. Rt. 33 near Harrisonburg,
VA. For reservations call (540) 867-5659 or 867-5904.

Lake Moomaw Marina
This facility is strategically located for boat access to some of the
finest fishing for large rainbow and brown trout. Proprietor Linda McDaniel
can refer you to licensed lake guides. In addition to an excellent boat
launching area, accessible parking and docking, the marina has boat rentals,
LP gas, dry storage, live bait and fishing supplies. The marina is located
at Bolar Flats along the lake. Call (540) 279-4144

Mossy Creek Fly Fishing
Offer everything for the serious fly fisherman from the well stocked
authorized Orvis dealership in Harrisonburg to guided fishing trips on the
Shenandoah Valley's rivers and streams. Mossy Creek Fly Fishing offers
guided wade trips for trout; fly or spin fishing float trips on the James or
Shenandoah Rivers; beginner fly fishing classes and fly tying classes for
beginner to expert. Their classes are taught by Orvis endorsed instructors
and all equipment is provided. Full day trips include lunch and drinks.
Contact Colby or Brian Trow at (540) 434-2444.

Maple Tree Outdoors
For the trout fisherman wanting to try his hand at some truly large brown
and lake run rainbow trout, Mike Puffenbarger offers day trips on beautiful
Lake Moomaw, 2,630 acres of a beautiful mountain lake 19 miles north of
Covington, VA. Mike's well equipped boat will take you to areas of the lake
inhabited by Brown and Rainbows up to 12 or 13 pounds. Camping is available
nearby on National Forest Campgrounds or at the nearby Roseloe Motel (540
839-5373).
Mike will provide lunch and drinks as well as tackle for his fishing
clients. Contact: (540) 468-2682 or www.mapletreeoutdoors.com

Orndorff¹s Trout Pond and Stream Fishing
Roger Orndorff loves raising trout. He has done so for the past 27 years
at his family business near Maurertown, Virginia, about 25 miles southwest
of Strasburg. Make this beautiful drive and you¹ll find he maintains a trout
pond for families with young children just getting into fishing. This is a
very popular activity on weekends from mid-March through November so you
must call for a reservation. For more serious trout anglers, there is a
private stretch of Cedar Creek flowing right behind the pond that Orndorff
has stocked with rainbow, brook and golden trout. He only allows five
anglers per day on his stream and fish up to six pounds have been landed.
Lastly, if you want trout for your stream of pond, you can call Orndorff
and he will either transport them to your location or allow you to use one
of his aerated tanks so you can pick up and transport the fish yourself.
For more information or to reserve your day call 540/436-3384.

Smoke Hole Outfitters
This family run business is part of the Smoke Hole Caverns and Cabins
operation maintained by the Hedrick family. Head guide Josh Hedrick guides
most of the clients that want to access some of the best trout fishing
waters in eastern West Virginia. The main attraction to Hedrick¹s clients is
the North Fork of the South Branch Potomac River, but there are a dozen
other good trout fisheries nearby. The North Fork of the South Branch varies
from a couple of hundred yard-wide riffles to 50-yard wide chutes and pools
over 10¹ deep. It¹s mostly clear throughout the year. The best fishing times
are May and June when the air is full of hatching aquatic insects. Public
access is just about anywhere along state roads that are not posted.
Other stocked streams/waters you might want to check out include Red
Creek, Gandy Creek, Dry For and Spruce Knob Lake. Stocking takes place once
in January and twice in February. In March, April and May the streams are
stocked weekly!
Rainbow, brook and brown trout are either native or stocked. Golden trout
(a rainbow hybrid) are also stocked in area waters. Anglers can fly or spin
cast in many areas. You can choose dry flies, nymphs, Power Bait or
spinners. Some locals only use minnows, worms and crawdads.
The Hedrick family owns over 20 log cabins along the North Fork of the
South Branch, all with fireplaces and full kitchens. You can also choose to
stay at Smoke Hole¹s Motel just across from the river at the cavern
headquarters.
Hedrick has grown up fishing the area -- a true West Virginia native. He
can accompany you on the stream or plan out your day trips from base camp.
He even raises trout to stock himself. A short stretch of stream in front of
the cabins where visitors are allowed to feed the trout is absolutely
incredible.
Smoke Hole¹s website is www.smokehole.com and you can call them at 1
800-828-8478.

The Hitching Post
Enroute from Rt. 39 coming from Warm Springs, you will find you source
for minnows, groceries, gas, propane and fishing supplies. Phillip and
Peggy Layman keep updated on the lake conditions and information the angler
needs to seek out Moomaw's jumbo trout.
Contact them at (540) 279-4179.

The Bait Place
If you are coming from the south to fish Lake Moomaw, The Bait Place is a
"must stop" for the trout fisherman. Larry Andrews is a experienced
fisherman on Moomaw and keeps abreast of lake conditions. He is also your
best source of information for fishing trout on the Jackson River. If you
fish the Jackson with a canoe, Larry offers a canoe shuttle service. Here
you have your source of live bait including all sizes of minnows; fishing
equipment with a fly fishing section; groceries and even a hot breakfast to
start off you fishing day.
Contact Larry at (540) 965-0633.

Top Public Waters

South Branch Potomac River
Many trout anglers will probably groan when they read our first pick --
they don¹t want too much publicity on their honey hole. Luckily, the South
Branch offers anglers over 90 miles of good, fishable water and amazing
numbers of trout per mile in some special stretches.
This scenic river flows through West Virginia¹s Pendelton, Grand and
Hampshire Counties before reaching the Maryland state line, where it joins
the main stem of the Potomac.
Perhaps the biggest trout in the mountain state fin in the South Branch.
This is W2¹s pick of the region¹s top public trout fishery. Each year the
South Branch produces more trophy trout than any other West Virginia river.
The West Virginia state record brown trout of 16 pounds was pulled from the
South Branch.
A quick look at West Virginia Gazetteer reveals the South Branch flows
northeast between some serious mountains. The best section, known as the
Smoke Hole, near the Town of Upper Tract on Route 220, is particularly noted
as a trophy trout water. For anglers interested in special regulation areas,
the Smoke Hole features a catch-and-release area, which starts at Eagle Rock
and runs downstream one mile. From Smoke Hole to Big Bend is a great float
and two campgrounds/areas are nearby.
Fish are stocked weekly starting in March. Holdovers from previous years,
plus the new fish truly make the South Branch a public trout repository.
Rainbows, brown and golden trout are stocked.

North Fork of South Branch Potomac River
As far as outstanding public fishing waters, this river with way too long
and confusing of a name, should just be called ³trout wallow². Yep, it¹s
that good and that full of trout. And that¹s not just during certains times
of the year, it¹s all the time.
Just over North Fork Mountain, Seneca Rocks and Spruce Knob, the North
Fork of the South Branch might not hold trout as big as the nearby South
Branch, but it still offers anglers plenty of fish. The main difference is
that for much of its length, the North Fork has the accompanyment of Route
55/28, so fishing access and pressure is better/higher. The river flows
about 22 miles from Seneca Rocks down to the Town of Cabins where it meets
up with the South Branch.

Lake Moomaw
At just over 2,530 acres and roughly seven miles long, Lake Moomaw has
become a mountain trout powerhouse, annually producing more citation trout
than anywhere else in Virginia except a handful of privately-owned streams.
There are both brown and rainbow trout in the lake with a slight dominance
by the browns. A strain of rainbow named McConaughy (similar to a steelhead)
were stocked for many years in Moomaw by the Virginia Department of Game and
Inland Fisheries. The nature of these rainbows (like a steelhead) was to
leave the lake and head way up Back Creek -- a lower lake tributary. The
result was low numbers remaining in the lake. Currently the VDGIF is
stocking a different kind of rainbow.
During the winter and up until March both species are spread out because
of cooler water temperatures. However, once the warming trend starts, the
browns will rarely be found past the quarry region, (see Fishing Lake Moomaw
video) preferring the deep water found down lake. The rainbow trout seem
more tolerant of shallower and slightly warmer water and are often caught
mid-lake and far up in the coves.
Productive Moomaw trout lures are a 1/4 oz. gold Silver Buddy, a 1/8 oz.
chartreuse Mepps in-line spinner and a 1/2 oz. blue/chrome Crippled Herring.
These offerings are simply cast far and retrieved back to the boat with a
steady wind (no twitching).
As the year progresses and water warms, catching a trout using a lure
becomes more difficult. The most productive method for catching trout in the
lake at this point is to use at least six downlines and live bait. A
downline consists of 10 lb. Trilene XT main line, threaded through a
streamlined 1/2 oz. egg style sinker, small barrel swivel attached to 2.5¹
of 8 lb.Vanish fluorocarbon leader tied to a plain #6 Eagle claw hook.
The live bait is either large minnows or alewives (natural forage in the
lake).
Early in the year (until May) trout can be caught on freelines and
downlines as shallow as 10¹. This is prime time for lots of keeper fish
(minimum 16², two fish per person). As the summer heat moves in, drop baits
down to at least 20¹. There will be lots of small 10² fish along with a few
keepers. These small trout die in the warm water so try and release quickly.
If the hook is swallowed, cut the line as close to the knot as possible.
Moomaw trout will usually feed best at sunrise until about 9:30 am and
again an hour before sunset. The ideal day would have a water temperature of
mid 50's, calm and have the sun shining in and out through the clouds all
day.
Brown trout in the lake reach trophy size (5lbs./25") within three years,
because of an abundance of forage in the lake. Citation rainbows are
becoming more common and need to attain four pounds/22².

Deer Creek
This small stream flowing through Harford County, Maryland is maintained by
the Maryland Department of Natural Resources and is stocked heavily each
year. Approximately 10,000 trout will be stocked in Deer Creek this year.
Stockings usually begin in early March when thousands of rainbows are
released along a five-mile stretch beginning at the base of Eden Mill Dam
and downstream to the southern end of Rocks State Park.
Access to Deer Creek is via roadside park areas. Several picnic areas are
also open to licensed anglers most of the spring and on weekdays after June
1. One tip; if you want to get one of these streamside parking spots, plan
to be there before the sun rises because most of these spots are usually
taken by 5:30 a.m.
Like all stocked streams, many of the trout are stocked at sites where
hatchery trucks can get relatively close to the stream. Standbys include
bridges, culverts and roadside pull-offs. Once uncerimoniously dumped, the
fish will fan out into the stream. Many relocated in the deeper pools along
Saint Clair Bridge Road and just below Eden Mill Dam.
Don¹t forget, Maryland still has an opening day of trout season --
Though Deer Creek is heavily fished during the first week or two after
opening day, much of the fishing pressure abates by mid-April, yet the
stream will still hold significant numbers of trout. On weekdays, anglers
will find they have most of the stream's designated trout segment to
themselves and will rarely encounter another angler at any location that
requires a hike of more than a few hundred yards.

Gunpowder River
The Gunpowder River is a highly maintained trout fishery that flows between
Pretty Boy Reservoir and Lock Raven Reservoir, just northwest of Timonium,
M8*-¿ ê8,V¿d, minimum f8*p coming from the Prettyboy Dam keep the water
cold -- rarely above 60 degrees and the trout happy.
Terrain is that of a typical piedmont river valley gorge framed by a
mature beech, oak, hickory and tulip poplar hardwood forest. Several scenic
tributaries enter the river in this stretch and a rapids section along the
river below Route 1 is nicknamed "Pot Rocks," due to deep potholes created
in the river bedrock from water action/erosion.
Downstream of Prettyboy Dam the Gunpowder is designated as catch-and
release only fishery. Anglers wanting to try their luck, must stick only
with artificial flies. There are large numbers of naturally reproducing
trout ranging from 6-18² here. Anglers will mostly catch rainbows, but there
are significant numbers of browns, and in the coldest pools, some native
brook trout.
Thousands of rainbows will also be stocked downstream of the catch-and
release area into a put-and-take stretch that runs several miles from
Corbett Road south to the hiker/biker trail a mile south of Phoenix Road.
Much of the stream parallels this old railroad track trail, so angler access
is great throughout much of its length.
To reach this section of the Gunpowder, you will want to park at Bluemont
Road, Sparks Road, Phoenix Road and Monkton Road from the Northern Central
Railroad Trail. Bluemount Road is reached via I-83 exit 27 onto Route 137
east, right on York Road and left onto Monkton Road. The other roads are
reached via York Road.
A final tip when on the Gunpowder; use caution when wading, because there
are some deep holes and the water temperature never exceeds the low 60's.
Chest waders with felt-soled boots are recommended.
IF you are up for a challenge, consider canoeing of kayaking the stretch
of the Gunpowder below Loch Raven¹s Little Dam. The stretch of the river
runs 10 miles to the I-95 crossing. Heavily forested and steep banks make
accessibility tough, so float fishing is preferable.