I am going to cover two different sections in this report. First let's start with the stocked trout streams. Of course October is when the VA DWR starts stocking rainbows and browns in the stocked trout streams after a long summer of not stocking. Therefore you will need your freshwater license, trout license, and in some cases the National Forest Permit to fish these designated areas. To see a list of the streams that have been stocked so far, visit the VA DWR website. This list is updated at 3p.m. each day. Midge feeding trout frequently feed on both the adults on the surface of the stream and the emerging midges swimming up through the stream as they head for the surface of the stream. My favorite technique is to fish a Brassie size 18 or Mr. Rapidan Soft Hackle Olive size 16 as a dropper below a Mr. Rapidan Midge Dry size 18. Be sure to dress your dry fly and the leader above your dry fly with Dry Fly Floatant. UPDATE: Passage Creek in Fort Valley VA was stocked yesterday 10/6 in the delayed harvest section (catch and release) and the Heritage Day section where you can keep them (see regulations).
Now let's move onto the second part of the report--Mountain Trout Streams. While the Shenandoah National Park is beautiful in the Fall to hike and explore, the native brook trout will be spawning this month. I personally do not like to fish for the native brook trout while they are spawning. Plus, the water levels are not as ideal as they are in the Spring. I was in the Park earlier this week, just to take a look after the rains from Hurricane Ian. Even though we received 2 inches of rain over a two day period the streams are still a little low. I also saw a few trout on the spawning beds.
SPECIAL HOURS: The fly shop will be closed October 9-11 for the holiday.