Shenandoah Backcountry – Brook Trout fishing the Shenandoah National Park

Along the spine of the Blue Ridge Mountains and bisecting North Virginia is one of the most visited parks in the United States, the Shenandoah National Park (SNP). The SNP is a corridor of land that was resurrected from near ruin and restored to its pristine beauty during the twentieth century. While the SNP is known for the lovely Blue Ridge Parkway that runs through it’s forested slopes and for it’s many hiking trails (including the Appalachian Trail), few anglers know about the challenging brook trout fishery that awaits them along in the many streams that dot the SNP.

The fact that brook trout can be found in the Shenandoah Park at all is a bit of a miracle. Brookies rely on dense streamside cover as well as clear, cold, clean water in order to thrive. The Blue ridge of Virginia were completely denuded of trees in the late 1700s and again in the late 1800s/early 1900s. Over harvesting of timber wasn’t reversed to an adequate degree to support a brook trout fishery until as recently as the 1970s. Pollution didn’t help either. Acidification of streams, which is a major problem facing watersheds across the nation, still threatens the brook trout of the SNP. Currently, PH levels hover just a few points above the level which is fatal to brookies.

To get to the brook trout of Shenandoah Park means that you have to hike. The main (and only) road follows the ridge of the mountains and most streams are a mile to 5 miles below the summit. Entry to the Park costs 10 dollars an angler fishing either near the Blue Ridge Parkway, or in Shenandoah National Park must have a Virginia Fishing License, a National Forest Stamp, and a trout stamp. Also, for camping overnight a back-country camping permit may be needed. Always check with the Rangers on your way in to make sure you’re in compliance with all regulations and for safety’s sake as well. A good map of the SNP is available from the Ranger station or at http://www.NPS.gov, and the Virginia Dept. of Natural Resources has an excellent map of trout streams including those with special designations.

Brook trout in the park tend be smaller, gaining size as you move down stream toward larger bodies of water. You’ll find fish ranging from 3 inches up to around 9 inches. Consider a 10 inch trout to be a monster in these waters. These trout are also skittish and will shy away from sudden moves or non-stealthy behaviors.

It’s important to know that that most streams in the park are open to fishing but there are a wide range of regulations that apply. Creeling of trout is allowed in some areas but is generally discouraged due to the sensitive nature of brook trout fisheries. Regulations are subject to frequent change, and it is very wise to check with SNP authorities for any updates to posted regulations or restrictions. One constant is the single hook artificial lure rule, no live bait. On the western slopes of the Blue Ridge you’re likely to find brook trout, and longer fishing days because of the western exposure. Eastern slope streams have shorter daylight, but in some cases they will have more liberal creeling allowances. In no case will you be able to keep more than 6 trout in Virginia and the brook trout limit is 9 inches.

Shenandoah Park is a national treasure. While keeping fish may seem attractive, especially larger brook trout nearing the ends of their lives, fishermen are encouraged to return all of them to the stream to increase the chances of continued spawning. Tight lines and, as usual, practice “leave no trace”.