I visited some of my wife's relatives up in central Virginia over this past weekend. Unfortunately, this meant that I had to drive by Travis while he was chasing muskies on the New, but I suspect this was a better option than involving marriage therapists or divorce lawyers... I still managed to sneak out fishing a bit. On Saturday I fished what is widely recognized as the premier spring creek in the state. It's pretty water, with thick beds of watercress in some reaches.
Several of the landowners still run cattle right up to the edge of the creek (gee, wonder why there's so much silt?) -- in fact, there are electric fences right at the bank for much of the public reach. As there's no wading allowed and the rain had slowed to a light drizzle, I left my waders in the car. Dumb move. I must have brushed up against that damn fence a half-dozen times while trying to fish. I had one fish do a drive-by on a streamer but it didn't want to play. At least six or eight other anglers were fishing, and nobody else that I talked to got anything either. It sure seems a far cry from the central PA limestone creeks…
On Sunday I decided a different approach was in order, and headed up into Shenandoah National Park. There were lots of people out on the trails enjoying the sunshine, but only a couple other anglers. Despite being a bit high, the stream was beautiful…
and was loaded with brookies.
The water temps were still low enough from last week's snowmelt that the trout weren't looking up yet and didn't want to move very far. However, a nymph at their level was too much to pass up. There were a few nicer fish mixed in.
I can appreciate why the streams in the Park get talked up so much -- they're beautiful and would be a blast in slightly warmer weather.
Even with the requisite "hang out with the kin" time, it wasn't a bad visit -- but I can't wait to get back up there to chase muskies & smallmouth!
Topic: a brief VA visit (Read 1423 times)