The Rapidan River begins on Doubletop Mountain where the Mill Prong meets the Laurel Prong at Hoover Camp, approximately 3 miles from Big Meadows in the Shenandoah National Park, and it continues to the confluence with the Rappahannock River in North Virginia near Fredericksburg. It starts as a small freestone creek in the mountains and ends it journey as a large river. Hoover camp was built by famous trout angler herbert Hoover as a presidential retreat in the 1920s and is still used on rare occasions by current members of Congress.
The
Shenandoah National Park is second in annual visits to the
Great Smoky Mountains National Park and contains many freestone streams that share the same trout fishing characteristics as the streams in the GSMNP. The best stream in the Park is the Rapidan which is also the most scenic. The lower section is reached easily by automobile but for the best brook trout, you will need to hike up to the upper sections. The upper section is characterized by cascading white water leading into quiet pools where brookies abound. The nature of these waters allows flies to be effective in catching the wild brookies since they do not have a great deal of time to examine the fly before it is out of range. The brookies are similar in size as those caught in the GSMNP, averaging 8 to 12 inches in length with occasional brookies tsaken as large as 15 inches. You might say that the Rapidan is a dry fly fisher’s dream stream.
Fishing the Rapidan:
Wading or fishing from shore, or hiding behind the boulders for cover, is perhaps the best way to fish the Rapidan . Some anglers prefer a short rod for the foliage near this stream, however I prefer an 8 to 9 foot rod of 3 to 4 WT in combination with a light tippet such as 6 X.
For flies, you will want dry flies in the small caddis, and mayfly patterns and for terrestrials, the most effective patterns are the hoppers, black ants and gnats. Stay with small, high visible flies and be sure that they float well. Remember to use artificial flies or lures with single barbless hooks only; and practice catch and release returning these magnificent brookies to the water.
Late Winter/Spring:
This is an excellent time to fish for those brookies because of the numerous mayfly hatches. Start with the Blue Quill, Quill Gordons and some Caddis imitations. Consider the March Brown and Light Cahill as the year moves along.
Summer:
Summer is a great time for brookies and using the terrestrial presentations will be most effective. However, I would not forget to put some the Blue Winged Olives and Giant Stonefly imitations in my fly box.
Fall:
The sugar maples will be spectacular in the fall adding a rich color to the scenery, but the fishing will slow somewhat. Stick with the terrestrials including the small black ants or gnats.
