Shenandoah NP Landing Spots?

[jeffroey]

Hi Forum.

I'm tracking some business travel early September that'll put me close enough to Shenandoah NP that it makes sense to throw my gear in the truck and take an extra day or two on the eastern slope of the range. I've been researching stream options for a while and I'm circling in on the lower stretches of the Rapidan, Rose, and Staunton.

For all three, the terrain looks relatively aggressive, lots of elevation compared to say, the Poconos, access to them seems pretty well established following park resources/trials, and none are secrets. I'll probably only have time to poke at two of the streams. Here's my questions:

Anyone willing to share a little first-hand experience fishing any of the three that'll help with my planning?​

Any better options in that general area of the park that you might be willing to share . . . even via PM?​

​

Any tips on affordable places to stay along the eastern slope? Although they look like small one-horse towns, Syria or Criglersville would generally be a good midpoint to base out of for a night or two.​

Thx!

 

[Zipper]

Hi Forum.

I'm tracking some business travel early September that'll put me close enough to Shenandoah NP that it makes sense to throw my gear in the truck and take an extra day or two on the eastern slope of the range. I've been researching stream options for a while and I'm circling in on the lower stretches of the Rapidan, Rose, and Staunton.

For all three, the terrain looks relatively aggressive, lots of elevation compared to say, the Poconos, access to them seems pretty well established following park resources/trials, and none are secrets. I'll probably only have time to poke at two of the streams. Here's my questions:

Anyone willing to share a little first-hand experience fishing any of the three that'll help with my planning?​

Any better options in that general area of the park that you might be willing to share . . . even via PM?​

​

Any tips on affordable places to stay along the eastern slope? Although they look like small one-horse towns, Syria or Criglersville would generally be a good midpoint to base out of for a night or two.​

Thx!

Check with Mossy Creek Fly Fishing, Harrisonburg, VA. They will have plenty of ideas.

 

[Wild_Trouter]

The three streams you listed would not be on my list. Overrated and overcrowded. We're it me, I'd stay in Waynesboro...awesome home base for proximity to fishing, great food and lodging options. On Eastern Slope, I'd be on Conway River and N. Fk. Moorman's River. From Waynesboro, you can head south on the Blue Ridge Parkway where you have even more options if you want mountain streams and wild trout. You can always fish the South River (2 separate spec reg areas) right in Waynesboro, or you can take short trip on I-81 South to Vesuvius and fish St Mary's River for a real experience. *I used to live in Shenandoah Valley so know it quite well.

 

[jeffroey]

The three streams you listed would not be on my list. Overrated and overcrowded. We're it me, I'd stay in Waynesboro...awesome home base for proximity to fishing, great food and lodging options. On Eastern Slope, I'd be on Conway River and N. Fk. Moorman's River. From Waynesboro, you can head south on the Blue Ridge Parkway where you have even more options if you want mountain streams and wild trout. You can always fish the South River (2 separate spec reg areas) right in Waynesboro, or you can take short trip on I-81 South to Vesuvius and fish St Mary's River for a real experience. *I used to live in Shenandoah Valley so know it quite well.

Thx W_T.

Some good threads to pull with your feedback. Waynesboro is a bit further south than I was expecting to be but adding an hour of driving time at that point is in the noise. I'll start poking around Waynesboro.

 

[Wild_Trouter]

Thx W_T.

Some good threads to pull with your feedback. Waynesboro is a bit further south than I was expecting to be but adding an hour of driving time at that point is in the noise. I'll start poking around Waynesboro.

This will also come in very handy: https://www.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=441ed456c8664166bb735b1db6024e48

^If that link doesn't open, go to VDGAF site and pull up trout map.

Also, these guys are great and they're right on the South River: https://www.facebook.com/Southriverflyshop/

 

[Bamboozle]

Thx W_T.

Some good threads to pull with your feedback. Waynesboro is a bit further south than I was expecting to be but adding an hour of driving time at that point is in the noise. I'll start poking around Waynesboro.

If you are willing to go as far south as Waynesboro, give the guys at South River Fly Shop a ring.

 

[Letort]

Not sure if SNP has lifted their fishing restrictions yet.

If you need cold water, check out Mossy Creek (the steam). Has the charm of the Letort in a slightly more user friendly package (because it gets stocked some).

 

[Tiogadog]

Not sure if SNP has lifted their fishing restrictions yet.

If you need cold water, check out Mossy Creek (the steam). Has the charm of the Letort in a slightly more user friendly package (because it gets stocked some).

Restrictions have been lifted for about two weeks. Streams are still on the low side but there is water to fish.

 

[jeffroey]

Restrictions have been lifted for about two weeks. Streams are still on the low side but there is water to fish.

Yep. Tracking. Visit opportunity is the end of next week so I've been stalking Murray's Fly Shop blog for their stream reports and watching a few specific stream gauges at the advice of others.

Murray is still reporting good trout fishing in the park as of yesterday . . . .

Fishing Report

Virginia Fishing Report for the Shenandoah Valley and surrounding areas. Including the Shenandoah River drainage, Shenandoah National Park and George Washington National Forest. Weekly fishing report covering trout fishing and bass fishing.

www.murraysflyshop.com

Side note for any veterans reading this: in case you're not tracking, we qualify for a lifetime NP Pass:

Military Pass | USGS Store

store.usgs.gov

Took a tiny bit of digging but the lifetime Vet pass is part of the Gold Star Pass option, not the annual Military pass option.