I’ve never lived in the Shenandoah region. But at various points over the years I have been located close enough to become familiar with this spectacular part of the country. And I’ve spent this past week at the foot of the mountains, just outside the park.

In and around Shenandoah National Park there are a wealth of options for the fly fisher. Brook trout and smallmouth bass steal the show; up in the mountain hollows and down in the river valleys, respectively. The fishing is accessible and approachable, but presents a myriad of challenges for beginners and experts alike. With the other historical, cultural, and outdoor activities available, and the proximity to major metropolitan areas, this part of Virginia is special.

Here are two articles about trout fishing on small mountain streams, and a podcast that explores the diverse angling opportunities in the Shenandoah.

Read each article by clicking on the titles or the pictures below:

High Up the Creek

Do you remember the first time you fished a small mountain stream? If your experience was anything like mine, the only facets of the day that you could call high percentage were “parts of the body below the waist that got wet” and “flies left in the trees.” I stumbled and snagged my way through six hours of fishing on a rocky little Virginia creek called the Conway River in the Shenandoah Mountains.

Dogs & Pipes

In exchange for some stream monitoring data, we had an all-access parking pass from the US government. We never tested it out in front of the White House or anything exciting like that, but it did let us leave our car in front of locked park gates and other equally clandestine locations. That blessing, as it turned out, directly led to the curse of the two enormous wolf-dogs prowling around our subcompact.

Why You Should Fish the Shenandoah

The Shenandoah is a remarkable, beautiful, and historic region of the Mid-Atlantic. For fly fishers, it offers great fishing for two of the east coast’s most sought after species. In this episode, I introduce the region and the fisheries. I offer a little bit of advice on how you can approach both options, and an  idea on how you can combine the two.