issue 35
feb/mar 2018
Southern Trout
CLOSE LOOK: The Virginias
www.southerntrout.com
January 27, 2018
Editor’s message
Virginia Trout Venturing
Country Roads and Trout Streams Bob Borgwat/STM editor
when the experience leads to my exposure, education, and engagement in things that pull at the business end of a fly line on the trout and bass waters of the Virginias. In place of that experience, as any good editor does, I reached out to some of the most knowledgeable anglers, fishing guides, fly shops, fly tiers and resort operators in the Virginias to tap their first-hand knowledge of exactly how, what, where and why it’s so important for STM to take a close look at the people and places that have long placed the trout and bass waters of the Virginias on so many anglers’ destination lists. It seems I have missed a lot!
In Close Look: The Virginias … Get a good read of the fly-tying AFTER 30 YEARS IN THE BUSINESS of • publishing outdoors stories, each next round philosophy and knowledge of West Virginia’s of lining up a magazine’s content is always Dave Breitmeir. With his flies – many a learning process. Whether I’m the writer ridiculously tiny flies, at that ¬¬– Dave has or the editor, the end result reveals how probed the cold seams, pools, riffles and much more I can learn about the business of lanes of trout water in the Elk River for 27 creating and collecting stories on the fishing, years. His wealth of knowledge centers on the people and the places associated with the demands Elk River trout fishermen have for patterns that are very close to natural these adventures and discoveries. In this issue, Southern Trout Magazine insects, especially the tiniest of the natural takes a “Close Look” at the Virginias. Having midges that scale to size 32. In his own words, never visited either West Virginia or “East” “There’s always something new to learn while Virginia, I have heard tales of fishing for fishing ‘The Lady.’” Fly-fishing instruction, in-house guides, trout, smallmouths, muskies and more in • the hills and hollers of Old Dominion and the a killer retail shop and a travel department Mountain State. But wet a line in their waters with destinations in Idaho, Tennessee, New I have not … not yet. Tennesssee, Georgia, York, Mexico, Bahamas and even Cuba. South Carolina, North Carolina, Arkansas, What more can you ask for in a fly shop? Find Mississippi, Alabama, Florida and Kentucky – out when you read about Albermarle Angler in yep, been there, done those. But I’ve never Charlottsville, now in its 17th year as central trekked northward beyond Great Smoky Virginia’s fly-fishing outfitter. The natives are restless – both the Mountains National Park for anything fishy • or otherwise. That will change this summer, fishing guides and the prized brook trout and www.SouthernTrout.com l Southern Trout l March 2018 l 3
Southern Trout Publisher Editor Managing Editor Special Projects Dir. Photographer/Writer Editorial Consultant
Don Kirk Bob Borgwat Leah Kirk Loryn Lathem Adam Patterson Olive K. Nynne
Contributors Harry Murray FIELD STAFF
Ron Gaddy Columnist Craig Haney Columnist Jimmy Jacobs, Georgia Editor Roger Lowe Columnist Rocky Cox Columnist Steve Moore Columnist Columnist Polly Dean Columnist Jake Howard
Southern Trout is a publication of Southern Unlimited, LLC. Copyright 2018 Southern Unlimited LLC. All rights reserved.
Editor message
(cont.)
smallmouth bass of the Virginias! Born in the Shenandoah Valley, fishing guide John Roberts of Lexington, Virginia, leans his own fly-fishing interests heavily upon area streams that hold indigenous brookies, but he’s always on the look-out to meet the expectations of any flyfisherman – novice to expert – to learn what they don’t know yet. Just a few mountain ranges away, fishing guide Larry “Redneck” Nibert focuses his float trips on the smallmouths of southern West Virginia’s New River, while his far-sighted mind’s eye never closes on the trout waters near his home in Fayetteville. • When you shack up on a fishing trip in the Virginias, let your mind wander from a campsite … all the way to a couple showcase properties that offer rest, relaxation, discovery and adventure. For members only, The Greenbrier Sporting Club in White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia, is just about the coolest place in the South to getaway for a few days. When you’re not fishing one of many off-campus trout streams, you’re flogging the private trout water of Howard Creek, and the gentleman to take you here, there and everywhere is head guide Jacob Ott. On the other hand, the pleasure and charm of the city’s first B&B is embedded in Llewellyn Lodge in Lexington, Virginia. After trekking off to one of seven nearby counties loaded with trout water, it won't take long for you to slide off the water and into the elegant creature comforts of Llewellyn’s stunning bedrooms. Next morning, enjoy Ellen's award-winning Blue Ribbon Breakfast menu before you head out with your 40-year veteran of Virginia trout fishing. Give me 10 days in June. Have rod, will travel!
ON THE COVER C B Stewart
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RIVER THROUGH ATLANTA CHATTAHOOCHEE RIVER GUIDE SERVICE
RiverThroughAtlanta.com
710 Riverside Rd., Roswell, GA 30075 770-650-8630 www.SouthernTrout.com l Southern Trout l November 2017 l 5
THIS ISSUE Publisher's Message
3
Blue Furled Leaders
12
LL Bean Apex Fly Rod
22
58 32 26
Cohutta Fishing Company 34 Partners with Sweetwater Brewing Company The Gentle Kiss of Evil
34
39
Sunburst Trout 48 Easy Cheesy Trout Chowder New Fly Guy 52 Slippery Shot A Convenient Way To Carry Your Tools
58
Olive Blackwing
66
Streamer Lines A Convenient Way to Carry Your Tools
70
CLOSE LOOK: The Virginias
79
Pocahontas County 80 The Magic of the Greenbrier
96
80
54 96
92
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THIS ISSUE Featured Guide 102 John Roberts Fly Fishing Aventures Featured Lodge/Resort 112 A B&B at Llewellyn Lodge
134 122 160
The Elk River ada "The Lady"
122
Featured Fly Tier Dave "Elk Fisher" Breitmeier
134
Featured Guide 150 The WV Experience Larry "Redneck" Nibert Virginia's Jackson River 160
188
The Rose of Virginia
170
Experiencing the Healing Waters
180
The Wonderful Mr. Rapidan Fly Family
188
Poser Presents 201 Problems and a God Smack!
170
170
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experience counts for everything Meet Brian Lynch, one of the most innovative anglers and best guides in the business. Professionals like Brian are our first call when we need boots on the ground (and in the water), and our go-to team when it comes to understanding what truly makes a great rod. Their knowledge, their expertise, their understanding is passed on to our craftsmen who strive for perfection and uncompromising performance in every rod we make. To us, Brian and his fellow professionals are our unsung heros. We salute you. Brian calls Western Massachusetts home and can be found working the Deerfield river virtually all year round.
introducing the new avantt and exocett series from t&t. remarkably light. extraordinarily strong.
est
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T H E R O D YO U W I L L E V E N T UA L LY OW N
www.thomasandthomas.com HANDMADE IN AMERICA
Is Swain County NC a Fisherman’s Paradi Hundreds of miles of native mountain trout streams flow
through the Great Smoky Mountains National Park above Bryson City and Cherokee — freestone creeks with native rainbow, brook and brown trout. Most streams offer all three species.
Trout are also common in our four rivers – the Oconaluftee,
Great Smoky M National
Little Tennessee, the Eagle Nol Chambers Twentymile Hazel Creek Forney Cre Creek Creek Creek Tuckasegee and the Creek Fontana Dam Fontana Nantahala, one of Fontana Cheoah Lake Lake Lake Lewellyn Trout Unlimited’s top Fontana Branch Fontana 129 Lake Boat Village Alark 100 rivers. And now, a 2.2 Cable Ramp Marina Boat D Cove 28N Boat mile section of the Tuck Ramp Almo Lemmons Boat P Branch through Bryson City has Boat Ramp Stecoah 143 been designated delayed 19 Wesser 74 Needmore harvest waters, and Road For more information, Nantahala River promises to have one of contact the Bryson City / the highest trout counts Swain County Chamber of Wayah Road (NC 1310) of any stream in the Commerce 800-867-9246. Upper Nantahala southeast. River Public Access
Public Access
estern oing on at W g is g in th e “Three “Som e that may k a L rivers j a n ta n o ’s F a ust ou n li ro a C p h o tside A pular n Nort th u o S e th in merica ationa g in h s fi t u o tr l ’s most park a trout, s to a just send e id d r o e u o g i t a t e e e eming d for b t might b oth wa angler with into orbit ...I n o s ry s B d , in i a n y n ta g s d and flo surrou place to best sc ating nded b book you a in p e e le n s y e to e r s v y o a h m i n Sout e of th don’t hern A e City so you ” r. e b I f m p e y v palach ou hav No in re e th k i c e a n’t fish . your tru produ ed the ctive r q uaint a ivers o nd Carolin f W e stern N a, you orth don’t k missin now w g.” hat yo u’re
Public Access
ise?
Upper Raven Fork
Straight Fork
441 Clingmans Dome
Mountains Park
Deep Creek
Indian Creek
Raven Fork Trophy Section
Lakeview Drive
19 Tuckasegee River
Public Access
ka Dock Alarka Creek ond Park Alarka Road
28S Little Tennessee River
Bryson City
Whittier Whittier Boat Ramp
EBCI Hatchery Big Cove Road
19
441 Tuckasegee River
Public Access
Conleys Creek
Heintooga Ridge Road
Blue Ridge Parkway Cherokee Indian Reservation Cherokee
land eek
Old 288 Boat Ramp
Raven Fork
Oconaluftee River
You be the Judge.
Straight Fork Road
Bradley Chasteen Kephart Fork Creek Prong
74 Conleys Creek Road
Dillsboro
441
Visit GreatSmokiesFishing.com for profiles of all 26 Swain County fishing locations on this map. All are just minutes from Bryson City, NC.
Two mountain lakes The 30 miles of trout offer trout fishing streams on the The 29-mile long, Cherokee Indian 11,700 acre Fontana Reservation are the Lake and its smaller downstream neighbor Cheoah Lake both have strong populations of trout, particularly near the mouths of streams flowing out of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Cheoah is regularly stocked by the State of North Carolina.
longest privately-owned and stocked fishing waters east of the Mississippi. The 2.2mile Raven Fork Trophy section is home to the biggest trout in the Smokies. This specially regulated section is fly fishing only and catch and release.
The Skinny on Furl James E. Hauer
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led Tapered Leaders F
or years I experimented with different leader formulas and designs seeking something better for my fishing situations. I wanted a leader that would help strengthen my presentation and casting. I was unhappy with the various leaders I tried. Ultimately I found that no leader did as much to improve casting and presentation that the furled leader. It excelled in every type of water and flies fished — from tiny dry flies on small inland streams to heavy streamers and nymphs on the Great Lakes.Casting and presentation improved dramatically. So did my catch rate. The Tomorrow is a small spring-fed trout stream has the characteristics of spring creek and freestone. It require short, accurate delicate cast. It’s pretty tight, challenging with few opportunities to have fly line out the end of the rod. Casting distance does not permit loading line for overhead casts, nor roll casting. A conventional tapered monofilament leader didn’t help the situation, often refusing to turn over my fly or destroying the accuracy I needed.
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Using a furled leader I roll cast with confidence and accuracy. It didn’t make any difference if I had enough fly line hanging outside the tip to load the rod or not. The suppleness and mass of the furled leader butt turned over, straightening the tippet and fly every time. The furled leader improved my presentation in other ways too. No more leaders crashing and splatting the water’s surface. Furled leaders pick up with very little water disturbance and after the cast settle on the water’s surface ever so gently, barely causing a dimple where it landed.
General confusion is understandable. Literature often noted that furled leaders are difficult to find. Braided leaders have been around a long time. Both braided and furled leaders are quite supple and their appearance, but there are major differences between them. Braiding is a process resulting in leaders having a hollow air core with butts much bulkier than the furled leader butts. The air core absorbs and holds water that is discharged has a fine mist when cast. On the other hand, since the furled leader is constructed of densely twined strands, and
not braided, the leader butt is entirely solid throughout the cross-section of its diameter and absorbs no water. Furled leaders design advantages over to conventional monofilament (either knotted or knotless) outweigh the disadvantages. Nylon monofilament leaders rely primarily on their stiffness to effect a smooth transfer of power from the fly line to the tippet and fly. A furled leader uses its mass and suppleness. These characteristics of suppleness and mass can help to provide tighter
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casting loops, resistance to so-called wind knots and the ability to turn over the fly even at short distances is some of these effects. The 5′-9″ furled leader butt I normally use will easily turn over and straighten a 3′ or 4′ tippet. This makes it possible to use shorter leaders overall without worrying about spooking fish or having some of the problems associated with using longer leaders. A shorter leader is very helpful in improving control and accuracy, especially for those of us with modest casting skills.
Because of their suppleness, furled leaders help to reduce surface drag and also acts as a shock absorber protecting against over striking and preventing light tippets from breaking while playing a fish. The leader behaves much like a spring; storing and releasing energy as force is applied or relaxed. This stretching ability will usually be around 15% of its length. Another important attribute of the furled leader is durability, tough enough to several seasons by simply changes tippet sizes or lengths to accommodate changing conditions. www.SouthernTrout.com l Southern Trout l March 2018 l 15
There are a few disadvantages to the furled leader. The leader can snarl or tangle, especially if it is jerked hard to release it from a snag in the water or a tree branch. Because of the way this leader is made, it behaves like a very long spring. Springs store energy. Tugging hard to release snagged flies, at the line to release a snag, the leader spring is being stretched and loaded. As soon as the snag is released, the leader also releases all its stored energy.. If and when a tangle does occur, gently undo it. It will untangle easily and the leader will not be damaged at all. Stretch it gently along its length and the leader will straighten itself out. The key to casting with these leaders is to relax. Don’t force it. The leaders cast best using a smooth casting stroke. Because a furled leader is really a tapered butt section plus a tippet length, the tippet has to be fastened to the butt to complete the leader. Knotless furled leaders are not possible. Lastly, furled leaders are more expensive than conventional tapered leaders. Prices for commercially made leaders range from around $8- $20. The higher price is still a good value though because of the furled leader’s tremendous durability and simplicity in adapting the same leader butt section to different fishing requirements and fly sizes. I discovered that the furled leader has as many benefits working with larger flies too. There is the delicacy, but also great deal of power. The furled leader excels in long casts and punching a fly through windy conditions often present on open, big-water. I use three different sizes of furled leaders; a light, medium and heavyweight. All of the furled leaders I use are about 5’ 9”. Adding the appropriate tippet material, I end up with finished leaders ranging in length from 7-to-14 feet. The lightweight size furled leader goes with all the 1-4 wt rods, size 12 and smaller flies typically used on trout streams. The medium size does duty with larger flies up to about a size 2 or 4 (and smaller. I match up the medium-weight leader butt with 5 – 7 wt. lines. It will turn over sizable weighted streamers, nymphs and Clouser-
type flies. The heavyweight leader will manhandle big bass bugs, pike flies and the large saltwater flies. There is only one design difference or modification from the light and medium weight leaders
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I found helpful to use with the heavyweight design. That difference is the addition of an “extender” section. The extender is an approximately 8″ piece of stiff monofilament I permanently attach to the
tippet end of the heavy weight leader. The extender can be used to attach a specific test tippet or a test tippet and then a shock tippet followed by the fly. All the furled leaders seen utilize loops to attach the
leader to the fly line and to tie the various tippets to the leader. There are no noticeable hinging effects I have detected and, after five years of using the furled leaders, have found the system to work very well.
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SweetWater Brewing Company • Georgia • SweetWaterBrew.com
764 Miami Circle, Atlanta, Georgia 30324| Phone: (404) 237-3473
www.thefishhawk.com
southernao.com
506 W. Main St., Pickens, SC 864-507-2195
Full & half day guided fly-fishing trips
Carrying Redington, Umpqua, Simms, RIO, Rep Your Water and more!
Come fish the Blue Wall with us!
APEX Fly Rod Rod from the Great White North by Lane Starbuck
L
iving in the South, sometimes it’s tough to look northward, at least beyond a hundred or so miles above the Mason-Dixon Line. Believe me, it’s another world up north. Even tougher to put into perspective is the long-standing rivalries of that distant locale. We can comprehend the Yankee and Red Sox’s grudge. You know, we have ‘Bama and Auburn. No one told us about the contentious relationship between LL Bean and Orvis. If you are a New Englander (a sub-region of Yankee Land) you know the brand allegiance is the thing from which feuds are made.
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Part of the reason for a southerner’s inability to see this cultural tension is that LL Bean has been relatively happy with a northeastern dominance compared to the expansive history of the “O” brand. Online buying is great, but like when purchasing a sports car, you can’t test drive it. With LL Bean’s great line of fly rods and reels, you need UPS to intercede in the transaction to try the rod. There are no LL Bean related outlets south of Maine, which pretty describes all but one of the fifty states. These days, LL Bean has a bevy of retail stores spangled across the eastern and Midwestern states from Colorado and Kansas to its home base stores in Connecticut to Pennsylvania. However, save for a single retail store in Charlottesville, Virginia, the Southland is tapped only by its huge mail order business.
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Photo by Leah Kirk
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That changed recently when UPS delivered an LL Bean APEX Four-Piece Fly Rod, 5-6 weight and a Streamlight Ultra II Fly Reel. The results were the genesis of this review. It was a most pleasant experience, as unlike biscuits, the folks up yonder in Maine do know fly fishing gear, something that Skowhegan, Maine-based STM Gear Head columnist, Bob Mallard, repeatedly points out. In terms of the appearance, the LL Bean APEX Four-Piece Fly Rod reeks of Dixie like a magnolia tree in full bloom. Get this---the blank is a lovely, stunning crimson. It even smells crimson. It could become the official fly rod of Nick Saban. Like a Crimson Tide tailback, the rod is faster than you expect, and it is lighter than you'll believe. The APEX is the result of LL Bean drawing from over 100 years of innovation to create this premium, precise and high-performance fly rod. It delivers fast line speeds, tight loops and demanding casting distances. It is one of the best balance outfits that we have ever cast, and its accuracy is also top flight. 26 l February 2018 l Southern Trout l www.SouthernTrout.com
Photo by Leah Kirk
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Construction features begin with premium cork grips that offer a perfect feel in hand. Rated as an ultra-light rod design, the APEX features cutting-edge Nano Technology for increased sensitivity. Multidirectional scrim and graphite are added for strength. We really like super neat G10 reel seat spacer that creates a unique, exotic look that's also impervious to water and corrosion. The LL Bean APEX has more the aesthetics and components for a bold look and a modern feel. Additional features include a fast action, high line speed, tight loops, and ultra-durability. The design is built for hard-fighting trout. It includes an aluminum rod tube with an innovative screwoff cap for easier access to the rod. You will never be ashamed to unsheathe the LL Bean in mixed company.
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Photo by Leah Kirk
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Enough about the APEX. I was even more taken in by the LL Bean Streamlight Ultra II Fly Reel. It’s pretty much a freestanding star on its own. With tight tolerances, smooth and powerful drag, corrosion resistance and large arbor design, it has everything you need in a great reel – without the high price tag. The Ultra II is a slightly updated of the company’s earlier Streamlight Ultra Fly Reel. It’s been beefed up and now sports a more streamlined appearance. The skeletonized design is lightweight and airy. To ensure tight tolerances and a trouble-free, smooth operation, it is made from machined lightweight 6000-series bar aluminum. The fly reel boasts a deeply anodized finish that gives it a pleasing appearance and provides protection against resistance. A powerful carbon fiber disc-drag system protects fine tippets and provides tons of stopping power. One key to the Streamlight Ultra II Fly Reels is its large arbor design that retrieves line more quickly. The arbor stores line in larger loops for less coiling and better line management. It is offered in three sizes: #1 with a capacity, 75 yards of 20# backing with WF-5-F fly line; the #2 with a line capacity, 80 yards of 20# backing with WF-6-F fly line; and a #3 with a line capacity, 150 yards of 30# backing with WF-9-F fly line. Our field test reel was a #1 Streamlight Ultra II Fly Reel.
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Photo by Leah Kirk
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Cohutta Fishing Company Partners with Sweetwater Brewing
F
ly fishing is a changing world in the South where the young guns are as likely to identify with bushy beard and brightly decorated skin than those of us stuck in the 1970-80s time warp. In an era when online shopping is nipping at the heels of brick and mortar retailers, the burning question among fly shop owners is how to successfully combat this disturbing trend. In a brilliant, “Why didn’t I think of it?” moment, Andy Bowen appears to have solved the puzzle facing his Cohutta Fishing Company in Georgia. Last October the STM crew traveled there for the grand opening of the Last Cast Bar. Located prominently in the rear of the shop, the Last Cast Bar is a first of its kind in the Southland. And by all account, not a minute too soon.
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“I made the decision to put the bar in because of the changing times in retail too of set the impact of online shopping,” says Bowen who opened the shop. “I thought this would be a nice way to add a unique experience for our customers. Also, with the amount of guide trips we are running makes for a great gathering spot before or at the end of the day for anglers to gather to reflect on their day. It has turned out that the Last Cast Bar is valuable for well as customers in the shop to interact in a very casual environment.”
Also, with the Sweetwater being very supportive of conservation efforts from various organizations is another reason it was a perfect fit for us to team up. Also, another very important reason we chose Sweetwater is is very, very good. They’re the pioneers of the craft beer industry in Georgia and at Cohutta we work very hard to be authentic and feel the same vibe from Sweetwater by creating a strong brand and staying true as to who they are and what they believe is exactly what we do at Cohutta. There are so many companies
Beyond the obvious, which is Sweetwater Brewing Company makes great craft beer, the begging question is, "Why Sweetwater Brewing Company?" It’s a long story that dates back seven years. “We have had a long relationship with the folks at Sweetwater,” explains Bowen. They have hosted their Annual Tournament on our Private Water for the last 7 years.
out there trying to be something that they’re not, and taking ideas from the ones that are authentic, and at the end of the day, I think people will realize who’s the real deal.” The name, Last Cast Bar, was the brainchild of Bowen's wife Kim. It seems that Bowen, like so many other avid anglers, used the term "last cast" not necessarily to announce the end
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of a fishing trip, but more like an encore performance. Cohutta Fishing Company’s customers have enjoyed the bar and people think it was a great idea. It is the beginning of a trend in the state of Georgia or elsewhere in the South Land? “I don’t think so, because not all shops have the right scenario for it to work,” say Bowen. “I guess only time will tell if other shops decide to follow or not, but whatever happens I obviously hope that all fly shops continue to do well. We’re a small, tight knit community and we all have to work
Company was founded over 21 years ago”, Freddy Bench, owner of the legendary Atlanta-based, brewing company. “It’s awesome to bring two of our biggest passions together with our friend Andy at Cohutta Fishing Company. Their incredibly knowledgeable staff and world class gear are a great match for Sweetwater’s beers. The next best thing to being on the water fishing and having beers is buying gear and drinkin’ beer at the Last Cast Bar!” “We are excited about our bar and we are excited to partner with Sweetwater
together to promote the sport of fly fishing. Every shop owner that I personally know have done an exceptional job in doing just that. The bar idea, for us was just another way to bring people together and stay engaged and excited about what we all are so passionate about” “Beer and fishing are the principle foundations on which Sweetwater Brewing
Brewing Company, says Bowen. “We are also excited about more folks coming by the shop this year to check it out.” “I wish everyone a great fishing year in 2018 and remember our brew is always cold and our taps are always open,” says Bowen, adding “Come fish with us or stop by to have a brew!”
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39 South Public Square Cartersville, GA 30120 770.606.1100 CohuttaFishingCo.com
Duffel Bag Diary By Chad Bryson
The Gentle S Kiss of Evil The Road to Hell is Paved with Good Intentions All photo credits: Bob Borgwat/ Toccoa Bend Images
everal decades ago, fisheries and wildlife divisions throughout the Southeast US began the delayed-harvest program on many Southern streams. For the most part, this was a brilliant idea. It provided an angling sanctuary for fly-fishermen (and -women) that we previously didn’t have. There were actual regulations in place to not only protect, but encourage, fly-fishing catch-and-release ethics. We went fishing with other fly-fishing people and were no longer forced to share water with some ill-willed Ne’er-Do-Well with a chain stringer of trout killed for the purposes of “feeding the family.”
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The times had changed. Life for the Southern fly angler had come full circle. We had a place and we had respectable purpose. I use to fish the delayed harvest streams back in the early days of their existence. Fishing was grand! I remember several epic days with friends and clients. One day on the Chattooga River on the Georgia-South Carolina border stands out in my mind … along with a really big brook trout. It was the biggest brook trout I had ever seen and or caught. Its tail wasn’t that great looking, but it was big. Deformed fins are a common side-effect of growing up in a government-regulated concrete raceway. It was still better than nothing, and we didn’t care. However, as my grandfather used to often say, “The road to hell is paved with good intentions.” A lot of other grandfathers said that too. I’m sure of it. The worst part is that more often than not, it’s completely true. As social media became the prominent way to advertise your personal greatness, fishing secrets were leaked, information was involuntarily shared, and the road to hell became a six-lane interstate highway. The crowds came in big numbers from everywhere. Every single fly-fishing person in the southeast US who had means of reliable travel did exactly that. The marginal parking areas were packed full. Drift-boats and rafts filled the streams. Guide business was good. I was part of the crowd back then. No two ways around it. That quickly changed for me. I never detested the fact that the American public was utilizing our public lands. The river belongs to everyone. I detested the amount of foolish behavior exhibited between anglers. 40 l February 2018 l Southern Trout l www.SouthernTrout.com
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Somehow, in our Southern heritage of hospitality we missed the class on river etiquette. Freshly stocked trout in a delayed-harvest river was the equivalent of a full-blown crack habit. Anglers (mostly men) couldn’t help themselves. They came stomping right through the runs on top of anyone. The term –low holing – previously only used and heard in the Great Lakes region became common here. If it hasn’t been stated around your circles of fishing friends, “low holing” is the act of moving into a fishing run just below (or downstream) of another angler. The act is infuriating and mind blowing all at once. With the significantly increased amount of traffic and poor etiquette, I quit fishing the delayed-harvest trout waters all together. It wasn’t fun anymore. If I’m not having fun, I’m not gonna do it. I quit with an indifferent form of disdain for the socialistic fishery created by the government agencies. Why would they think it a good idea to spend money to raise fish only to release them in a section of river that should never hold trout to begin with? This fishery brought crowds, litter and complete overuse of a resource. It was craziness. Only the government could come up with something so ridiculous. Turns out, maybe I was crazy. Maybe. Perhaps, I was having the midlife crisis that I never had. It only took a couple of injuries, an exponential number of exgirlfriends, an equal amount of bourbon and a full twelve months in Atlanta to remember that fishing in town isn’t so bad. In fact, trout fishing in the South is really pretty sweet. It’s a unique experience afforded to masses of people who might not otherwise get the opportunity without traveling afar. We are actually incredibly fortunate to have the resources we do have in the geographic areas where we have them. Now that I have come back down to the reality of not getting on a float-plane in Bristol Bay, Alaska, every day, I could clearly see again the value of the delayed-harvest rivers. It truly is an invaluable resource for the purpose of recreational fishing reachable by car. www.SouthernTrout.com l Southern Trout l March 2018 l 43
It is not fair to compare our fisheries in the South with any of the other great remote trout fisheries around the world. Ours is great within its own right, once we accept it for what it is. We get a few bug hatches, a few really big trout, and a whole lot of Southern Appalachian heritage that doesn’t exist anywhere else on the planet. What we have is truly unique and irreplaceable. I think we should keep it that way. The crowds of anglers are still rude to one another. Some river banks are still strewn with litter but not as bad as it once was. The quality of fish themselves seems to be a little better … for a government fish, that is. After more than a decade of living out of a duffel bag and a back pack, it’s good to be home. About the Author: Chad Bryson is a certified fish bum, hack writer and full-on, adrenalin-laced fishing junkie. When he’s not guiding in Bristol Bay, Alaska, you can find him guiding on the Chattahoochee River in Atlanta, Georgia, or maintaining his position in the “chair circle” at The Fish Hawk in Buckhead. You can reach him via www.chadbrysonfishing.com chadbrysonfishing@gmail.com or (470) 222-FISH
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Don’t go home empty handed! www.sunbursttrout.com
Sunburst Trout Farms Is located below the Shining Rock National Wilderness in the Pisgah National Forest. Since 1948 they have been growing rainbow trout, and the farm is now run by third generation brothers Wes and Ben Eason.
Sunburst has a long standing commitment to quality. Their fish are hormone and antibiotic free, and the feed is made especially for them containing no mammalian by-products. All trout are cut to order in small bathces, mostly by hand, thus ensuring all products are of the highest standard. In addition to Sunburst’s flagship fillets you can also find their award winning caviar, as well as trout jerky, hickory smoked trout, cold smoked trout, smoked trout dip, trout sausage, and even some non trout products, pimento goat cheese and smoked tomato jam. Be sure to stock up on their Original Jennings Jerky! It’s shelf stable and perfect for those long days fly fishing. To order go online to www.sunbursttrout.com
314 Industrial Park Drive Waynesville, NC 28786 828-648-3010 • 800-673-3051
Easy Chees Trout Ch 1 medium onion, chopped 1 tablespoon butter or margarine 2 cups milk 1 cup ranch salad dressing 1 pound boneless Sunburst trout fillets, skin removed 1 package (10 ounces) frozen broccoli cuts, thawed 1 can corn (optional) 1 cup cubed or shredded cheddar cheese 1 cup cubed or shredded Monterey Jack cheese 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder Paprika, optional DIRECTIONS In a skillet, saute onion in butter until tender. Transfer to a slow cooker; add milk, dressing, fish, broccoli, cheeses and garlic powder. Cover and cook on high for 1-1/2 to 2 hours or until soup is bubbly and fish flakes easily with a fork. Sprinkle with paprika if desired. Yield: 6 servings. 48 l February 2018 l Southern Trout l www.SouthernTrout.com
sy Sunburst howder
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new fly guy
Slippery S Steve Moore
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T
Shot!
new fly guy
he sport of fly fishing provides many opportunities to experience frustration. These include the requirement for fly line to tangle with everything on your vest, the affinity of flies for bushes and trees and the fact that split shot never stays where you put it. As hard it is for a new fly angler to achieve the perfect cast to the right position and manage the movement of the fly through the sweet spot with a drag free drift, nothing will make you want to scream at the sky more than seeing that all the shot slipped down the tippet to nestle up against your fly and ruined the entire presentation. Speaking from experience, there is no guarantee crimping the split shot onto the tippet will hold it in place given the velocity and terminal shock of the backcast. There has to be a better way! Here are three different solutions; pick the easiest one.
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new fly guy
Solution 1: Although not applicable for a tiny shot, the fastest and easiest solution
for the larger sizes (No 1, BB and up) is to double the tippet through the slot before crimping. The traditional way to attach shot is to put the tippet in the slot and crimp it shut. Instead, take another wrap around the shot and then crimp.
Solution 2: If during your spin fishing days, you ever used a slip bobber, you know
what a bobber stop is. For those who don’t, bobber stops are pre-tied loose knots on top of a small hollow tube that, along with a bead, blocks the slip bobber from moving farther up the line to control the depth of the terminal tackle. For the split shot, we want to manage movement in the opposite direction to keep shot from moving down to the fly. To use a stop, slide the tippet through the hole in the tube, position the stop where you want it, slide the threaded knot off the end of the tube and pull both ends to tighten. This creates a small knot that blocks the split shot from moving closer to the fly. Since it is movable, it provides plenty of flexibility for positioning the shot.
Solution 3: Basically the same idea as solution 2 but without relying on a commercial
product. Instead of using the bobber stop, tie a uni knot onto the tippet. I prefer using a small piece of regular braided line, but any line will work fine; even a section of tippet. The tiny knot remains movable and, if you tightened it down well, will hold the shot in place. Double the tippet through the shot
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Solution 1
new fly guy Solution 2
The knot slides off the tube
In process uni-knot on the left, finished on the right.
Solution3
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new fly guy Solution 4: Go commercial again and leverage the concept of the Carolina rig from
spin fishing. There is a product called a “Carolina keeper” whose purpose is to prevent the movement of a massive, hollow weight towards the hook. If you cannot get the other solutions to work for you, this is the nuclear option since a Carolina keeper will not move. The keepers come in red or clear colors and are quick and easy to use. Crimp the keeper with needlenose pliers or the back of the forceps to open a slot, thread the tippet through and release. The Carolina keeper now has a death grip on the tippet, and you can move it wherever you need it. The only drawback to using it is a trout might hit the colorful keeper instead of your fly. Check out Steve’s YouTube channel at KayakHacksFishing for more on this topic.
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new fly guy
Make a loop of tippet and hold it between the thumb and forefinger. Insert a forceps into the loop
gearhead
A Convenient Way
Mystic Wolf Creations Western Visions Lanyard
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gearhead
to Carry Your Tools Bob Mallard
F
or years fly fishers used vests to carry their tools and terminal tackle. Zingers were attached to carry nippers, forceps were clipped to a pocket flap, and leader straighteners and fly drying patches were hung from d-rings. Chemicals were jammed into pockets, and spools of tippet were carried in small pockets made for such. Over the last decade or so, cumbersome and often uncomfortable vests have given way to compact chestpacks, fanny packs and sling packs. Boaters now use gear bags which can carry far more than any vest or pack, and float tubers fill the pockets of their tube with fly boxes and whatever else they will need for the day. Having moved our wares to small packs worn on our sides, backs and hind-ends; gear bags located behind us or at our feet, and pockets of small vessels, fly fishers have had to find new ways to store and access their tools and tippet. This is where gear lanyards come in, and why every fly fisher should have one.
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gearhead Configurations
Gear lanyards come in two basic flavors, traditional neck lanyards and the newer wader lanyards. As the name implies, neck lanyards hang around your neck. Conversely, wader lanyards attach to the front of your waders via your suspenders.
Neck Lanyards
Neck lanyards are adjustable and come with padded neck straps. Most float due to a foam neck pad. Many come with emergency breakaway connections in the event you get tangled up in your oars, bushes, anchor rope, etc. Most have a clip on the bottom to attach to your clothing or waders to keep them from swinging around and getting in your way. They come in various sizes and colors, and are made from single strand cord, woven cord and wire. They are decorated with wood, glass, metal, bone, stone, coral and ceramic beads of various sizes and shapes.
Wader Lanyards
Wader lanyards are great for rowing as they stay very tight to your body and out of the way of the oar handles. They are also a good option for the minimalist wading angler who likes to keep things light and compact. They are standard size and various colors, and are made from a mix of single strand cord and woven cord.
Golden Trout Lanyards Neck and Wader Combo
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gearhead One-Off’s
One product I tested, the “Game Changer” from Golden Trout Lanyards, comes with both a neck lanyard and a wader lanyard. The quickrelease clips allow you to move your tools back and forth between lanyards as needed, providing maximum flexibility.
Options
Gear lanyards come with four to six snap hooks for hanging tools. Many are snap-swivel type, some are fixed snaps, and some are quick-release snaps that can be removed from the lanyard. Some lanyards come with a tippet post, either single-side vertical hung or double-side horizontal hung. Many come with a built-in zinger for your nippers. Others come with fly drying cloths, tube-shaped fly holders, floatant holders or small fly boxes. A couple even come loaded with tools.
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gearhead
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gearhead Who, What and Where
Vest Lanyards are made by some of the big dogs in the industry, as well as numerous smaller companies. The former includes Dr. Slick (www.drslick.com) and Loon Outdoors (www.loonoutdoors.com). The latter includes companies such as Golden Trout Lanyards (www. goldentroutlanyards.com), Mystic Wolf Creations (www.mysticwolfcreations.com) and Western Visions Lanyards (www.westernvisionslanyards. com). While the larger companies tend to have one product available empty or loaded with tools, the smaller companies often offer multiple products in various colors and configurations. Some small companies even say that no two lanyards they sell are exactly alike, and that each is a one-of-a-kind product. The products I tested include Blue Wing Olive (Mystic Wolf Creations), Game Changer (Golden Trout Lanyards), Necklace (Dr. Slick), Neckvest Lanyard (Loon Outdoors), and three products from Western Visions Lanyards. All had more clips to work with than I needed, and all the features I could have hoped for. Prices for neck lanyards sans tools run from $24.95 to $55. Those with tools range from $39.95 to $79.95. Wader lanyards, without tools, cost $22.
Gear Lanyard Pros and Cons Pros: Gear lanyards are a great way to carry your tools when not using a vest or chestpack. They are light, compact, comfortable and affordable. Cons: Gear lanyards can get in your way if you are rowing. Wader lanyards are a good option here. And none work well with vests or chestpacks. www.SouthernTrout.com l Southern Trout l March 2018 l 63
gearhead Gear Lanyard Do’s and Don’ts
• Always clip your gear lanyard to your shirt or waders, it helps keep it in place and from getting caught on things. • If you use a neck lanyard when rowing, consider placing it on your bench so that it doesn’t interfere with your oars. • Be careful not to overload your gear lanyard as it can make them heavy and uncomfortable to wear. Conclusion: I am 100% sold on gear lanyards. I now use one while rowing, fishing from a canoe or float tube, and while wade guiding. I also use one whenever I use a fannypack. If you own a lanyard, you may want to consider buying one as they really help keep your tools together and accessible. BOB MALLARD has fly fished for over 40 years. He is a former fly shop owner, Registered Maine Guide, blogger, writer, author, fly designer and native fish advocate. Look for his books 50 Best Places Fly Fishing the Northeast and 25 Best Towns Fly Fishing for Trout (Stonefly Press). He can be reached at www.bobmallard.com, info@bobmallard.com or 207-399-6270.
A NANO BREWERY IN BLUE RIDGE, GA We were founded in October of 2012, and our first legal brew was shipped in July of 2013. We are a couple of old retired guys who were home brewing in an outdoor shower and graduated to this. We are still having fun which is why we are still open.
Our corporate mission is simple: If we don’t like it, we don’t drink it. If we don’t drink it, we don’t sell it. GRUMPY OLD MEN BREWING, LLC 1315 East Main Street, Blue Ridge, GA
[770-331-8870/404-966-2665] info@grumpyoldmenbrewing.com
www.grumpyoldmenbrewing.com
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Yep, it’s just that easy with Western North Carolina’s premier fly shop and guide service. Kevin Howell and his experienced staff have been fishing the surrounding 500 miles of prime trout waters so long, they know all the fish on first name basis. And they’ll be more than happy to make a few introductions.
PISGAH FOREST, NC
GUIDE SERVICES | ONLINE & RETAIL STORE | LESSONS
M R Dead Duxs? A
s the new year envelops us with both it’s opportunities and misfortunes, I am attempting to start my 2018 with a smile and my best paw forward rather than taking a picture of myself and uploading it to some website. The melting snows (yeah, we’ve had two extended period of the white stuff here in central Alabama so far) I see beyond the
olive K. nynne
window remind me of the saying that April showers bring May flowers. In the interim, I do my best to personally water the best crops in Daddyboy’s tomato garden every spring. The most difficult thing at present is that Daddyboy and Boy cannot fish in the frigid temperatures. The local constable dropped by yesterday to make it absolutely clear that ice fishing with a double-barrel shotgun won’t be tolerated this year.
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black wing olive chronicles Lotta’ hub-bub going on here, with the Atlanta Fly Fishing Show coming up and the Southern Trout “Legends of the Fly” Hall of Fame ceremony. You know the drill. Daddyboy and his cronies get together in Atlanta to play rock/paper/scissor until the last man standing gets entombed in the Hall of Flies. I have never actually observed the ritual, mostly because I am not totally convinced this secret society does perform animal sacrifices, and, as you may recall, I am but a humble canine. With so many characters in a smoke filled room, I shudder to hear one of them say something like, “Next on the agenda is a sacrificial dog.” No sir, I don’t want any part of that tradition. People think because I am mostly lab with a little Border collie, beagle, and Plott hound tossed in, and that I love to retrieve ducks and geese. Holy cow, talk about stereotypical typecasting of a member of society. One of Daddyboy’s favorite stories was when he and Mr. Brock went snow goose killing in Arkansas. The guide’s retrieve was a playful, friendly (albeit stinky) pup who just could not get enough of licking Mr. Brock’s face. Later in the field we understood why “Fido” had a strange aroma. He was chowing down on goose dropping like they were Snicker bars. The guide’s comment was, “Yeah, he’s a helluva retriever, but he is also a ****eater”. Before you laugh too hard, Daddyboy’s experience with ducks and dogs did not fare much better. In an earlier column, I spilled the beans on his third get-rich-quick scheme, raising and selling
St. Bernard puppies. Prior to his Chinese restaurant owner neighbor finding homes for the couple of dozen St. Bernard/ German shepherd puppies, there was the duck incident, as it was called. At the time, Daddyboy and wife, Number 4, lived in the country. Nearby, was a farm with a pond and lots of snow white ducks. The farmer, let’s call him Farmer Brown, showed up at the front door one day issuing the charge, “You’re damned big dogs killed all of my ducks!” or something like that with a bit more colorful language. Naturally, Daddyboy denied the accusation, adding that the friendly giants were just too lazy to exterminate a single duck, much less an entire flock. Farmer Brown accepted the dogs’ disparagement and left saying he would shoot the dogs if they came back to the pond. As it turned out, there was little to draw them back to the pond. Why go to a pond that had no ducks? Daddyboy then walked to his backyard in an effort to verbally harangue his lazy giants into never going to the duck pond again. Yet, opening the gate, he was met with two proud pups and some two dozen dead ducks. It resembled a killing field. He and Number 4 gathered up the dead ducks and all of the feathers and stashed them who knows where. To his credit, Daddyboy, after much loud discussion, did eventually go visit Farmer Brown, fess up, and make good on the ducks. He then evicted the two dogs and Number 4.
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O
ne of nicest all round rods I have ever cast, the 8 River Fly Rods’ Cranberry River Series reeks of Southern Appalachia from tip to butt. 8 River Fly Rods is a spanking new rod building company that has thrust upon the fly fishing scene with a level performance unknown among all but a handful of US rods manufacturers. The Cranberry River Series 9' 5wt 4 Piece Medium Fast fly rod was designed to complement exciting rivers such as West Virginia’s Cranberry and the Cherry. This 5wt loads quickly and throws tight powerful loops. Casters enjoy line control that is excellent. Dampening recovery is very fast. Additionally, this rod is one of the finest double nymph rig 9' rods made in the US today. It surpasses the performance of many rods cost double it $350 price tag.
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8 Rivers Fly Rod Company is a 100% Veteran owned business. If for no other reason, that is an important part of its character as the owner Matthew Holtsclaw grew up influenced by his father. The Rev. J.W. “Bill” Holtsclaw was “possibly the greatest outdoorsman I have ever known” says Matt , “and a WWII Veteran. “Dad would take us (kids and friends) hunting and fishing every year without fail. And when he bought a small piece of land and built a small log cabin camp in Pocahontas County West Virginia, known as the “Birth Place of Rivers” that greatly impacted me growing up.” “Here at 8 Rivers, we believe fly fishing is the pinnacle of the sport,” notes. Holtsclaw. “8 Rivers FRC was actually one of the last conversations I had with parents when they were living. They both thought that it was a great idea and encouraged me to do so. I had wanted to form the company for about a decade when I finally did. A lot of prayer went into the company and it has paid off. Evident in the premium product that is on par with the major manufacturers”.
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“We wanted to kick the door open for the consumer by offering premium MADE IN USA High Performance Rods at unheard of pricing. We did not figure in a Brick Mortar Store pricing structure for these first five fly rods,” says Holtsclaw. “I sourced the best USA made carbon fiber for our blanks. That was the first order of business.” Holtsclaw found himself speaking with North Fork Composites, the owner of which is none other than the Gary Loomis the founder and previous owner of GLoomis. Proprietary graphite and designs were developed and then put into production. 8 Rivers builds spinning and casting rods also, as an inclusive item. The goal was to encourage people to get out away from the TV. 8 Rivers first five Rods are priced low and intended to be sold online only. The Cranberry 9ft is a powerful 5wt fly rod that cast, something that is just not to be taken for granted. So far the Cranberry track record has not only been established on eastern waters, but extensive field testing occurs by a number of skilled anglers and pro staff guides in the waters of the Rocky Mountain West. All of whom have nothing but glowing accolades for the Cranberry. Dressed out using Cranberry color wraps with Gun Smoke Accent Lines and Titanium Chrome hardware, it is truly one exceptionally handsome fly rod.
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I particularly like its dead on casting and line control. The latter became quite apparently tossing double rigged, weighted nymph which is something I have always done. This can be pretty technical stuff that you can force on any fly rods, something I did in the 1970s with a Browning Silaflex fly rods. Having said this, the 8 Rivers Cranberry fly rod proved to be superb. I give 10 out of 10 in this capacity. Per their website. Three factors intrinsic to all 8 Rivers rods are: Definition: a clear or perfect example of a person or thing Character: a set of qualities that make a place or thing different from other places or things Integrity: the condition of being unified, unimpaired, or sound in construction Their website also states that: The Cranberry begins with the utilization of premium US-made rod blanks that include next generation materials and technology. The attributes of these incredible graphite blanks are truly amazing when combined design and other materials. Throughout the design, blank production, component selection and finally meticulous hand assembly, their rods are thoroughly tested. Batch breaking to monitor spec tolerance at the blank production facility and at the component fitting stage are standard and rigorous. Spine eval for precise component application and component 74 l February 2018 l Southern Trout l www.SouthernTrout.com
fine tuning is standard for every 8 River Fly Rod builds. Integrating 8 River Fly Rods building aspects into one complete creation is as much artistic craftsmanship as it is science. "In today's world, the AEROSPACE industry is launching equipment into space that can observe a candle on Earth from the distance of the Moon,” says Holtsclaw. “8 Rivers Fly Rod Company’s graphite is the same graphite sourced by the Aerospace industry. This incredible scientific insight and advanced engineering practices are applied to the graphite materials and construction we use in our rod compositions. By working with North Fork Composites in Washington State we believe we have sourced the finest most up to date MADE IN USA graphite blank technology in the world. Toray carbon fiber from the US is used and then our Rods are Hand Built in Texas. Currently we use four different categories of Carbon Fiber for our builds. Many of which are proprietary to 8 Rivers.”
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8 Rivers Graphite categories are described below: 8R-Xg1TM This is our own proprietary pre-peg matrix. It features the most modern carbon fiber available, carefully blended with scrim and the latest generation resin system to create a matrix that offers unprecedented sensitivity, strength and most important fish ability. This is the culmination of some of the greatest minds in the business. Created to fish in the harshest conditions, our base material is nothing short of amazing. This level of resilience combined with the sensitivity and power within the 8R-Xg1TM can only be produced here in the USA. 8R-Xg2TM Again, our own proprietary pre-preg matrix. Featuring a slightly higher modulus fiber, this matrix enhances sensitivity and allows us to make a lighter blank without sacrificing strength. This material is perfect for building our smooth casting, fast recovery Fly Rods. Toray carbon fiber with pre-peg resins are combined to spec, to make some of the most powerful and low weight Rods in the American fishing industry. 8R-Xg2 ALPHATM Aerospace Toray carbon-fiber offering EXTREME sensitivity, durability & power. Again a slightly higher modulus fiber allows us to make a lighter blank without sacrificing strength. All our Rods feature our signature smooth loading/ casting characteristic and fast recovery rating per action category. ALPHA Blend allows us to create builds that are unique. Builds that require more engineering and comprehensive design than most; such as very short Fly Rods and Extreme High Performance Fly Rods & Fishing Rods that perform better than any Rod on Earth. Still yet our Rods are comfortable to use on a daily basis. Employed where outside the standard range of use is the normal environment. 8R-Xg3TM Our no holds barred approach to an exotic, expensive, 21st Century prepeg carbon fiber matrix. Our 8R-Xg-1TM & 8R-Xg-2TM materials are so refined and High Performance that our proprietary 8R-Xg-3TM is really an EXTREME material; one that is the most superior on Earth for Rod manufacturing if the type of build requires it.
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“Forged in Rugged Spectacular Country; Built to be Fished Anywhere.” TM
Proven-High Performance
Duane Redford: “Fear No Water” 8 Rivers Fly Fishing Pro Staff Lead Senior Fishing Guide Colorado 3 Time Best Selling Author
www.8Riversflyrods.com
Southern Trout
CLOSE LOOK The Virginias
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CLOSE LOOK
THE VIRGINIAS
POCAHONTAS COUNTY The Birthplace of Rivers
and Damned Good Fishin’
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THE VIRGINIAS CLOSE LOOK
W
edged in the eastern region of West Virginia is one of the truly great trout and smallmouth bass fishing destinations in the South. Known as The Birthplace of Rivers, Pocahontas County has the headwaters of five major watersheds that range from miles after miles of pristine brook trout streams to wide, graceful rivers perfect for float fishing. Incredibly, the county holds the headwaters for eight major rivers: the Cherry River, Cranberry River, Elk River, Gauley River, Greenbrier River, Tygart Valley River, Williams River, and Shavers Fork of the Cheat River.
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CLOSE LOOK
THE VIRGINIAS
The best known of the rivers is the Greenbrier River that begins at Durbin in Pocahontas County in a place known as the Blister Swamp. It is home to world-class smallmouth bass and musky fishing. The Greenbrier River Trail is a 78-mile long railroad trail that follows along the river lends access to every shoal and pool. The
popular trail is one of the area’s biggest attractions, and it runs through Marlinton on the old tracks of the C&O Railroad. Marlinton hosts the Greenbrier River Race every year, and other popular town festivals include the Roadkill Cookoff, Pioneer Days, and an Autumn Harvest Festival as well as Durbin Days in nearby Durbin. When not fishing, there is plenty to do there.
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Cranberry Glades — also known simply as The Glades — is the headwaters of the Cranberry River. Located in southwestern Pocahontas County, The Glades is a 750-acre grouping of peat bogs resembling some Canadian bogs. The highly acidic Glades supports plants including cranberries, sphagnum moss, skunk cabbage, and two carnivorous plants (purple pitcher plant, sundew). It is the headwaters of the Cranberry River and is
THE VIRGINIAS CLOSE LOOK adjacent to the nearly 50,000-acre Cranberry Wilderness. The Cranberry River and its small tributaries are regarded as some of the finest trout streams in the eastern United States. The Falls of Hills Creek is the glittering jewel in the crown of the Monongahela National Forest is among these. The 114-acre area sits just south of Highway 39 – 5 miles west of the Cranberry Mountain Nature Center.
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CLOSE LOOK
THE VIRGINIAS
The highly popular Elk Rivers rises in Pocahontas County to flow 177 miles to the confluence with the Kanawha River at Charleston. It flows through some of the states most rugged and remote terrain, and its headwaters offer great trout fishing. Upper Elk is a geological marvel: a subterranean network of caves, streams, and waterfalls, including a stretch where, in dry weather, the river sinks underground. According to legend, underground Elk was formed in 1896 when a hole opened in the stream bed and simply swallowed the river. Profuse aquatic insect life makes the Elk a trout fishing paradise. The Gauley rises in the Monongahela National Forest on Gauley Mountain where there are three streams: the North, Middle, and South Forks. All three offer outstanding trout fishing, including perhaps the best brook trout fishing in the state. The Tygart Valley River rises in the 4,500 feet elevation in the Allegheny Mountains in Pocahontas 84 l February 2018 l Southern Trout l www.SouthernTrout.com
THE VIRGINIAS CLOSE LOOK County where it too offers great brookie fishing. The Williams River rises along the slopes of Day Mountain 5 miles west of Marlinton and is a “secret” among fly fishing locals. It was traditionally considered one of the five Forks of Cheat, Shaver’s Fork of the Cheat Shavers Mountain and is the highest river in the eastern U.S. Some of the best catchand-release fishing in the area can be found along the Shaver’s Fork of the Cheat. The highest point is Thorny Flat on Cheat Mountain in the northwestern part of the county, elevation 4848 feet. The Shavers Mountain Spruce-Hemlock Stand is a 68-acre virgin red sprucehemlock stand, partly within the Otter Creek Wilderness. The Cherry River is a tributary of the Gauley River which via it and Kanawha and Ohio rivers, is headwaters of Mississippi River. The Cherry River flows for much of its length through the Monongahela National Forest through a series of whitewater rapids.
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CLOSE LOOK
THE VIRGINIAS
Riding the Rails in Pocahontas Today, the Durbin & Greenbrier Valley Railroad (DGVR) operates all trains in Pocahontas County, each with their own unique history and vintage locomotives. DGVR’s Mountain Rail Adventures showcases West Virginia’s high mountain country while tracing remnants of old timber communities on its preserved railroad tracks. The Durbin Rocket, one of three operating Climax steam locomotives in the world, takes families on a journey along the picturesque Greenbrier River. This excursion is ideal for children since it allows easy wandering through the historic cars and even includes a real caboose!
Listening to the whistle echo in the valley is an exciting sound for young and old alike! Cass Scenic Railroad is home to the world’s largest collection of geared Shay steam locomotives. These titans of the timber sliced into the mountains in the early 20th century transporting newly cut timber back to the saw mill in downtown Cass. Today, these impressive steam locomotives pull restored cars to several destinations along the same track used over one hundred years ago! Mountain Rail Adventures operates trains to Whittaker, the location of a former logging camp, and to Bald Knob, the third highest mountain peak in the Mountain State.
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Cool it at Snowshoe Mountain
Snowshoe Mountain the resort is located on Cheat Mountain. Cheat's highpoint is Thorny Flat, (4,848 feet). The 244 acres resort boast 1,400 condominium and lodge hotel units, most of which are independently owned but managed by the resort. One key advantage for the mountain has continued to be its lower temperatures, due to its elevation. With a mean temperature of 28 °F in January and 68 °F in July, make Snowshoe the coolest place in the summer and a great hub for fishing Pocahontas County.
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Listen in at Green Bank Observatory
Open daily Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day, tours of the Green Bank Observatory is one of the county’s most popular destinations. Tour the Green Bank Observatory and see firsthand all 11 telescopes, one being the Tatel Telescope. It is best known for being used by Frank Drake for the first search for extraterrestrial intelligence; most of the time was spent in basic exploration of the radio universe.
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Gold in the Hills
A fun trip for all is the Edray Trout Hatchery to see thousands of hybrid buttercolored golden trout as well as rainbow, brook, and brown trout. The Hatchery is located three miles north of Marlinton on Rt. 219, then west one mile on Woodrow Road. Open seven days a week from 7:30 a. m. to 3:30 p. m. There’s more like the Fire on the Mountain Chili Cook Off. Get down and dirty at the Blues, Brews and BBQs Festivals, and experience only the finest wines and culinary treats at Wine and Jazz Fest. Pocahontas County is worth looking into.
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Others have streams,
we have a trail.
Jackson County is home of the Western North Carolina Fly Fishing Trail, which maps out 15 prime spots to catch brown, rainbow and brook trout in the crystal-clear streams of the Great Smoky Mountains. With more than 4,600 miles of wide-open rivers and secluded mountain streams, we have the state’s longest contiguous stretch of Mountain Heritage Trout Waters.
Discover the epic waters of North Carolina’s Trout Capital today.
CASHIERS CHEROKEE DILLSBORO SYLVA
DiscoverJacksonNC.com
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The Magic
the Gree
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T
c of
enbrier
he very mention of The Greenbrier Sporting Club evokes thoughts of tea with a raised pinky finger and being pampered to the point of sheer spoilage. In reality though, The Greenbrier Sporting Club is just about the coolest place in the South to get away for a few days. Now, to be perfectly clear about it, The Greenbrier Sporting Club is a residential development and community at The Greenbrier. If you’re staying at The Greenbrier though, or just visiting and want to try your hand on tHoward Creek, the gentleman to talk to is Jacob Ott, head guide and fly fishing guru of the property. “I’ve been with the Club since June of 2001,” says Ott. “What makes the experience here so special is the history of our property, the amount of activities available to our guests and members, but most importantly, it is the people who work at The Greenbrier and The Greenbrier Sporting Club. We have an incredibly high number of long term (10-year) employees. We strive to provide the best experience possible for our members, their guests, and guests at The Greenbrier.”
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“The Greenbrier Sporting Club has a full suite of amenities available to our members, fly fishing, upland and waterfowl hunts, rifle and pistol range, trap, skeet, and sporting clays,” says Ott. Toss into that incredible mix some trail rides and riding lessons, two restaurants, two private golf courses, two pools, fitness center, private spa, children’s programs, and hiking. We offer just about anything else our members can think of. If there is an activity we don’t list but a member wants to participate in, as long as we can legally do it, we figure out a way to make it happen.” Ott loves his job. His guiding experience at the Greenbrier Club reads
like an international list of celebrities. He is not at liberty to tell their names, but he confided that the list of clients includes everyone from television and movie stars, sports stars and personalities, to members of several royal families, and lots of politicians. He personally guides the majority of the fly fishing trips here at The Greenbrier Sporting Club. Between himself and the guides that work with him, they can handle groups up to 10 for trout trips and 6 for floats. The Greenbrier Sporting Club, explains Ott, is still somewhat in a recovery stage from the devastating floods they experienced during the summer of 2016. The flooding completely changed the entirety of Howards Creek which runs through the
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property. As a result, most of the riparian vegetation, and the majority of our instream habitat improvements were lost. Currently, they are in the beginning stages of a massive habitat project for all of Howards Creek, which will hopefully include all 10 miles of stream from the headwaters to its confluence with the Greenbrier River. “With the majority of the destruction taking place on Howards Creek in the 2016 floods, many of our local streams were not impacted
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as much. Those streams had more intact watersheds and they came through the flood in much better shape,” said Ott. The majority of Ott’s guided fishing currently takes place off the main campus of The Greenbrier and The Greenbrier Sporting Club. His trout trips are all wade fishing, and he has several options from which anglers can choose. These include a large selection of hatchery maintained put and take
streams located within a very short drive from The Greenbrier. Additionally, there are two, fly fishing only, catch-and-release areas that a located just minutes away from the property. The stocked streams hold a mix of rainbows and browns, with the occasional hatchery strain brook trout. Wild browns and rainbows as well as native brook trout can be found in their higher elevation streams. These streams tend to be the typical small “bluelines”
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that most anglers associate with native brook trout in the southeast. Ott also has several areas of private water where guides can guide as well. Those areas are located just across the state line into Virginia and offer anglers the uniqueness of the private experience on some of the best waters in the area. “Our warm water fishery is very good and is a hidden bonus,” says Ott. “We have three rivers nearby where we fish for smallmouth and musky. These are the Greenbrier River, the New River, and the James River. All three have both smallmouth and musky, plus catfish, carp, some largemouth, and the occasional walleye on the Greenbrier and the New. All three rivers are best fished from some sort of boat. Our guide trips are in drift boats, but rafts and kayaks are very popular with most anglers. The New river is the largest, and it is a big powerful river, the James and Greenbrier are smaller rivers that fish like big trout streams. Depending on where you are fishing, and what you’re chasing all the rivers require a step up from standard trout tackle. 7 to 8wt fly rods for bass and 10 to 12wt fly rods for musky.” A guided fishing trip with Ott and friends is an all-inclusive deal. When you book a trip with The Greenbrier Sporting Club all necessary equipment is included in the cost of the trip. This includes rods and reels, and flies and waders. Non-alcoholic drinks are
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included with all trips, and gourmet lunches are included with all full day trips or if the anger requests them for half day trips. “I would like to thank you for giving us the opportunity to showcase what a great resource we have here,” says Ott. “Also, I would like to encourage everyone to come and visit us. They will quickly realize that we have a wealth of outdoor activities. Fishing, hunting, mountain biking, bird watching, canoeing, rafting, hiking, camping…it doesn’t really matter. South Eastern West Virginia has it all, and I think a lot of people will fall in love with the place like I did over 20 years ago.”
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The Greenbrier Experience
When arriving at The Greenbrier, one has only to observe the immensity of the main building to know that a visit here is unlike anywhere else in the South, or for that matter in the entire U.S. Its protocols and dress course alone distinguish it as being quite different. For many, it is an opportunity of a lifetime, and for others it is just where we “always vacation.” Known as America's Resort since 1778, the property covers 11,000 acres in a valley nestled within the Allegheny Mountains in White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia. As resumes go, it has been the favorite vacation spot for 26 presidents and countless judges, industrial barons, politicians and even royalty. It is impossible to overstate the superlatives or lack of attention to anything associated with The Greenbrier. In the depths of the Great Recession of 2009, Jim Justice, originally from Beckley, West Virginia, purchased The Greenbrier from the CSX Corporation and in short order began construction of the Casino Club and brought in a PGA TOUR event, The Greenbrier Classic. In a 12-month period, he also added the Sports Performance Center, the beautiful Center Court at Creekside and the inspirational Wedding Chapel completed in September 2015. Once again The Greenbrier was thriving. The Greenbrier offers an unparalleled tableau of recreational activities and outdoor adventures to delight, intrigue, challenge and stimulate the widest range of interests. Many of their activities can be customized for groups. Golfing at the resort’s three championship golf courses (including the Old White TPC- home to the PGA TOUR event The Greenbrier Classic) is the most popular. Other unique experiences include the ancient sport of Falconry, getting behind the wheel of a Jeep Rubicon and exploring the mountains of West Virginia, fly fishing for rainbow trout or bass in Howard’s Creek. At The Greenbrier anglers of all levels can take pleasure in the views that the Allegheny Mountains have to offer. Fishing enthusiasts can enjoy fly-casting, catch and release fishing on their own or book a trip with one of The Greenbrier's experience guides. Please call 855453-4858 (Option 1) for reservations.
www.greenbrier.com
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THE VIRGINIAS Featured Guide
Interview and photos by John Roberts
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Featured Guide THE VIRGINIAS CLOSE LOOK
John Roberts
Fly Fishing Adventures
“I
never, ever, got tired of my father telling me ''native'' trout stories and taking me to them,” says John Roberts, owner of Flyfishing LLC, one of Virginia best known trout fishing guide services. “My father grew up in the mountains of North Carolina, so genetics probably played a role in my decision to be a guide. “At the time I never realized that all this time on the water early in life would mean so much to me later in life. Heck, I was getting a fishing “degree” and didn't know it – no diploma, but tons of personal gratification later in life, guiding experienced types and helping others get started in fly-fishing. I'm not sure I can put it into words, the magical power the little aforementioned tiny trout waters had on me 60-plus years later. “I can't figure out what part of the brook trout I like the most. Is it the red dots, the mottled back, the slate-blue background, the neat white trim on its lower fins, the pure gaminess of a 10-inch male? Hmmm, I’m still working on it”, Roberts. The last 25 years have really seen a huge ramp-up of interest in learning the ways of the trout and the hugely fun learning process of catching them on a fly according to Roberts. He cites all the ads on TV showing someone fly-fishing. Fly-fishing has a lot of what people are seeking in life, for sure. Just one fly-fishing experience can be talked about for many decades. He speaks with an older pointof-view on how things have www.SouthernTrout.com l Southern Trout l March 2018 l 103
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THE SOUTH VIRGINIAS CAROLINA Featured Featured Guide Fly Tier
changed in fly-fishing around here. He likes the fact that more couples taking up the sport, along with young boys and girls. He is fond of seeing more ladies taking up the sport, especially. Their patience and “can do” attitude about getting the casting down-pat quicker is most refreshing. When asked what makes the waters where you guide unique to other Southern trout waters, Roberts says the size of some trout water, is one thing that might be different for those used to bolder, high-gradient 6- to 15-foot-wide streams. He started out fishing very small native-trout streams. His teachings now are largely based on what these little 3-4’ wide streams and their residents deep in the mountains taught him. “A lot old timers, like me, in Virginia have always called the little brook trout found in local Virginia waters simply 'natives’ or maybe ‘native trout’,” says Roberts. “I know they are called different things in the South. And I know, technically, they are chars among the salmonid family of fishes.” “A trout education is ongoing,” says Roberts, adding, “I'm in my sixth decade. Guiding became a natural complement to our B&B business when we started it in 1985. Let's just say it was kind of natural that I became a trout guide.” 104 l February 2018 l Southern Trout l www.SouthernTrout.com
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Featured Featured Fly Tier Guide SOUTH THE VIRGINIAS CAROLINA CLOSE LOOK Offering instruction to his clients is part of Robert’s business has really grown in the last 20 years. His 4½- hour, hands-on “Introduction to Fly-Fishing” trip is the way to go, as far as getting a solid build-able foundation down for those who want to learn fly-fishing. This is limited to one to four people to ensure the highest-quality instruction and learning. The relaxed setting is a small mountain pond fed by a coldand-bold limestone spring where we cover equipment, casting, knots, basic entomology, fish-fighting 101, proper catch-and-release techniques, trout handling, safety and more. After you get through ''boot camp,'' you get to test your self on some high-energy, hard-fighting rainbows. “One optional part of this program that I am most proud of is to spend two additional hours or so on a ''teaching'' trout stream, where we cover natural fly presentation in the different stream movements –riffles, runs, waterfalls, flats, etc.,” says Robert. “These particular waters mimic most others you will find anywhere in the country. This is the real world of the trout, where beginners can get the hang of things. Fishing moving water can be very challenging for beginners. Wading, of course, is something that takes some concentration and a high regard for safety too.” Roberts supplies the flies and tackle. His clients appreciate the opportunity to use the equipment he provides. It helps them decide on their selection process when they buy their own. And he rent waders, but not in every size. He supplies bottled water, cookies and chips on our half day trips. Lunch (and the snacks) is provided on his all day trips. “Beginners or experienced types want to have a memorable and fun time in a neat, safe, pristine sort of setting in their quest to learn something new and challenging in life,” says Roberts. “They expect to have this and to return home safely. And, yes, it is up to the guide to see this through. Take up fly-fishing and you begin a lifetime’s journey of learning. Heck, six decades of it and I'm still learning.” www.SouthernTrout.com l Southern Trout l March 2018 l 107
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“ "As a guide, people place a lot of trust in you to provide them a memorable and great day. You have to realize as a guide, some of the trip planning people make may have started many, many moons ago. Fly-fishing is one activity a huge part of our society wants to experience at least once in life. The desire to want to do it crosses all age brackets, for sure. It is huge on bucket lists. I can't think of a better activity to share with a son, daughter, grandson, granddaughter, you name it. I had a doctor from Texas years ago who came and fished with me for three days with his wife, who was a model. He was one of the best fly-fisherman I ever had, and I was told in no uncertain terms that he wanted his wife to be a fly-fisherman and that was my job to see to it. We go to the Jackson River, I pointed him toward lots of trout upstream, and his wife and I went downstream after I taught her to cast. The first 12inch rainbow was all it took, and, man, she got the catchin' part down! We fished two more days in the same manner. Six months later I get a 'thank you' card from the couple, telling me that they were on a fly-fishing honeymoon in Colorado. Expectations come in all forms.� 108 l February 2018 l Southern Trout l www.SouthernTrout.com
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Bonding is a bonus, when discovered on a pristine stream with a magnificent 360-degree view of scenery everywhere and catching and releasing some of nature's most beautiful creatures. Roberts had an elderly saltwater (kind of) guy, who was in ill health, who took his “intro” class one time a few years ago. Jerry's days were numbered, and his wife gave him one of our gift certificates. Roberts continued, “We went to the mountain pond and went through the class, and he was able to check off fly-fishing from his bucket list. He called me back two months later to do one of my stream trips. He came back. I'm not sure he weighed 80 pounds, as the cancer ravaging his body was well along. It was all he could do to cast the fly. We caught several colorful rainbows and had to take several breaks for Jerry to recharge each time. Jerry passed away about a month later, and his wife contacted me to help with his last wishes to have ashes scattered near the pool where we caught the trout. Of all the thousands of days of his life he lived, he told me twice that his time with me on the stream was the most enjoyable thing he had ever experienced in life.” www.SouthernTrout.com l Southern Trout l March 2018 l 109
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THE SOUTH VIRGINIAS CAROLINA Featured Featured Guide Fly Tier
John Roberts' Fly Fishing LLC 603 S. Main Street Lexington, VA 24450 Website: ww.VATrout.com Phone: 800-882-1145 Trips Available Year Round- Prompt Replies to All Inquiries 110 l February 2018 l Southern Trout l www.SouthernTrout.com
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Trout Fishing Capital of Oklahoma
Marval Resort • Cabins • RV Sites (FHU) • Tent Sites • Lodges • Reunion Hall • Clubhouse
800-340-4280
• Swimming Pool • Splash Pad • Planned Activities • Nature Trails • Fishing on River • Game Room • Mini-Golf
www.MarvalResort.com
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THE VIRGINIAS Featured Lodging
A B&B at Llew
603 S. Main Street Lexington, VA 24450 Phone: (800) 882-1145 (540) 463-3235 Website: www.LLodge.com 112 l February 2018 l Southern Trout l www.SouthernTrout.com
Featured Lodging THE VIRGINIAS CLOSE LOOK
wellyn Lodge
All photo credits: John Roberts All interview content attributed to lodge owner, John Roberts
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“L “L
THE VIRGINIAS Featured Lodging
ocation, location, location. From the time ocation, the time you leavelocation, the frontlocation. door of From the lodge and you leave the front door of the lodge and head to the stream you will absolutely love headoftoVirginia’s the stream you will absolutely love the splendor greatest and most historic the splendor of Virginia’s says greatest mostowner historic valley, the Shenandoah,” Johnand Robert, of valley, the Shenandoah,” says John“You Robert, of The Llewwllynn Inn in Lexington. will owner continue The Llewwllynn Innyou in Lexington. “Youhigh-elevation will continue to fall in love as climb to the to fall inwith lovea lot as of you climb to thescenery high-elevation streams great mountain to take streams with a lot of great mountain scenery to take in along the way.” in the way.”goes on year ‘round in Virginia. In along Fly-fishing addition Fly-fishing goes on ‘round Virginia. In to pondering theyear habits of ain brookie, you addition pondering the habits that of a the brookie, you can alsotoponder the possibility mountain can ponder the years mountain you also are on mightthe be possibility over 480 that million old. you areLlewellyn on might be over million years old. Using Lodge as a 480 basecamp, fly-fishing Using Llewellyn Lodge days as a and basecamp, enthusiasts can spend days onfly-fishing some of enthusiasts can spend days and days on some of the finest streams in the country. If you look on one of the finest streams in the country. If you look on one of the interactive Trout Maps, published by the Virginia the interactiveofTrout Maps, published by the Virginia Department Game & Inland Fisheries, it won’t Department of Game & Inland Fisheries, it take long to see that Llewellyn Lodge is only a won’t short take long to see that Llewellyn Lodge is only a short drive (from 10 minutes to 1 1/2 hours) to trout-fishing drive (from 10 minutes to 1 1/2 hours) to trout-fishing in seven counties. Those counties include miles and in seven Those brook counties include milesmore and miles of counties. wild and native trout streams, miles of designated wild and native brook trout streams, more than 46 trout stocked waters, 12 specialthan 46 designated stocked waters, 12 specialregulation waters, trout a few tailwater sections, and regulation waters, a few tailwater sections, and four “delayed harvest” areas. The cold headwater four “delayed harvest” areas. The cold headwater streams and limestone spring-fed ones flowing out streams and limestone spring-fed ones flowing out of both the Allegheny and Blue Ridge mountains in of both the Allegheny and Blue Ridge mountains in western Virginia provide excellent comfort, food and western Virginia habitat for trout. provide excellent comfort, food and habitat for trout. ”The thrill of catching a high-energy native ”The thrill of catching a high-energy native Virginia brook trout and admiring it in your wet Virginia trout and admiringis itsomething in your that wet hand justbrook for a couple of seconds hand justinforyour a couple of seconds something that remains memory bank forisyears to come,” remains in your memory bank for years to come,” says Robert, who is a trout fishing guide. These little says Robert, who is a trout fishing guide. These little guys cannot tolerate water temps over 70 degrees, guys cannot tolerate water temps over 70 degrees, and some places you find them you will almost need and some places you find them you will almost need a flashlight to fish for them at midday.” a flashlight to fish for them at midday.”
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Featured Lodging THE VIRGINIAS CLOSE LOOK Experienced advice is always the is trout-fishing always the best Experienced advice when advice seeking best advice when seeking locally trout-fishing advice. Having an in-house, bornadvice. Having an in-house, locally and-raised veteran trout guide is abornreal and-raised veteran trout guide is a plus. Knowing where to send guests,real as plus. Knowing where to send guests, as well as orienting them on the local fishing well as orienting them on the local fishing laws, is always appreciated, and this laws, is always appreciated, and this brings the Lodge a lot of repeat fishermen. brings the Lodge a lot of repeat fishermen. “My wife Ellen grew up in Long “My wife Ellen grew up in Long Island, New York, and worked for several Island, New York, and worked for several years in the hospitality business,” explains years in the hospitality business,” explains Robert. “In 1984 she made a trip down Robert. “In 1984 she made a trip down to Lexington, Virginia, from Washington, to Lexington, Virginia, from Washington, DC, to check out the prospect of opening DC, to check out the prospect of opening a bed and breakfast in a small, historic a bed and breakfast in a small, historic college town on Main Street in Lexington. college town on Main Street in Lexington. With With a a population population of of 7,000 7,000 folks, folks, it it couldn’t couldn’t be more different from DC. be more different from DC. “I was born here in the ‘’Stonewall’’ “I was born here in the ‘’Stonewall’’ Jackson Jackson Hospital Hospital in in Lexington, Lexington, once once the the town hospital and now a museum. I was town hospital and now a museum. I was contractor contractor salesmen salesmen at at a a local local building building supply and became acquainted with supply and became acquainted with her her as she came in the store needing some as she came in the store needing some odds odds and and ends. ends. II was was an an older older bachelor bachelor who had a plan at that time to move who had a plan at that time to move my my fly-fishing guide business to my rustic fly-fishing guide business to my rustic cabin cabin on on Big Big Back Back Creek Creek in in Bath Bath County County next door. I loaned Ellen a hacksaw next door. I loaned Ellen a hacksaw and and the the rest rest is is kind kind of of history.” history.” Ellen named Ellen named the the B&B B&B Llewellyn Llewellyn Lodge Lodge after after her her great-grandparents great-grandparents place place on Nantucket Island, Massachusetts. on Nantucket Island, Massachusetts. The The Lodge saw its first guest on May 1, 1985, Lodge saw its first guest on May 1, 1985, and Lexington’s first licensed B&B was born. A huge part of our fly-fishing guests are repeat visitors – some who have been coming since those early days.
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THE VIRGINIAS Featured Lodging
Llewellynn Lodge has two king rooms, three queen rooms, one room with two double beds that sleeps four, and another one with one double that sleeps two. They are priced according to size and amenities provided. All come with a full breakfast. A full breakfast from a menu is included with the lodging stay. Ellen’s award-winning Blue Ribbon breakfast menu brings lots of repeat visitors. The award hanging on the wall in the Breakfast Room to show it off. “Most guests are pleasantly surprised when they find we offer a menu unlike most B&Bs. We don’t do “continental,” in part because we like choices when we travel ourselves,” says Robert. “We always use locally raised vegetables and fruits when in season. Yes! We have Virginia ham on the menu. Guest favorites include custom-made omelets (often from fresh, local eggs) stuffed with various cheeses, meats and veggie options. Meats include Virginia ham, sausage and bacon. Other favorites include our Belgian waffles with a choice of pecans, berries, whipped cream, fried or scrambled eggs, home-made muffins, hot and cold cereals, coffee, tea, juice and John’s Killer Hot Chocolate. We happily accommodate special diet needs, too.” For lunch and dinner, we can help guests choose from a variety of local options – from college town dive bars to farm-to-table cuisine to local joints that are a little off the beaten path. We do have the individual menus from the restaurants downtown to guests to peruse. We can make reservations for our guests ahead of their visits. A constant guest favorite is the 8- to 12-minute walk down tree-lined Main Street to the restaurants operated by historic old homers. 118 l February 2018 l Southern Trout l www.SouthernTrout.com
Featured Lodging THE VIRGINIAS CLOSE LOOK “Thirty- three years in the B&B business plus more than 40 years of experience on local trout streams add up to world-class hospitality and down-home fun,” says Roberts. “We have visitors from all over the world come to our little corner of the Shenandoah Valley, so you never know who you are going to meet and greet over a custom-made Blue Ribbon omelet or other culinary creation from our kitchen. We love helping guests plot their local travel itineraries for their time here. Scenic drives are always rewarding using the Lodge as a home base. Day trips can include the Shenandoah National Park, Staunton, Charlottesville, Appomattox and Bath County,” Hiking enthusiasts have more options than spots on a rainbow trout, including the Appalachian Trail, Crabtree Falls, Natural Bridge State Park trail system, two designated Wilderness Areas and the Chessie Rails to Trail that follows the very scenic Maury River near the town limits. Goshen Pass, about 15 minutes away, is one of Virginia’s beautiful natural areas where the fast-flowing and scenic Maury River cuts it way through the mountains. Kayakers and canoeists have lots of options. The mighty James River flows through Rockbridge County and has more consistent flows for these type users. Natural Bridge has some caverns for exploring. “Lexington is one of the Shenandoah Valley’s most historic and charming towns,” conludes Roberts. “If small-town enjoyment is your thing, you will not be disappointed with a visit here. It is one friendly little place where people speak to you on the streets. I am proud I was born here and will do my best to see you get the most out of visiting my hometown.” www.SouthernTrout.com l Southern Trout l March 2018 l 119
best kept secret
8284793790
GrahamCountyTravel.com
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The Elk aka “The Lady” A look at West Virginia’s limestonefueled, trout-fishing gem
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River By Dave Breitmeier Photo credits: Dave Breitmeier
T
hree distinct sections. Three distinct experiences. One great trout water. West Virginia’s Elk River!
Slaty Fork Section, Pocohontas County
For some anglers there is just no substitute for catching difficult, secretive, wild trout on a remote section of river. Better yet, those wild trout should be of the large, brownspotted variety! Anglers like those relish the chance to escape from the crowds, and stalking the large wild trout of the Elk River more than makes up for the effort required to hike into the watershed’s backcountry. www.SouthernTrout.com l Southern Trout l March 2018 l 123
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The Slaty Fork catch-and-release section – as the Upper Elk is referred to locally – is a 5-mile-long, hike-in-access stretch of the Elk River that is best experienced from mid-March until midJune. It features solitude, prolific bug hatches and great populations of both browns and rainbows. Many of those trout, especially the browns, will stretch a tape into the 20- to 24-inch class.
You will need to understand though that great populations of trout does not in this case translate to easy fishing. Slaty Fork can be a very moody stretch of river, and this piece of “the Lady” demands you approach her with respect. Stealth and patience are necessary. Time spent observing the river and planning an approach will pay dividends, and a day spent with a guide can be a big help. 124 l February 2018 l Southern Trout l www.SouthernTrout.com
THE VIRGINIAS CLOSE LOOK Twenty- to 40-fish days, and multiple fish that measure more than 20 inches, are certainly possible, but there will be more days of fishing hard for considerably fewer trout. You’re going to work for your fish. Slaty Fork lends itself to anglers who understand the joy that comes from fishing hard for quality wild trout. Concentrate your efforts on fast water. Ignore the big pools (unless trout are visibly rising). Slaty Fork features a nice mixture of pools, riffles and runs with the upper 3 miles having more consistent good structure. The riffles and runs are typically the most productive water. Slaty Fork ends where the river drops into a limestone cavern. Fantastic match-the-hatch fishing can be found on Slaty Fork from March through midJune. Black Stoneflies in size 16 kick things off, followed by size 18 Blue-Winged Olive mayflies, size 18 Blue Quill mayflies, size 12 Quill Gordon mayflies, and continuing through the normal progression of Eastern bug hatches. The Isonychia hatch from midMay through early summer is especially noteworthy. Quartering and swimming/ stripping the big slender nymphs can bring crushing takes, and the spinner falls can be blanket heavy. Access to Slaty Fork is made from one of two trail heads. The upper access site is located off US Highway 219 at the hamlet of Slaty Fork. The lower access site is found off Dry Branch Road at County Road 60.
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Elk Springs Section Randolph County
Elk River’s next section starts 6 miles downstream from Slaty Fork and provides a completely different experience. Trout fishing on the 2.2-mile long Elk Springs section is designated as catch-and-release fishing. The river here is moderate in size (60 to 100 feet wideghu/87-+) and is a true year-round trout fishery due to three large limestone springs and resurgence points where the Elk rises again from her 6-mile underground journey. As is the case with most limestone fisheries, this is a very fertile section of river. It teems with invertebrates and trout. The fishery is a mixture of trout stocked as fingerlings, trout stocked as adults, and true wild trout. Regardless of their origin, all these trout see moderate to heavy fishing pressure year ‘round, and, as a result, most become very selective feeders. Being used to people sharing the river with them, this tends to be “up close and personal” fishing. Trout in the Elk Springs section at times will rise within a rod’s length of you. It can be un-nerving! Elk Springs provides good winter fly-fishing with winter-long hatches of tiny black stoneflies and midges. It is a game of light-weight rods, fine tippets and tiny fly patterns. Tiny, size 22-24, black softhackles and CDC dries work well for the stones. Size 28 black pupae patterns are a must-have to imitate the midges. You should always have a variety of micro patterns in the box including BWOs (all stages), black Midges (adult and pupae patterns), and cream Midges (adult and pupae patterns) … all these patterns in size 24 through 32. 126 l February 2018 l Southern Trout l www.SouthernTrout.com
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Like the progression of bugs in the Slaty Fork section, bug hatches on the Elk Springs section moves forward after the black stoneflies through the common early Eastern hatches, leading up to the “big show.” The river’s most famous hatch – Sulphur mayflies (e. invaria) in size 16 – and spinner falls take place from mid-May to mid-June. The spinner falls, referred to locally as a “red fog event,” can be unbelievably heavy, to the point that you can’t see through the swarms and every fish will be up and sipping. Trout are feeding so heavily at this time, the Elk appears to be boiling sometimes – a phenomenon referred to as “Snout Soup.” Summertime on Elk Springs brings excellent terrestrial fishing to the forefront. Wise fly-fishermen carry a variety of ant, beetle and cricket patterns. And regardless of when you fish here, always carry Pheasant Tail nymphs, sizes 12-28; and Gray Scuds, sizes 18-22. Non-beaded varieties seem to work best. Access is easy. County Road 49 runs parallel to the Elk River for the first 11 miles downstream from the springs.
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The Lower Elk River/ general regulations section, Webster County The most downstream section of trout water on the Elk River begins at the bottom of the Elk Springs catchand-release section and runs about 17 miles to the town of Webster Springs. This section is much larger water than all the water upstream and gets heavily stocked in the spring months with adult trout. It is also home to a good population of brown trout year’around that can be found from fingerlings to substantial size. Think of the lower Elk River section with fast-action rods in hand – 4-weight to 6-weight territory. It fishes best from late April through summer. Stocking ceases after Memorial Day, and the crowds go away soon thereafter, leaving miles of trout water and non-selective brown trout behind. Standard patterns, like Hare’s Ear nymphs and bead-headed Pheasant Tails work well. Top dries include big Stimulators, Humpies and other attractor dries. Drop a bead-headed soft-hackle off the back. Nothing technical about it. It’s a very relaxing way to spend an afternoon. www.SouthernTrout.com l Southern Trout l March 2018 l 131
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Access to the lower Elk River is excellent for most of it, with the road paralleling the river for all but 4 of its 15 miles. I guarantee, you’re going to finding it hard to decide which section of the Elk River you want to fish. My suggestion? Allow yourself at least three days for a trip to the Virginia’s Elk River and sample all three sections of the watershed. It makes for a well-rounded trip!
If You Go …
The author, Dave Breitmeier, is a premier fly-tier (see STM’s Featured Fly Tier in this issue) and fishing guide on the Elk River. Contact him at: Dave Breitmeier Elkfisher’s Fly Shop, online at www.Elkfisher.com Phone: (304) 847-5011 Email: elkfisher@yahoo.com Lodging … • Elk Springs Resort • Elk River Touring Center • River Run Retreat • Mineral Springs Motel
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Dave “Elk Fisher” Breitmeier W
ith a well-known nickname like “Elkfisher” in West Virginia, pretty well explain the habits and passions of Dave “Elkfisher” Breitmeier our featured fly tier for this issue of Southern Trout. When asked to tell us about it and how it came about Breimeier was quite forthcoming. “The name Elkfisher, a name I am more likely to hear than ‘Dave,’ has been my screen name on the internet for years”, says Breitmeier. “Nothing mysterious about the origin as I have spent most of my time for the last 27 years on the Elk River in West Virginia.” A well-known tier, Breitmeier said that his guiding prompted him to more or less become somewhat commercial. His principal goal though has been to advance the philosophy that "simple yet deadly" is a good combination.
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THE VIRGINIAS - Featured Fly Tier
“I have always admired the work/patterns of Fran Betters, especially his wonderful snowshoe hare pattern, the Usual and all its variations,” says Breitmeier. “Simple, versatile, and extremely effective--what more can you ask of a fly? I also have gleaned much useful information from Shane Stalcups work both techniques. His distribution wrap for instance which allows you to use a soft hackle feather suitable for a #12 on a #28 if needed. I also advocate the extensive use of CDC. Ed Koch was certainly another influence first through his writings and later through fishing with him. He certainly re-enforced my belief in simple ties.” “I used to spend a lot of time fishing a ginger-hackled, (and tailed) brown-bodied, Catskill-style, clear-hackled dry that I called a ‘Ginger Bitch.’ I also used varieties tied with Dun Hackle and tails and a gray dubbed body,” says Breitmeier. “I tended to do my early “wets” the same substituting hen back for hackle.” 136 l February 2018 l Southern Trout l www.SouthernTrout.com
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“Today most of the patterns I tie are my own creations with a fair number of those creations borrowing essential elements from Fran Betters’ Usual series of flies,” continued Breitmeier “Among my ties are the following; CDC V-Wing midges, Elk River little Black Pupae, Copper Sulphate Sulphur emerger, Coffee Cup Coffin Fly, the Magic Bunny Emerger, Magic Maggot, Dave’s Iso Nymph, and the Micro Onsey series. The Unusual series which is essentially a Usual or variation thereof done with CDC rather than snowshoe include the Possum Nymph, the Black Bear Ordinary, Dave’s Baetis Nymph and the CDC V-wing series of mayfly duns.” The most difficult flies Briemeier ties are tiny dry midges on the #32 277 Mustad platform. Technically among the simplest, but difficulty comes from trying to stay/work in scale on such a tiny hook. Breitmeier says that he is beyond comfortable working with tiny hooks, as the little flies are definitely my passion but that the 277 Mustad is a whole other world of small. Without question, the toughest things to find are tiny hooks. With the exception of the Gamakatsu C12-bm which is available in # 26, #28 and # 30, there just isn’t anyone making hooks under a #26 anymore. www.SouthernTrout.com l Southern Trout l March 2018 l 139
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THE VIRGINIAS - Featured Fly Tier
When approaching a tailwater river, we asked what are his five “Go to” fly patterns, Breitmeier said, “I guess my top 5 for a tailwater fishery or a limestone stream are similar enough to lump together. If we take seasons out of the matter, the top 5 for year around would probably be baetis duns and emergers in multiple sizes, scuds, a variety of midge pupae and adults in multiple sizes and a Pheasant Tail nymph in multiple sizes. When approaching a freestone trout stream, my five ’go to’ patterns are the usual’s, CDC BWO Comparaduns, Bead Head Soft Hackle Pheasant Tails, Bead Head Soft Hackle Pheasant Tails and I guess I’ll go with a black foam beetle. The terrestrials I fish are very simple foam ants, beetles, and crickets. None of these take more than a few moments to learn to tie and they work so well I haven’t felt compelled to make them more elaborate.”
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Brietmeier’s favorite trout water without question is West Virginia’s Elk River which has held him captive for closing in on three decades. He guesses the reason for that is that she so often demands patterns that are very close to the natural insects especially when dealing with tiny patterns. Brietmeier knowingly grinned, "Always something new to learn while fishing the Lady. She keeps you on your toes."
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The West Virginia Experience “O
ur main bread-and-butter water is the New River, which starts in Blowing Rock, North Carolina, and flows north to its confluence with the Gauley River, some 320 miles later in Gauley Bridge, West Virginia,” says Larry C. “Redneck” Nibert, lifelong resident of southern West Virginia and the owner of The West Virginia Experience, LLC guide service.
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Larry “Redneck” Nibert
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“We mainly focus on the waters of the New within the boundaries of West Virginia; however, during the spring months, we find ourselves south of our state borders in the Virginia Highlands. We fish as far away as Christiansburg, Virginia. We also focus or many of the tributaries of the New River and Kanawha River basins. This includes, but is not limited to, the Gauley and Elk rivers. We also spend time, when water levels are appropriate, on the Tygart and Cheat rivers in north-central West Virginia.” That’s a whole mouthful of fishing, but it’s just another day on the job for Nibert. His service is multi-species. Although the New River holds smallmouth bass, it is very common to catch a variety of other species including muskies and walleyes. Although the New River never gets too low in volume to float, seasonal rains can make the waters unsafe and unfit to fish. “When this happens we may find ourselves on streams in other parts of our region,” says Nibert. “The majority of the smaller waters are rarely passable by watercraft, but when they are, they must not be taken lightly. The waters we float range from mild to wild. Like many of our guides, you have to wear a different hat every day. Today, you may be floating a class I or II section of the New River. Tomorrow, you may be on a class III-plus section of the Tygart, Gauley or Elk rivers. When you’re used to spending 100-plus days of the year on the New River, the impromptu opportunity to spend time fishing another section of water is comparable to a kid having Christmas multiple times a year.” Nibert is a hands-on owner and guide that keep tabs on local and regional water levels, as well as weather conditions in the area. Waters volumes are “here today and gone tomorrow” in many places, as far as being able to safely navigate mountain streams. A rainstorm could pop up over the weekend and you may have to move your operations 150 miles to put guests on fish. His waters are home to trout – including native brookies – a variety of black-bass species, walleyes and muskies. Grand slams (four or more species caught in one trip) are common for his guests.
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“Due to extremely rough terrain, we usually access less than a mile or two of these mountainous streams and rivers by foot,” explains Nibert. “The topographic relief in these areas is amazing. Many of the waters we float average gradients of 30 to 40 feet per mile. Many times we will take our guest out of the boats to safely walk them around a drop. The guides then safely navigate the craft over these areas, load the guests back up and resume the trips. Needless to say, these trips are not for everyone. They can be physically demanding. This, coupled with the fact that we never know when Mother Nature is going to bless us with ample precipitation, a visit to these areas creates quite a unique opportunity to tackle these fisheries.” West Virginia Experiences was conceived in April 2003. I have been a guide since April 1991They deal with a wide variety of skill levels and pride themselves in the fact that they can teach virtually anyone how to present a variety of lures for a variety of species under a variety of conditions. Their guides spend as much as 200 days a year on the water chasing a variety of different species. “We generally pick up our guest from their lodging preference and transport them to and from our angling destinations,” says Nibert. “We offer a variety of float trips and walk and wade packages as well as overnight riverside and off-river camping or cabins (many of our riverside overnight packages include drinks, snacks, lunch, dinner, and breakfast). Most of our fishing trips include snacks, drinks, and lunch, and we’ll take care of your dietary restrictions too. All fishing gear also can be provided – rods, reels and tents, too. Due to the time of year that most people do these trips, we do not supply waders. Many of our guests on the walk-and-wade trips simply wet wade with good felt-bottomed waiting boots.” 154 l February 2018 l Southern Trout l www.SouthernTrout.com
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More than 90 percent of Nibert’s clients are return business or referral from such. And more than 60 percent of his guests haven’t spent a lot of time on the water before booking a trip with him. A lot of his clients have basically learned how to fish from his guides. Many request one-on-one trips with their favorite guide. Basically, it is catered fishing. For most of his clients he provides all the fishing gear, they trust out guides with their lure selection, and they learn how to use all the gear and lures properly under the current water conditions. “As a whole, our guides enjoy the challenge of taking anglers who have little or no experience,” says Nibert. “The thrill a guide gets when the seeds you have been planting all day start to bloom, and they start putting fish after fish after fish in hand, swells the pride of even the most humble professional. For the most part, the more experienced anglers are more open to suggestions from local anglers who call these streams and rivers their “home waters.” Although we don’t advertise on our website, we pride ourselves in every West Virginia Experience we offer. We do everything customized at the request of those who support our livelihood. No two trips are ever the same. We are firm believers in “variety is the spice of life.” Same goes for fishing. A perfect example lies in the month of May 2017, when we found ourselves on more than 30 different sections of water and nine different streams or rivers. The topography in our area offers a variety of opportunities from mild to wild. The size of each anglers’ trophy is different, but for us, every fish they catch is a trophy. Every day spent on the water is a blessing that we cherish. Each fish is simply an added bonus. Contact info Phone – (304) 574-0658 Website: www.WVExperience.com www.SouthernTrout.com l Southern Trout l March 2018 l 157
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“Holy hell, did you see that flash?” “No. What color was it?” “Looked to be kind of gold, and it was big!” “Well, chuck that meat back at ‘em,and see if he eats it!”
“Holy hell, d that flash?” “No. What co “Looked to gold, and it w “Well, chuck back at ‘em he eats it!”
Virginia’s Jackso
Allegheney County’s beloved tailw By Scott Osborne Photo credits: Scott Osborne
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did you see
olor was it?” be kind of was big!” k that meat m,and see if
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E
ven though the brown trout population of the Virginia’s Jackson River near Covington isn’t quite as dense as the wild rainbows, they often grow to great sizes – more than 16 inches, upwards of 2 feet long – but those fish are few and far between and require a hunter’s mentality if you wish to put them in the net. Much to the chagrin of purists, they are a streamer fisherman’s delight because their meal of choice is meat. By the time we turned that big brown, we had already boated numerous wild rainbows. They’re gorgeous fish, with rosy sides and white tipped fins, lending to their heritage from the initial stockings of this river in the late 1980s and ‘90s of Kamloops-strain ‘bows from the West Coast. They dominate the bulk of the catch on the Jackson, averaging 12 inches and under. Occasionally you’ll come across a fine one that pushes 16 inches long, but mostly they’re “little buddies.” These guys are fun to catch, often concentrating in the swift riffles of the river, freely munching most bugs, and definitely preferring a good drift. For small fish, they sure know how to use the current to fight like hell, keeping rods bent, lines tight and anglers happy.
on River
water trout fishing
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The beloved Jackson River in Alleghany County, Virginia is a true tailwater river. Cold water from the depths of Lake Moomaw is released through Gathright Dam to maintain a consistent temperature of 58 degrees year ‘round. It is a unique trout river to Virginia, insomuch that it is navigable by raft or drift-boat and provides our best opportunity to catch wild trout while drift-fishing in the Old Dominion. The course of the Jackson tracks south for 18 miles until it reaches the Westrock paper mill in the town of Covington. The mill discharges warm water effluent (at purported environmentally safe levels) into the river, essentially creating a barrier for the trout fishery at Covington. However, the 18 river miles from the plant upstream to Gathright Dam provides a plethora of opportunities to experience one of the most productive wild trout fisheries in the state. Gathright Dam regulates the flow of the Jackson for recreational activities, flood control and downstream river quality. It is not a hydroelectric dam, such as those created by the Tennessee Valley Authority in eastern Tennessee that deliver huge “ebbs and tides” to a river. Instead, the Garthright Dam provides the Jackson with a fairly consistent flow that averages between 160 cubic feet per second and 300 cfs. These flows are suitable for wading; however, anything higher can make maneuvering the river on foot difficult. As flows increase into Lake Moomaw, the US Army Corps of Engineers (which operates the facility) discharges more water through the dam, elevating flows up to 1,200 cfs in non-flood stage releases. Floating this river can be done all the way down to 160 cfs in a small raft or kayak. Traditional drift-boats will have trouble floating at flows of less than 300 cfs, unless the owner is a Bondo master and doesn’t mind repairing his fiberglass boat. Water release information is updated daily at (540) 965-4117. The Corps of Engineers also gives a 2- to 3-day release forecast online at the COE Norfolk District Water Management website. The COE conducts six single-day pulses of 3,500 cfs (rendering the Jackson un-floatable during those periods in spring and fall) in attempts to scour the river of excess algae. Be mindful of these pulses while planning your trip. www.SouthernTrout.com l Southern Trout l March 2018 l 163
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Excellent floats on the Jackson River can be executed between public access points. • Johnson Spring is the first access point, managed by the National Forest Service, that can be used to launch fishing crafts below the 3-mile-long, closed-for-fishing Kings Grant section. Johnson Spring to Smith Bridge is a good full-day float. • Smith Bridge or Indian Draft to Petticoat Junction is another fine full-day option. The Petticoat Junction access provides the final launch site on the trout section of the river with the takeout being located approximately 4 1/2 miles downstream at the Jackson River wastewater treatment plant. The boat ramps at each site are varied and some require a little “creative maneuvering” to get a trailer and boat to the river. Petticoat Junction and the wastewater plant sites have the best concrete ramps on the river. These float-trip options provide a variety of riffles and pool fishing and suit fly-fishermen who like to have multiple rods rigged for different water types. The character of the river is serene and peaceful with beautiful cliffs and bluffs flanking the waterway for dramatic sightseeing. Wading options on the river aren’t very plentiful; however, respectful and adventurous fisherman can find many opportunities to get your feet wet. There is a ¾-mile section directly below Gathright Dam that is filled with riffles and pocket water great for wading. And if you observe and obey any and all posted signs around each of the public access sites, there are many wading possibilities to be had at these locations. The Jackson River Scenic Trail, which flanks the river from Intervale all the way up river past the Smith Bridge access, gives the angler the option to hike along the river and dive in where the fishing looks tasty. Be careful. Getting down to the water from the trail can be difficult in some areas. Watch your step and respect the local landowners along the river. 164 l February 2018 l Southern Trout l www.SouthernTrout.com
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A couple of landmark legal cases in the past two decades have decidedly changed some of the fishingaccess rules surrounding the Jackson. Two sections – one starting ¾-mile downstream of the dam to Johnson Spring; the second from Smith Bridge downstream for 1 1/2 miles – are closed to wading, anchoring and fishing. There are plenty of posted signs along the river in these sections making it fairly clear where you’re in the right or wrong. It behooves all those who enjoy fishing the Jackson to heed these warnings so other landowners do not jump on board. There is plenty of water to enjoy freely. If you are unsure about where to access the river, it is best to consult the Jackson River map provided by the Virginia Department of Game & Inland Fisheries and/or hire an experienced guide. The Jackson is a productive fishery year ‘round, albeit, catch rates often vary and are on average lower than one may find on the bug factories of eastern Tennessee. Each wily fish is special and surprises are around every bend. This dynamic river gives up the goods for fly-fishermen willing to be diligent and consistent in their fishing. Spring through fall is typically a time for nymphing, dry-droppers and terrestrials. Keep bug selection simple and trend towards drab patterns like Pheasant Tails, various midges and Rubberlegs. Softhackles are good producers, and matching the color to the predominant hatch in the region usually pays off. There isn’t a significant amount of dry-fly fishing on the river, but occasionally one will run across a hatch of blue-winged olive and sulphur mayflies, or caddisflies. If fish are rising, throw a dry. Otherwise, nymphing is the top producer. Winter months are often the time of year that releases are elevated and streamer fishing is the preferred technique. Much as it is in other fisheries, chucking meat on the Jackson focuses the anglers’ efforts on quality over quantity. 166 l February 2018 l Southern Trout l www.SouthernTrout.com
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SWING SOME MEAT Streamer fishing on the Jackson is a great technique to weed out the little buddies and hunt for the big boys. When flows are 300+cfs or the trend is a rising release rate, a 250300 grain sink or S6 sink-tip is a great way to probe the river for predators. Those that like to fish “swimmy” flies – such as Game Changers, Drunk & Disorderlies, and Double Deceivers – will revel in the murderous visual eats the browns often provide. These flies in olive/white, grey/white, tan, and olive are top producers. If swimming meat isn’t your thing, jig a Shad Clouser, Sculpin, or crayfish pattern deep to get the job done. Cover the water column and all areas of the river. That next epic eat could happen in the most unlikely of places.
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“Alright buddy. Fire another one in there against the bank! Good cast. Now, let it sink and burn it across that slick. Strip, strip, strip…” “Boom! Got him! What a beautiful brown! Such a savage eat!” “That’s the Jackson for ya! Good work, man! Now, play him hard and quick, so we can send him back home.” “What an amazing river!” If You Go … The author, Scott Osborne, is an insured and independent fishing guide on the Jackson River and other trout waters of Virginia. He also works as a guide out of The Albemarle Angler in Charlottesville. Book your fishing trip with Scott by contacting him at: Scott Osborne • phone: (434) 962-9781 • email: scottosborne3@gmail. com The Albemarle Angler • 1129 Emmet Street North, Charlottesville, VA 22903 • phone: (434) 977-6882 • email:info@albemarleangler. com
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The Rose o
No, we’re not talking about a flo
S
henandoah National Park in northwest Virginia is an angler’s wonderland. More than 90 streams of varying sizes support the park’s populations of trout. Those fish range from introduced rainbows and browns to wild brook trout. With regard to that latter species, however, there is even more variety.
It’s a stream full of brook trout in the Old Dominion! By Jimmy Jacobs Photo credits: Jimmy Jacobs
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of Virginia
ower …
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When it comes to our native brook trout, some of us from the South exhibit a bit of piscatorial xenophobia. If the fish in the water are not the Southern Appalachian strain of brookies, they may be wild, but they’re not “native.” In fact, recent research suggests that the Shenandoah Park contains three strains of wild brook trout. On the western slopes of the mountains the streams are inhabited by Ohio River eastern brookies, while the northeast side features an Atlantic strain of the eastern fish. But if you want to be sure you are catching a true native of the South, the headwaters streams of the Rappahannock River System on the east side of the park holds the surest bet. Among those waters, the Rose River is an easily accessed stream that can scratch your native brook trout itch. This small creek that belies its name as a river flows into the Robinson River, which feeds the Rapidan River, which feeds the Rappahannock River. The stream rises beneath Fishers Gap in the national park and flows eastward between Spitler Hill on the north and Doubletop Mountain to the south. After exiting the park, the Rose passes through the hamlet of Syria, around which it is stocked with rainbow trout. On the other hand, the upstream waters in the national park hold only native brookies. As an aside, it’s worth noting, is the Trout Unlimited Tri-State Conservation and Fishing Camp (TUCamp.org) is located on the shores of the Rose, just northwest of Syria. The facility hosts educational and angling camps on the stream each summer. www.SouthernTrout.com l Southern Trout l March 2018 l 173
CLOSE LOOK
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The Rose River averages no more than 20 feet wide along its parkland course but offers plenty of room for fly casting. The periodic flushing of the valley by rainwater surging down the steep slope of the mountains has left a rocky streambed with very little creek-side foliage to snag a fly. The canopy of hardwoods shades the stream, but it’s high enough that it, too, is out of the way for casting. The water in the Rose ordinarily runs crystal clear as it dodges around rocks and leaps over occasional mini-waterfalls. At the foot of these small cascades the plunge pools often are 3 feet deep or more, even in the dry months. Although rather infertile, as are most brookie waters, the stream provides plenty of cover and enough food to support a good population of brook trout. Those fish look like they have leapt from an artist’s tableau, decked out in brilliant hues of orange on the fins and vermillion spots along their sides. Virtually every pool or run holds at least one of these trout that reach the 7 to 8 inches long. On a recent fall trip to the Rose, a couple of chance encounters pointed to just how good the brookie action is on the river. Our party drove through Syria to the end of County Road 670 (Old Blue Ridge Turnpike) to the parking lot at the national park boundary. From there the gated and graveled Rose River Fire Road continues to follow the river upstream. The lot also is the trailhead for the Rose River Trail. While we suited up in waders, another angler arrived at the parking area. He turned out to be Al Alborn, who authors the online Virginia Trout Bum (TroutBumVA. blogspot.com) website. He was on one of his regular excursions to check out the fishing on an Old Dominion trout stream. Interestingly, he planned to walk several miles up the river before beginning to fish. He also was going to be using a Tenkara rig. Not only does he find the reel-less set-up a lot of fun, he says, he also finds it perfect for a small stream like the Rose.
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THE VIRGINIAS CLOSE LOOK
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CLOSE LOOK
THE VIRGINIAS
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THE VIRGINIAS CLOSE LOOK
At this point, yet another angler came walking out on the streamside trail. We soon learned he was a transplant to the area from up north and wanted to know if there was some place close he could catch some brown or rainbow trout. He was frustrated with catching only wild brookies in the 6- to 8-inch size range. In more than five decades of fishing the Southern highlands, it was the first time I’d ever heard that complaint! Alborn suggested a nearby delayed-harvest stream before heading up the path to start his exploration. That left us wondering if the fishing would be slow now due to the departed angler having fished above us. Once on the water that concern dissipated. Tossing buoyant attractor flies like Parachute Adams or Royal Wulff patterns delivered regular rises from the stream. Many of the brookies struck with reckless abandon, as if they hadn’t seen a morsel of forage in a week. So much for worrying about the stream having already been fished that day! At the end of an afternoon of fishing, we returned to our vehicle and were soon joined again by Alborn. His assessment of the action matched ours. He, too, had experienced regular encounters with the brookies that day. The bottom line: The Rose River is an excellent bet for tangling with wild Southern Appalachian brook trout in Virginia. Making it even more attractive, you can drive right to the action, since the stream has brook trout all the way down to the boundary of Shenandoah National Park at the foot of the mountains. About the Author: Jimmy Jacobs has been fishing the trout waters of the Southeastern United States for almost 50 years and presently serves as the Georgia editor for Southern Trout Magazine. He has authored the guidebooks Trout Fishing in North Georgia, Trout Streams of Southern Appalachia, Tailwater Trout in the South and Brook Trout in Dixie. Jacobs also serves as editor for Southern Saltwater Fly Fishing magazine, a sister publication of Southern Trout Magazine. In 2017 Jacobs was inducted into the Hall of Fame for the Fly Fishing Museum of the Southern Appalachians in Bryson City, NC. www.SouthernTrout.com l Southern Trout l March 2018 l 177
Yep, it’s just that easy with Western North Carolina’s premier fly shop and guide service. Kevin Howell and his experienced staff have been fishing the surrounding 500 miles of prime trout waters so long, they know all the fish on first name basis. And they’ll be more than happy to make a few introductions.
PISGAH FOREST, NC
GUIDE SERVICES | ONLINE & RETAIL STORE | LESSONS
Experiencing the
By Jimmy Jacobs All photo credits: Jimmy Jacobs
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e Healing Waters T
here’s an old joke about fishing that goes something like ‌ a worm on one end of a string with a jerk on the other end. For most of us angling is a bit more serious though still just a relaxing activity that delivers a lot of satisfaction. However, there are times when heading out to the water can be much more than either of those scenarios. Just such an occasion was a Project Healing Waters Fly Fishing (PHW) event prior to last Veterans Day. The outing consisted of two days of fishing sponsored by the property owners of the Toccoa Bend neighborhood on the Toccoa River and Noontootla Creek Farms on its namesake stream in Fannin County, Georgia. The ramrod for the activities was Carl Riggs, the PHW Program Lead for the Blue Ridge Mountain Program. The mission of PHW pretty much speaks for itself. Project Healing Waters Fly Fishing is dedicated to the physical and emotional rehabilitation of disabled active military personnel and disabled veterans through fly fishing and associated activities, including education and outings. Ordinarily the outings are staffed by volunteers from local Trout Unlimited chapters or fly-fishing clubs. What set this event apart was that virtually all those that showed up to guide and aid the participants were also veterans of the military. The group contained vets ranging from the Vietnam War to the present conflicts in the Mideast. Another of the features of PHW events is they encourage the spouses of the participants also to the take part. In most cases, recovery is a family affair. Day one of the PHW activity found the vets and volunteers on the Toccoa River. The morning began by fitting out the novice anglers with waders, boots, rods, reels and flies. After some casting and fishing instruction on shore, the participants were matched up with volunteers who offered tips and instruction on the water. www.SouthernTrout.com l Southern Trout l March 2018 l 181
Breakfast pastries and coffee, plus lunches, were provided at streamside for the vets and volunteers. All the gear is provided, and the only expense the vets incur is buying a fishing license. Keith Gilbert of Lula, Georgia, was on hand for day one. During his service in the Army he fell victim to an improvised explosive device that left him with back injuries and a dark outlook on life. “I just sat around mad at the world,” he described regarding the period before discovering PHW. “Then when I got on the water that changed.” In fact, Gilbert eventually became a fishing guide for three years, including volunteering with PHW, but then his injury caused new problems. The day of fishing on the Toccoa River was his first time with a rod in his hand after two years and several back surgeries. Day two found the group at Noontootla Creek Farms, where they had the benefit of volunteers that included guides working for the fishing resort. Due to conditions in the world today, we instinctively think of working with wounded warriors as a present-day situation resulting from Middle Eastern events. For veterans, however, it can be much more. The results of service can span a lifetime. Bill and Deborah Johnson from Ellijay, Georgia showed up to participate in this PHW event. Bill is a Navy vet, who did his service back in 1972 to 1976. Then he was discharged due to a serious leg infection. In the ensuing years he and Deborah had led a normal life, even enjoying fishing with conventional gear. Then in 2014 Bill had knee surgery. When the doctors cut into the bone, it released the long dormant infection, resulting in him losing his leg. Not long after that episode, while at the Veterans Administration out-patient facility in Blairsville, Georgia, Bill picked up a flyer about PHW. That flyer lay around their house, until he noticed it just prior to the PHW event this year. When he mentioned participating, Deborah not only encouraged him, but also offered to join him in the venture, hoping it would bolster his efforts to cope with the setback. 182 l February 2018 l Southern Trout l www.SouthernTrout.com
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Neither had ever fly fished, and Bill was quick to point out that Deborah had always been more of an angler than he. On the other hand, it had been a dream of his to give fly fishing a try. It was a dream that PHW fulfilled. While you might think that working with vets that have suffered trauma might have a depressing effect, you would be completely wrong. The spirit of the vets is infectious with their upbeat attitude of not focusing on what they can’t do, but rather on what they can accomplish. Witness the exchange that took place as Bill Johnson was suiting up for fishing. “I’m a 2XL and 6-foot, 1-inch, so that should work,” he said when ask if 2XL waders would fit him. Then after a pause he added, “Wait a minute, I’m now short a foot.” The pavilion fell dead silent … until Deborah chimed in, “I’ll have to hear that the rest of my life,” as the room erupted in laughter led by Bill. For more information on Project Healing Waters Fly Fishing, visit projecthealingwaters.org. About the Author: Jimmy Jacobs has been fishing the trout waters of the southeastern United States for almost 50 years and presently serves as the Georgia editor for Southern Trout Magazine. He has authored the guidebooks Trout Fishing in North Georgia, Trout Streams of Southern Appalachia, Tailwater Trout in the South and Brook Trout in Dixie. Jacobs also serves as editor for Southern Saltwater Fly Fishing magazine, a sister publication of Southern Trout Magazine. In 2017 Jacobs was inducted into the Hall of Fame for the Fly Fishing Museum of the Southern Appalachians in Bryson City, North Carolina. www.SouthernTrout.com l Southern Trout l March 2018 l 185
The Wonderful Mr. Rapidan Fly Family Harry Murray
T
he Mr. Rapidan family of flies began more than 30 years ago when two gentlemen in my advanced fly-fishing class at Lord Fairfax Community College came to me with a simple request. They asked me if I could teach them to tie a dry fly that would float very well in the choppy mountain streams, that would mimic the major aquatic insects that hatch during the first several months of the season and that would be easy for them to see on the stream. I thought this was a great idea, so I started experimenting.
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To help the fly to float I chose straight moose body hair for the tail which is slightly hollow. Fine diameter poly-dubbing was just coming on the market, so I used this for the body. Mrs. Pat Barnes was a wonderful fly-tier and had a great fly shop with her husband in West Yellowstone, Montana. Several years previously she had suggested that I use yellow calf-tail wings to improve the visibility of my flies in highly shaded streams. This was the perfect choice for the wings of my new fly. I chose grizzly and brown for the hackle because this had proved itself on many great flies.
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At the time I was working with Art Flick in identifying the aquatic insect hatches in the Blue Ridge Mountains for the book I was writing, Trout Fishing in the Shenandoah National Park, at the request of the Park officials. Realizing that the Epeorus pleuralis (Quill Gordon) and the Stenonemia vicarium (March Brown) where the first two major hatches on our mountain streams, I wanted a fly body color that would show the trout the body color of these two insects. At the time I had to blend my own poly-dubbing to get the color I wanted, but later the Fly Rite Company put this on the market as Quill Gordon Fly Rite dubbing. We tied this in my class, and it became an instant success. The next year we tied the Mr. Rapidan Parachute Dry Fly, and I added both of these to my line of flies in my fly shop.
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BRING ON THE EMERGER Since the Eperous pleuralis mayfly emerges up through the stream with their wings out I felt it was important to add a Mr. Rapidan Emerger to the series. Fishing these with a rising motion like the Leisenring Lift is very effective. Naturally, when bead-headed nymphs became popular I added these to the line. All of these first four proved themselves well in sizes 12 to 16 on freestone streams. A very pleasant surprise came one snowy late September day on the Yellowstone River. The heavy overcast produced a great beatis mayfly hatch. I had tied some Mr. Rapidan Parachute dry flies in sizes 18 and 20, so I tried them. Both the browns and the rainbows took them readily. Today, these are standard for me in all of my beatis hatches. About 10 years ago my son came to me after a late-summer guide trip in the Blue Ridge Mountains. "Dad, my clients did well with size 18 and 20 dry Black Ants, but they had trouble seeing these on the stream,” he told me. “Let us tie up some Black Ants and use a yellow post parachute wing.” The Mr. Rapidan Ant, thus, was born, and it is the top selling ant in my fly shop in sizes 14, 16 and 18.
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Mr. Rapidan Ant
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MATCHING THE MIDGES Chironomid midge hatches are frequently very heavy on many trout streams, and these bring up some very large trout. When these occur on sections of the streams where there is a moderate current, the trout will hold on specific feeding stations and take the naturals as the current delivers them. Many of these natural midges are quite small, and it is necessary to use size 20 or size 22 flies to fool them. Naturally, these small patterns can be difficult for you to see so by adding a yellow post wing to our Mr. Rapidan Midge we have improved the fly visibility. Even more difficult to catch are those trout feeding on midges in sloughs and large back eddies where there is little or no current because these trout feed by cruising. Here the Mr. Rapidan Midge is invaluable because you can cast it out in the cruising path of the trout and watch it closely for the trout's strike.
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Mr. Rapidan Parachute Dry
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Mr. Rapidan Delta Wing Caddis
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EXPAND TO THE CADDISFLY Many fine trout streams have wonderful caddisfly hatches, and the trout feed very heavily upon them. Unfortunately, many of these hatches occur very late in the evening when it is difficult to see our fly on the water. I felt this was a great situation in which to expand the Mr. Rapidan series. By experimenting with various ways to mimic the natural tent-like wing configuration and to produce the realistic light pattern on the stream, I came up with the Mr. Rapidan Delta Wing Dry Caddis. I now tie this in three different colors in sizes 14 and 16. The black, olive, and tan patterns meet all of my caddisfly needs and the yellow top-wings help me see them on the stream.
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SKATING MAYFLIES, TOO! The wonderful Hexagenia mayfly hatches on the smallmouth rivers prompted me to tie a Mr. Rapidan Dry Skater in size 8 to meet this need, which it does exceptionally well. If you wonder how much the smallmouths' feed on this hatch you should have been with me the evening I counted 17 separate bass coming up to the naturals in one minute. I put on the Mr. Rapidan Skater and took one nice bass after another. Actually, on our smallmouth bass guided float trips the Mr. Rapidan Skater has become our No. 1 dry fly. Little did I realize when those two gentlemen came to me in my college fly-fishing class 30 years ago that their simple request would evolve into the many great flies we now have in the Mr. Rapidan series. I’m really glad they did!
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Mr. Rapidan Skater
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Mr. Rapidan Standard Dry Fly Recipe Hook: Mustad 94840 in sizes 12, 14, and 16 Thread: 6/0 Ttan pre-waxed nylon Body: Quill Gordon Fly Rite Wing: Yellow calf tail Tail: Straight Moose Body Hair Hackle: Brown and Grizzly Dry Rooster Instructions 1. Coat the hook shank with thread and tie in about eight moose body hair fibers for the tail, which is equal to the length of the hook shank. 2. Tie in a clump of calf tail for the wings after removing the short hair fibers. Split the wings to each side and apply a small drop of cement at the wings base. 3. Wax the tying thread and apply the Fly Rite dubbing to the thread. Wind and taper the body neatly to 1/8inch behind the wing. 4. Tie the grizzly and brown hackle feathers behind the wing with the dull side up. Wind each hackle feather forward separately placing the majority of the wraps behind the wings. Tie off the hackles in front of the wing. 5. Trim hackle, whip-finish and apply cement to the head.
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Mr. Rapidan Dry
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‘Poser’ Presents
I
n a job where you’re constantly answering questions, you often hear the same questions over and over: “How do I make a better cast?” “What’s a reach cast?” “Am I doing this double haul right?” These questions are always easy to answer, and I know my clients understand my answers when I watch their performance with the fly rod improve.
… and
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s Problems
d a God Smack! By Rocky Cox
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Then there’s those questions that are also common but not quite as easy to answer – the kind of questions fishing guides tend to hear at the end of the day when the fishing is over and the boat is making its scenic voyage to the ramp. “So, what made you decide to be a guide?” “What do you do in the winter?” “How do you handle all the assholes that come out fishing with you?” The answers to the first two questions are pretty easy: 1) I love fly fishing and I love seeing people catch fish and sport huge smiles. Oh, and I was completely over my other career and didn’t mind eating Beanee Weenee all winter. Becoming a guide was an easy decision, and it’s a decision I’ve never regretted; and 2) I guide and fish in winter. That third question though.… It always confused me why people would assume that most fly anglers who travel and fish with guides are assholes. When I hear that question I always think back to my rookie season as a fishing guide. I was lucky to have a few veteran guides who took it upon themselves to teach me the ropes. Most of the advice I got was sound and never forgotten, but I can still hear Shark, the crotchety guide of the bunch, saying, “You’re going to hate it, you have to fish with assholes every day.” My personal thoughts are that people go fishing to have a good time, enjoy themselves, enjoy their time with friends, and to breathe in some fresh air while tossing a fly. How can someone display their best asshole abilities while all that’s going on? Sure, from time to time we’ll have a day when the fish are tough to
motivate. Sometimes anglers struggle with picking up a new technique – perhaps, from drowning in too many spirits the night before. And there will always be days where you see the two dozen flies you spent all night tying end up MIA after the battle. But we always have a great time, and my anglers and I always part ways with smiles, a handshake and talk about when they can return. Then it happened. I had fished well over 1,000 guided trips with anglers and could honestly say, I had never fished with anyone with whom I didn’t enjoy my day on the water. The outfitters told me a man and his son wanted to learn to fly-fish and had booked Cabin No. 1 and my services for the following day. I met my clients bright and early on what turned out to be a gorgeous July day in East Tennessee. As described, neither had any flyfishing experience, which wasn’t a concern of mine. The river had been fishing well. Isonychia mayflies were hatching, and fish could be taken easily on large dry patterns or swimming nymphs. The fishing comes easy when the bugs are hatching. My first concern popped up when I heard Dad lay into his 15-year-old son for putting the reel on backward. This happens all the time. Hell, I do it myself every now and then, but it’s a quick, easy fix. Still, Dad felt it necessary to give his son a real scolding over a simple mistake. The boy sighed, rolled his eyes, and fixed the reel. I tried to lighten the mood by cracking a joke, but I could tell this young man was embarrassed by his father’s actions. I
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assured him it wasn’t a big deal, then told them we needed to load up and get on the water. As we made ready to launch, Dad caused me to raise an eyebrow again when he insisted against my recommendation that his son fish from the front of the drift-boat. I mean, come on man! Wouldn’t all fathers rather see their kids succeed and do well? Not this cat. He was adamant. He should be in the front, and his son should take the back. So, we drifted off the ramp, and I begin giving them instructions on how to cast, present and catch fish on the fly rod – the same basic instructions I tell all my new anglers. “Make a strong pickup on your backcast,” I started, “stop the rod high and wait, then push through the forward cast.” Pretty simple instructions that I repeated as I demonstrated how to pick up and lay down line. I handed them their rods. They started thrashing lines. It took junior about five minutes to get a grip on casting the fly rod. Dad was having a much tougher time. The numbers 10 and 2 were only clock number positions the rod passed by as Dad worked it just like Dolly Parton … from 9 to 5. The kid did well. He was working the soft-hackle off the bank just as instructed, getting strikes and working a fish to the net every few minutes. Dad’s frustrations continued to rise. Despite my constant instructions,
he’d only caught three fish and spent the morning with a lot of tangles while his son had landed 20 rainbows. His attitude began to spill over, and the asshole from earlier that morning returned. Mean-hearted comments directed at his son became frequent during the next few hours. “I wish you’d fish your side of the boat!” “I wouldn’t have caught that tree if you’d gotten your rod out of my way!” I was speechless. I could only shrug my shoulders at the kid in disbelief and sympathy. I felt bad for him because I really got the impression that this was his everyday relationship with his father. He shrugged, too, and gave me a kindly slight grin, like he appreciated the dislike for his father that was building in me. I was finally getting to spend a day with the infamous asshole I’d always heard about. I sure didn’t like it. In fact, by this time I was determined that Junior was going to catch 50 fish even if his dad didn’t get another strike. Our day continued on, much like the rest of the day had gone. Indeed, Junior did catch more than 50 fish by the time he stowed his rod away. Dad even landed a few more despite his best efforts not to, but his sharp comments never stopped. I began pushing the boat the final mile to the boat ramp when he uttered the meanest thing I’d ever heard. “I shouldn’t have brought you!” This ran all over me. I went red instantly. Junior just grinned at me knowing he’d outfished dear-old Dad and could always cherish that part of the trip. I suppose that was how he learned to cope with an asshole for a father. On the other hand, I wanted to drown him.
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And that’s just what I planned to do. During the push off the river, there is one particular rapid known as Devil Shoals. Devil Shoals wasn’t necessarily a bad rapid, but one run out of every 100 takes a huge wave over the bow when you hit it wrong. My plan was to hit it wrong and drench this jackass with about 50 gallons of super cold river water. I shared a laugh with Junior as I approached the run, winking, as if to say, “Watch this!” I pushed hard on the oars instead of back-rowing, taking us full-speed ahead at the drop and the 3-foot standing wave below it. The smile on my face was huge as the boat plunged forward into the wave. I could see the monster wave soar upward above the bow. It was massive and bigger than any wave I had ever plowed into. It just kept rising over the bow. It was going to be such a treat to see him soaked to the core. In the blink of an eye my smile vanished, leaving behind what had to be the dumbest expression ever. The giant wave rose high into the air. It flew completely over the asshole in the front of my boat. It seemed like slow motion. I watched the wave crash squarely down on me. Holy cow! That was cold! I was completely drenched, and I did a great job of shielding Junior from the big wave. Asshole Dad spun around in his seat, and with the happiest zeal in his voice said, “Ha-ha – that really got you good!” For a split second, I envisioned myself holding his head under water and violently shaking him.
But he was right. It had got me good. I was God-smacked! Actually, the term is “gob smacked” – meaning, so surprised I could not speak – but the event was much more than that, indeed. It wasn’t my place to divvy out karma to this asshole, and God smacked me down. But it was the first and only time I’d ever finished a trip hoping to never see a client return. Soon after landing, the kid came up to me after the trip and apologized for “…my step-father’s behavior.” Aha. Stepfather. While far from being a valid reason to be a jerk, it provided me at least a little better understanding of this situation, but I deep-down hoped the kid’s real dad got to deck this asshole – still, after almost 20 years as a fishing guide, the only asshole I’ve ever had to spend a day with in my boat. About The Author: Michael "Rocky" Cox is a full-time fly-fishing guide in east Tennessee and operates Rocky Top Anglers guided fishing services with 17 years of experience on many of Tennessee’s trophy-trout tailwaters. For more information, contact him at www. RockyTopAnglers.com, phone: 865-3889802.
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Davy Wot World Class
www.davywotton.com
tton Fly Fishing American International Schools of Fly Fishing Outfitter and Guide Services for the White River region Custom Flies and Fly Fishing DVDs
Office: 870-453-2195 Cell: 870-404-5223
davyfly@ozarkmountains.com
35.375°, -83.375°
To Whittier & Sylva
APPROXIMATE SCALE 1:30,000 1
Connelly Creek
.5 1 1000
CONTOUR INTERVAL 40 FT 1 MILE
0 .5
0
1 KILOMETER
0
1000 METERS
NORTH CAROLINA MOUNTAIN TROUT WATER DESIGNATIONS Please respect private property
Delayed Harvest
35.375°,
441 23
TUCKASEGEE RIVER
Undesignated Waters, some of which may contain trout.
Wild Trout Hatchery Supported
107
This map highlights some of the streams designated by the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission as public mountain trout waters. The website ncpaws.org/wrcmapbook/FishingAreas.aspx covers all designated streams, access information and more. Undesignated waters that contain trout are, by default, managed under hatchery supported regulations. Regulations for mountain trout are included in the annual Regulations Digest available online at ncwildlife.org or by contacting North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission, 1707 Mail Service Center, Raleigh, NC 27699-1707 or (919) 707-0391.
Alarka Creek
116
These waters are found on game lands and private lands. The approximate range of game lands as of the map’s published date is shown an orange overlay. Significant amounts of trout fishing opportunities are located Greens on Creek Gre en private property. Many North Carolina landowners have generously allowed s k ee public access on their property for fishing. Please respect their property. Your Cr cooperation is needed to protect fishing opportunities for future generations.
Rd
Greens Creek
23 441 Please respect private property
Savannah Cree
Savannah
Ea
Please respect private property
107
Old
Locust Cr Access Area
Rd
Cullo wh e e
FISHING INFORMATION TERMS OF USE While efforts have been made to ensure the information provided herein is accurate, Saint Clair Mapping gives no warranty, expressed or implied, as to its accuracy, reliability, or completeness. The information contained is dynamic and will change over time. Gameland and other boundaries are approximate and should not be used for regulatory purposes. Users should always refer to the appropriate management agency to confirm stream access provisions and regulations in effect. Saint Clair Mapping or it products and services are not associated, affiliated, endorsed or sponsored by any wildlife/natural resources management agency.
DETAIL (at 100%) Please respect private property
ow int pk m Pu
n
GENERAL LEGEND Restrooms
Primary highway
Parking
Secondary highway
Boat ramp
Improved road (Light duty, paved or gravel)*
The map’s Latitude & Longitude Coordinates (NAD27) appear in the corners. Select streams, some parts of which hold game fish and may permit fishing, are labeled. They are just some of those managed by the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission. * Select roads only. Primarily those in close proximity to select streams. Please respect private property and always leave streams in better condition than as found. “Be a Good Steward. Clean. Drain. Dry.” www.StopAquaticHitchHikers.org.
35.250°, -83.375° Other than as provided for the original purchaser and specifed
Rd
Photorevised open waters area on date noted in named quadrangle
Savannah Creek
Whittier NC USGS Quadrangle 1967
Pumpkintown 23
441
35.250°,
To US 64 & Franklin
Stream and access highlighting, various labeling and relief shading of the
Saint Clair Mapping is in no way
-83.250°
35.375°, -83.125°
107
SYLVA
NORTH CAROLINA MOUNTAIN TROUT WATER DESIGNATIONS
Scott Creek
Dillsbor0
Delayed Harvest
Undesignated Waters, some of which may contain trout.
Wild Trout Hatchery Supported
107
This map highlights some of the streams designated by the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission as public mountain trout waters. The website ncpaws.org/wrcmapbook/FishingAreas.aspx covers all designated streams, access information and more. Undesignated waters that contain trout are, by default, managed under hatchery supported regulations. Regulations for mountain trout are included in the annual Regulations Digest available online at ncwildlife.org or by contacting North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission, 1707 Mail Service Center, Raleigh, NC 27699-1707 or (919) 707-0391. These waters are found on game lands and private lands. The approximate range of game lands as of the map’s published date is shown an orange overlay. Significant amounts of trout fishing opportunities are located on private property. Many North Carolina landowners have generously allowed public access on their property for fishing. Please respect their property. Your cooperation is needed to protect fishing opportunities for future generations.
Mockingbird
Ln 116
Webster
Please respect private property
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To Tuckasegee Community
TUCKASEGEE RIVER
POWERED BY SAINT CLAIR MAPPING IN HISTORICAL LOUDON ON THE TENNESSEE 107
Sylva North NC USGS Quadrangle 1967 Photorevised 1978
-83.250°
35.250°, -83.125° L1112
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Swain
Haywood
A Museum for the Southern Fly Fisherman
The Fly Fishing Museum of the Southern Appalachians — originally
located in Cherokee, NC — has a new home in neighboring Bryson City where it shares a building with the Bryson City / Swain County Chamber of Commerce. It’s centrally located on the town square across the street from the visitor center. The Museum is open Monday thru Saturday from 9 am to 6 pm and admission is free.
The scope of the museum covers an
area with more than 14,700 miles of accessible trout streams — the nine Southern Appalachian States of North Carolina, South Carolina, Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia, Kentucky, Tennessee, Georgia, Alabama; the Qualla Boundary, home of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians; as well as the Great Smoky Mountains National Park and the Blue Ridge Parkway.
Bryson City, NC
PHOTO BY JIM HEAFNER
Through exhibits and videos you’ll
learn about legendary “Stream Blazers,” the evolution of rods and reels, basic knots, fly-tying, types of gear, types of gamefish, regional fishing waters, and the history of fly fishing in the Southeast. Whether you are a long-time fly fisherman, or have only attempted or never tried fly fishing, you will find something to enjoy and to learn from in the museum.
FLY FISHING MUSEUM
OF THE SOUTHERN APPALACHIANS
Fly Fishing Museum of the Southern Appalachians 210 Main Street Bryson City, NC 28713 800-867-9241
FlyFishingMuseum.org
What’s So Special About Bryson City? Hundreds of miles of native mountain trout streams Trout are also flow through the Great common in our Smoky Mountains four rivers – National Park above Bryson City and Cherokee — freestone creeks with native rainbow, brook and brown trout. Most streams offer all three species.
Bryson City is the home of the Fly Fishing Museum of the Southern Appalachians Learn all about it at FlyFishingMuseum.com.
The Oconaluftee, Little Tennessee, the Tuckasegee and the Nantahala, one of Trout Unlimited’s top 100 rivers. And now, a 2.2 mile section of the Tuck through Bryson City is designated delayed harvest waters, with one of the highest trout counts of any stream in the southeast.
The 30 miles of trout streams on Two mountain lakes the Cherokee offer trout fishing Indian Reservation The 29-mile long, 11,700 acre Fontana Lake and its smaller downstream neighbor Cheoah Lake both have strong populations of trout, particularly near the mouths of streams flowing out of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Cheoah is regularly stocked by the State of North Carolina.
Visit GreatSmokiesFishing.com for a map and profiles of 26 great fishing locations near Bryson City, North Carolina. Photo by Justin Anderson Fly Fishing & Guide
are the longest privately owned and stocked fishing waters east of the Mississippi. The 2.2-mile Raven Fork Trophy section is home to the biggest trout in the Smokies. This specially regulated section is fly fishing only and catch and release.