There are even wheelchair accessible pools where anglers can roll their chairs along wooden rails to prime pools. At the Whitetop Laurel Fishing and Viewing Area, the Appalachian Trail and the Virginia Creeper Trail converge, providing easy access to the surrounding forests. I've had more springtime success with a #12 Early Brown Stonefly and a #12 Quill Gordon Spinner than most other drys. Little Brown Stoneflies (actually in the same family as the Little Blacks) hatch in March and until the middle of April. Another special-regulations section is the 2 miles below Boone Campsite to the Straight Branch trailhead, located only 3 miles from Damascus on U.S. Highway 58. FIND YOUR WAY OUTSIDE is a trademark of AllTrails, LLC. A lock ( You can still fish along the banks of the road. Special regulations start again at the Daniel Boone Campsite on the Creeper Trailwhere Boone really did sleepat the boundary of Jefferson National Forest. This creek offers 7 miles of stocked water in addition to 5 miles of special regulation water in Mount Rogers National Recreational Area. It has class I-III whitewater, making it perfect for anyone with a little experience. We received two good reports from customers fishing the first of last week before the rain in the wild trout section. Hatch may be occuring. So you need a rod with a little give.. Trout are being caught along the stocked section and wild trout sections. 08/07/21 The stream is still turning out some good catches for our customers in the wild trout section. The wild trout section is still the best section to fish. ALLTRAILS and the AllTrails Mountain Design are registered trademarks of AllTrails, LLC in the United States as well as certain other jurisdictions. Its now a very nice hiking trail that follows the Whitetop Laurel Creek for about two miles upstream. Stream levels are a little high butshould fall down fast.Send us an emailfor a recommended fly list.sales@perfectflystore.com12/21/20 Stream levels are still high.Stocked trout are still being caught alongthe railroad track.01/03/21 Conditions are the same as inthe last report. Share. This is a popular trail for birding, fishing, and mountain biking, but you can still enjoy some solitude during quieter times of day. There are even wheelchair accessible pools where anglers can roll their chairs along wooden rails to prime pools. 11/02/21 The stream is a little high but okay. Was beautiful trail! There is a 12-inch minimum size limit using artificial lures only, with a number limit of 6 per day. The hatch last about a month but is usually not very heavy but enough to get the trouts attention. Lots of insects are hatching.04/26/20 Stream levels are still a little highbut trout are being caught from the bankin the stocked section.05/09/20 The stream levels are still alittle above normal but there are somegood hatches taking place. There are a few Grannon Caddisflies that hatch in March. These birds are often joined by Carolina wren, which also frequent streamside brush. Walk the trail along the creek checking the creekside brush for Louisiana waterthrush, which can often be seen flying along the creek. Whitetop Laurel in Washington County, Virginia is one of state's largest and most beautiful wild trout streams. Air Quality Excellent. 03/04/23 The stream has been turning out some very good catches with of of new hatching of Quill Gordon, Blue Quills, Little black caddis, and little brown stoneflies. Catching just one gator trout heavier than 5 pounds is a different story. You will go back into Virginia and come to the intersection of 725 and 726 where you will again see the Whitetop Laurel Creek. Damascus, VA 24236 There are several ways to make this double tackle, but this , 2023 Coastal Angler Magazine Franchising, Inc. All Rights Reserved, https://dwr.virginia.gov/waterbody/whitetop-laurel-creek/, Enter To Win A Sea Eagle FishSkiff 16 With A Suzuki DF4 Outboard. There are no facilities offered on the stocked portions of Whitetop Laurel and limited roadside parking available on route 58. While small-stream fishing is the name of the game in the Whitetop Laurel area, two of the East's premier tailwater fisheries, the Watauga and South Holston, are located less than an hour away. Within the special regulation sections of Whitetop Laurel the stream is managed as catch and release, in addition to a single hook artificial lure only regulation. The Wilderness Society has designated the area as a "Mountain Treasure". 12/06/20 Lots of trout are being caughtalong the railroad track in the stockedsection. From the Florida Keys to the Bahamas to Hawaii, bonefish are an iconic inshore species with many monikers and a presence that is often felt but rarely seen. See our Whitetop Laurel Creek hatch chart before you go. Please see the bottom of this column for ordering options. During the winter cold-water period, the best flies imitate the nymphs which dominate the trouts diet as this time of year. Good hatches, Quill Gordons, Blue Quills, LIttle Brown stoneflies and Little Black Caddis are hatching. Looking higher into the trees, black-throated blue and black-and-white warblers and warbling vireos can be found. Both the stocked and wild trout sections should turn out some trout. Callor shoot us an email for a fly list.03/20/21 The stream levels are high butfalling fast. 12/07/21 Stream levels are near normal and customers are catching good numbers of trout along the old railroad bed and in the wild trout section. 04/24/22 Good conditions continue. We received one good report from last week. In the late afternoons, especially during cloudy weather and in the faster moving waters, try the spinners in the seams and the pocket waters. Whitetop Laurel Creek Location:Washington County, VA Available Fish: Wild and Stocked Rainbow and Brown Trout Access: From I-81 south take exit 29 (Glade Spring) to 91 east towards Damascus, in Damascus take 58 east. Beetle, grasshopper and ant patterns are favorites in the summer months. Located in , WebWhitetop Laurel Creek is a creek in Jefferson National Forest, Mount Rogers National Recreation Area, , WebDescubra lugares para visitar e explorar no Bing Mapas, por exemplo, Whitetop Laurel Creek Virginia. DGIF Marion office (276-783-4860). The pocket water areas have a lot of conflicting currents and the more fly line you can keep out of the water, the better off you are. The pH of the water is good and there are several mayflies and caddisflies that reside in the creek that you wouldn't expect to find in most Eastern Appalachian mountain freestone streams. 11/28/21 Conditions are very good. 1-800-594-4726.Whitetop Laurel has a huge, very diverse population of aquatic insects that hatch throughout most of the year. Whitetop Laurel Creek is often called Virginia's finest trout stream. This dam was established by a private source in 1937, thus creating Grass Lake flooding. We caught trout until we tired of it, and saw few of the bikers who normally crowd the trail on holiday weekends. Write review . 04/14/22 Conditions remain good. A #12-14 Letort Hopper followed by a #14 Epoxy TransparANT dropper is highly effective. These are the most important caddisflies. Not far, maybe a mile, you will turn left on 725. 03/21/22 The stream is flowing near a normal level in good shape with hatches of Quill Gordons, Blue Quills, Little Black Caddis, Blue-winged olives, and Little Brown stoneflies. There are some great hatches.06/09/20 The stream is in good conditionin all respects with levels a little belownormal and lots of hatching insects.06/21/19 The stream levels are a littlelow but trout are being caught in goodnumbers on some good hatches.07/03/20 Good numbers of trout arebeing caught in both sections, wild andstocked, of the stream.07/13/20 Conditions are still okay. 04/27/23 We received three more good reports from customers. Seasons:Fly fishing Whitetop Laural Creek isyear-round business for the locals. With over 1 million print readers per month and the industrys most expansive distribution network, we have emerged as one of the largest outdoor publications in the United States and abroad, thus solidifying our place as a preferred resource. Light Cahills, March Browns and Slate drakes are hatching. 38 F. RealFeel 41. Fishing Magazine, Coastal Angler & The Angler Magazine is your leading source for freshwater fishing and saltwater fishing videos, fishing photos, saltwater fishing. For information about the Town of Damascus, please contact: The Town of Damascus We received four good reports from customers this past week. We received one good report from the wild trout section and two from the stocked section along the road. P.O. Other patterns such as ants, beetles, Parachute Adams, and #12-14 Stimulators work equally well or better on Whitetop Laurel, depending on the season and water level. At Taylor's Valley, a road-accessed section of hatchery-supported water divides the two special-regulations areas. Within the special regulation sections, anglers have the opportunity to catch brook, brown, and . Phone: 540-475-3831, 2014 Whitetop Laurel Angler Survey Report, 2012 Whitetop Laurel Special Regulation Trout Section Biologist Report, 2010 Whitetop Laurel Special Regulation Trout Section Biologist Report, 2023 Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources. Fish the wild trout section or the uppermost section of the creek along the road. Stoneflies, both tiny and large, as well as midges, predominate. 12/31/21 The stream is up and stained due to recent rain. Take AT southbound to Beartree Gap trail and retrace steps back to the parking lot. Upon arrival, our smallmouth river was jammed and we turned to Beaverdam Creek for relief. Good hatches and streamlevels are up.08/12/20 The stream levels are in goodshape and we continue to get goodreports from customers. Midges, winterstoneflies and little BWO are the mainfood items.02/20/21 Stream levels are high butstocked trout are being caught alongthe old railroad track in good numbers.03/07/21 Conditions are good a goodnumbers of trout are being caught. 06/20/22 The stream is still in good shape and we continue to get good reports. second half creeper, No conditions reported in the past 7 days. They arecatching nice trout in both the stockedand wild trout sections.11/20/20 The stream levels are a littlehigh. Rogers National Recreational Area located in southwest Virginia and it flows down to Damascus, Virginia where it meets the Tennessee Laurel. | It also afforded us plenty of cover at Taylor's Valley on Whitetop Laurel the following day. Want to report conditions for this trail? Wind Gusts 5 mph. Approximately seven miles are stocked trout waters located on both private and public lands with an additional five miles of special regulation waters flowing through the Mount Rogers National Recreational Area. I've also often heard small-stream fishing characterized as "easy," almost always by anglers who seldom do it. Even with the 12-inch keeper rule, you'll see many larger trout in the Taylor's Valley section, with the Virginia Creeper Trail providing good spotter's access. Size 14 prince beadhead nymphs will work all year. The South Holston tailwater near Johnson City, Tennessee, is considered by many to be one of the best wild brown trout fisheries in the country. Subscriber Services. Lock This is one of the better hatches of the Whitetop Laurel Creek. While fishing the put-and-take waters is generally reliable only during the stocking season (October through June 15), the special regulation areas offer excellent fishing opportunities throughout the year. We are getting good reports from customers fishing both the section along the railroad track and the backcountry. Good numbersof trout are being caught in all sectionswhen the stream levels are okay.03/04/2020 Stream levels are high today,but trout are being caught in goodnumbers along the old railroad track.03/19/2020 Conditions are fairly good.We are getting good reports fromcustomers fishing the stocked and wildtrout sections.04/15/20 Stream levels are high now butwe were getting good reports prior to thehigh water. Emailusat (sales@perfectflystore.com) with the dates you will be fishing and we will send you a list of our fly recommendations. Current fly fishing conditions are good! I like to hit them during the summer with small hopper and beetle patterns, which the trout slurp with amazing regularity. Phantom of the flats. Whitetop Laurel Creek, Virginia Fishing Report. The Whitetop Laurel is one of the better freestone stream in the State of Virginia. My wife and I stayed and dined at the inn, which lies on the banks of Whitetop Laurel. Weather, flows are worthy. All Fly Fisherman subscribers now have digital access to their magazine content. So you need a rod with a little give.. 603 and turn right. Midges hatch throughout the entire year but are most important during the winter. Months of dry weather had left Beaverdam almost devoid of good trout-prospecting flows, but we decided to try it anyway. 11/10/22 Stream levels are just a little below normal but okay. Virginia Creeper Trail (276-783-5196). 01/28/23 The stream is turning out some good catches in the stocked and wild trout sections. Annual Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA) stream surveys typically list Beaverdam Creek's browns as the largest in the state. Fishing the wild waters in the higher elevations will be most rewarding. We lost them when we had a computer failure. Guided trips: FeeldTrips Outdoors (276-728-8866); Lodging and dining: Damascus Old Mill Inn (276-475-3745). Browns are the main attraction, but there are some nice size rainbows, too, and a few native brook trout, Stovall says. Some spots you would be right next to the river. If trout are rising, fish a dry fly but if you dont see any insects or trout rising you are probably better off fishing a nymph. While Whitetop offers a hike- or bike-in backcountry experience, the best sections of Beaverdam are roadside, via Tennessee 133, in the Cherokee National Forest. If you provide a budget for flies, we will select them to match the budget and get them to you on time for your trip. But as pristine as the setting is, the Virginia Creeper Trail runs along much of the stream, making it one of the most accessible wild trout fisheries in the state. 06/12/22 The stream is near a normal level and mostly clear. We are still getting good reports from customers. But I have to say that Whitetop Laurel Creek in Southwest Virginia is one of the best places to fly fish for trout in the US. We also market what we call the Whitetop Box, a custom fly box with patterns for throughout the year.. By the way, the fishing is also good downstream at the end of the #725 paved road. From there you can hike up and down the stream as there are no trails in this area. Lots of BWOs, Midges creams and sculpin streamers are working good. Large streamers such as muddler minnows, wooly buggers, and woolhead sculpins are the best choices for the fly angler seeking a big brown. Locked padlock I spent a morning on Whitetop and a major tributary, Green Cove Creek, with Zac Stovall of FeeldTrips Outdoors in Damascus. Whitetop Laurel Creekis often called Virginias finest trout stream. Bull#$%. Whitetop Laurel just might be the most unique trout stream in the Old Dominion. This means you have the option to read your magazine on most popular phones and tablets. Beautiful scenery whitetop station down to Damascus. View Seasonal Observations Submitted to eBird, Site Contact: US Forest Service Mount Rogers National Recreation Area District Office, 276-783-5196, sm.fs.mrnra@usda.gov, 2023 Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources. A freshwater fishing license and National Forest Permit is needed to fish the two special regulation sections. The Dirty Sally represents a number of small yellow/tan stonefly and caddisfly species, and doubles as a Sulphur imitation in a pinch. It can last for six weeks. The Whitetop Laurel is hatchery supported both above and below these portions as well as the portion directly in Taylors Valley. The colorful leaves along the Virginia Creeper are worth the trip, but the fishing is great as well. The latest Costa Film "Hooked On: Bonefish" explores the pursuit of this prized gamefish, which requires expert marksmanship and delicate execution to be successful. At our first stop, I promptly lost one of those substantially larger size browns that Owens referred to. The mayfly hatches, including the Blue winged Olives, occurs for a long period of time and will provide some of the best fishing. Whitetop Laurel is a wildland in the George Washington and Jefferson National Forests of western Virginia that has been recognized by the Wilderness Society as a special place worthy of protection from logging and road construction. You will find them in the faster water. little BWOs and other insects hatching. Good hatches are taking place. Brown, rainbow and brook trout. The Whitetop Laurel is a medium size stream with the typical runs, riffles, and pools of water that flows gently down the mountain. Autumn also offers the best chance to tangle with one of the streams trophy brown trout as they prepare to spawn. 04/02/23 Good hatches are taking place. 08/23/21 The stream is still in good shape with good hatches taking place. Went the whole way but watch died! For anglers, the place to begin on Whitetop is the 6 miles of stream that flows below Konnarock, Virginia, beginning at Creek Junction, near the confluence of Whitetop and Green Cove Creek. 4 Star Fatty Day! Whitetop Laurel just might be the most unique trout stream in the Old Dominion. Quill Gordons, blue quills, little black caddis, BWOs, little Brown stoneflies and Hendricksons/red quills. In the late 1830's, Sizemores are said to have taken in Cherokees who escaped the Trail of Tears. 01/24/22 Levels are still near normal and the water mostly clear. Learn to tie the Woolly Bugger fly with master tier Charlie Craven. Whitetop Laurel flows along 58 east, where it can be accessed easily. Good hatches are underway. Camping is also allowed in the national forest sections of Whitetop Laurel. Up north appearance with large shaded sites. Beyond the scenery, the region is also renowned for celebrating the culture of thru-hiking, famed for . 04/24/21 The stream levels are in good shape and we are getting good reports from the section along the road and the wild trout section. Levels are a little below normal but okay. Season is Mid-April to Mid-October . Follow this road west for 2.7 miles to US 58 West. The stream in near a normal level and we are getting good reports from customers. From October through March, I use acinnamon colored caddis for a dry fly and am successful in the mornings until about noon. 19/15/21 Stream levels are in okay shape again with clear water. It offers easy to access areas with stocked trout as well as lots wild trout in secluded areas you can access with a little effort. Emailus at (sales@perfectflystore.com) with the dates you will be fishing and we will send you a list of our fly recommendations. 04/06/22 The stream is on the way up due to recent rain but we have been getting good reports from the wild and stocked sections. Sections of Whitetop Laurel that are not adjacent to 58 east are easily accessed from the Virginia Creeper Trail. Use either small soft-hackles or Griffith's Gnats for midging, and carry some larger #4-6 stonefly patterns and smaller #10-16 Copper Johns. The Cinnamon Sedges and a few Spotted Sedge species of caddisflies hatch from about the first of May through July. We have been getting good reports of catches before the high water levels. Go through Damascus and continue on Highway 58 for approximately 9 miles to a sharp right turn off Highway 58 that leads down to the Creek Junction Accessible Parking Area on the Virginia Creeper Trail. 01/16/22 The stream is down to near normal level but has been high. This is a neat stream to fish. A road doesnt follows the Taylor Fork Sections. This hatch is never concentrated but well worth imitating. It slowed down a little due to the colder weather but should be very good within the next few days. The trails in this area are relatively open and flanked by numerous wildflowers including bee-balm. Locals refer to both of these hatches as Sulphurs and they are very similar. After heading East out of Damascus, turn right and you will soon cross the state line into Tennessee. Harry Murray's springtime Virginia Wulff flythe Mr. Rapidanis the best-known example. The creek is located in the Mount Rogers National Recreation Area, so there are lots of other activities nearby if you want to make a day of it. American March Browns start hatching near the end of April and last almost two months. Whitetop Laurel Creek is one of the best Virginia trout fishing streams - perfect for Virginia trout adventures whether you are fly fishing or spin fishing. Learn to tie Barr's Damsel with master tier Charlie Craven. 09/08/21 The stream is down in okay shape. This is a popular trail for birding, fishing, and mountain biking, but you can still enjoy some solitude during quieter times of day. Within the stocked portions of the stream, there is a seven-inch size limit, a six-fish-per-day creel and a trout license required from October 1, through June 15 in addition to the statewide freshwater fishing license. Inch worms also are plentiful and fall and get blown into the water. The stream is a little below normal. 11/11/21 Good hatches continue and the stream levels are down in good shape and clear. Purple, red and silver bands seem to attract trout any time. Stovall says he prefers a 3-weight fly rod with a 7-foot, 6-x leader for Whitetop and Green Cove Creek. Directions: From I-81 Northbound: Take Exit 19 at Abingdon, Virginia and head East on Highway 58. 05/28/22 The stream level is up due to recent rain but should fall back down soon. Follow US 58 East for 10.5 miles to Beaver Dam Ave in Damascus. Generally considered a moderately challenging route, it takes an average of 4 h 19 min to complete. Guided trips: FeeldTrips Outdoors (276-728-8866); Lodging and dining: Damascus Old Mill Inn (276-475-3745). . Box 56 While most anglers who fish the special regulation waters use fly fishing gear, spinning tackle can also be very effective. It provides access to some very good fly fishing water. 19 golf courses and Michigan Space Center nearby. Unlike the generic fly shop trout flies, we have specific imitations of all the insects in the White River and in all stages of life that is applicable to fishing. Doable by almost anyone who can ride a bike, even kids. 12/23/21 The stream is still low but we are still getting good reports, especially from the stocked section along the road and old track. 07/23/21 The stream is still in good shape with normal levels. Later that afternoon the stream became slightly discolored from trail runoff, the fishing declined, and we called it a daya pleasant, soggy end to an exceptional Whitetop Laurel weekend. Whitetop Laurel Creek has a decent hatch of Eastern Green Drakes that starts about the first of May and last around three weeks. Trout are being caught in thestocked section in good numbers. These rivulets flow in and out of private property through a mountain basin located near the hamlet of Konnarock. Lots of cream and light green midges. But as pristine as the setting is, the Virginia Creeper Trail runs along much of the stream, making it one of the most accessible wild trout fisheries in the state. We base fly suggestions on imitating the most plentiful and most available insects and other foods at the particular time you are fishing.