George Washington National Forest

Fly Fish Virginia – St. Mary’s

March 24, 2013 By Tom Sadler

So far we have looked at Ramsey’s Draft, in part 1 and Skidmore Fork, in part 2. The third and last river in the George Washington National Forest is the St. Mary’s River.

The St. Mary’s River.

The St. Mary’s River is located in the George Washington National Forest’s St Mary’s Wilderness area. It flows through a beautiful canyon like area in the mountains and is one of the more scenic fishing spots in the Old Dominion.

The St. Mary’s is near the town of Vesuvius. One way to get there is from I81/64 to exit 205. Take Route 606/Raphine Road to Route 56/Tye River Turnpike to 608/South Bottom Road-Cold Springs Road to St. Mary’s Road. There is a parking area at the end of the St. Mary’s Road.

Like Ramsey’s Draft you can start fishing very near the parking area. I prefer to hike in for a bit and start my serious fishing above Sugartree Branch.

This section from Sugartree Branch to the falls is really a beautiful area and you will find yourself looking around as much as looking at the water. Like the previous rivers in this series it is a typical riffle-pool-run system. The area plenty of open area’s making casting very easy and enough tight spots to make it challenging.

Depending on the water conditions Sugartree Branch is worth looking into to. It is a reasonably steep gradient with a trail running along side. You can take this trail up and around a section of the river and come out at the falls. You will cross a couple of branch that lead down to the river but the going can be steep and tangled. Think first before you blindly head down. This section is deep in the wilderness area so plan accordingly.

As with the other streams, a dry or dry-dropper rig works well; either Adams or BWO parachutes. For nymphs try a Pheasant Tail, Gold Ribbed Hare’s ear or Copper John. A few Quill Gordons, March Browns and Sulfurs for mayfly imitations; little black stoneflies, yellow sallies and some tan and olive caddis round out the assortment. Of course if you want to go the full tenkara route then try an Oki or Ishigaki. Check with Mossy Creek Fly Fishing to get the latest on what’s working.

Fishing St. Mary’s is a commitment and will eat up a day very easily. The numbers and size of fish in the St. Mary’s are fewer and smaller than the other rivers; the scenic nature of the canyon however more than makes up for it. It is great hike and fish river, but you need to be sure you are up for it. Take some emergency gear, food and water with you. You may want to look at topo map to see what you are getting into.

If you go let me know what you think.

Fly Fish Virginia – Ramsey’s Draft

March 5, 2013 By Tom Sadler

The 2013 Tenkara Summit will be in Harrisonburg, Va. on May 11 and 12, hosted by Tenkara USA and Mossy Creek Fly Fishing. I am excited to be part of the team planning and hosting the summit and because many folks are not familiar with the bounty of brook trout fishing here in the Valley I thought I would share some notes on some of my favorites. All are public water:
Ramsey’s Draft
Skidmore Fork
St. Mary’s River
Rapidan River
I will start with Ramsey’s and over the next couple of weeks I’ll write about the others.

Ramsey’s Draft

You will find Ramsey’s Draft 4.5 miles west of West Augusta, Va. on route 250. Look for Mountain House Day Use Area on your right as you are headed west. There is plenty of parking in two areas; the paved lot with picnic tables and a smaller unpaved lot across the low water bridge.

Once you are geared up you can fish up or down stream from the parking areas. Most of the water is above the parking areas but a trip downstream is worth the time. If you want to hike in a bit you will find an easy trail that heads upstream from the parking area and runs along and crosses the stream a few times. It is very easy to move along and fish where it suits you. Ramsey’s is a pool-run-riffle stream and for the most part gives you lot’s of casting room. It is a low gradient stream so you will not be scrambling over boulders or falls.

Here is an interesting story about Ramsey’s. Colby and Brian Trow, the owners of Mossy Creek Fly Fishing, took Tom Rosenbauer of Orvis here. Colby fished his tenkara rod in pools that Tom had just fished and caught fish left and right. It was then that Tom decided he needed to give tenkara a try and spent the afternoon fishing tenkara on Ramsey’s.

I generally fish a dry or dry-dropper rig; either Adams or BWO parachutes. For nymphs I will use a Pheasant Tail or Gold Ribbed Hare’s ear. You might want a few Quill Gordons, March Browns and Sulfurs for mayfly imitations. Little black stoneflies, yellow sallies and some tan and olive caddis round out the assortment. Of course if you want to go the full tenkara route then try an Oki or Ishigaki. Check with Mossy Creek Fly Fishing to get the latest on what’s working.

Fishing Ramsey’s is not hard but you want to plan your route in each section. The water is shallow and you can easily spook fish if you are not careful. Wade carefully and look ahead for the next good spot. The runs can be surprisingly good especially if you take the time to study the water and pick out the small pockets and holding water. The pools are spaced out so you have lots of water between them to drop a fly into. Ramsey’s rewards patience and a stealthy approach. If you think it might hold a fish it is a good idea to check, you will be surprised how often you are right.

If you fish Ramsey’s let me know what you think!

Reason Enough

November 1, 2012 By Tom Sadler

I submitted this letter to the editor to the Staunton News Leader. It ran today.

If you enjoy the great outdoors, especially hunting and fishing on public lands, then President Obama deserves your vote. The simple fact is that without public lands like the George Washington National Forest or the Shenandoah National Park, Valley sportsmen would be hard-pressed to find places to hunt and fish. Even if you don’t hunt or fish, these public lands provide exceptional recreational venues for people to play outside.

Our public lands are also an important economic engine here in the Valley. We have hunting, fishing, biking, hiking and camping shops and an archery manufacturer all close by to Staunton. They all provide sustainable local jobs and help attract visitors to the Valley who buy food and gas, stay in motels, eat in our local restaurants and visit those stores.

The outdoor recreation economy is serious business. It is responsible for 6.1 million direct American jobs, $646 billion in direct consumer spending and $80 billion in combined state, local and federal tax revenue.

President Obama has made outdoor recreation a priority since taking office, and his efforts have been important for sportsmen here in the Valley and across the nation. His America’s Great Outdoor initiative is a concrete example of his emphasis on outdoor recreation. He has consistently looked for ways to expand access and recreational opportunity on public lands. His budget proposals have included funding for critical fish and wildlife conservation programs. He understands that our hunting and fishing traditions and heritage are based on public lands where everyone can have a chance to hunt, fish or enjoy the wild places.

As sportsmen and outdoor enthusiasts, we need a president who understands how important public lands are for both recreation and the local economic benefits they provide. President Obama has shown he understands, he has put his words into actions, and he deserves another term in office.