You may think that trout just lay eggs and hatch like other fish in our streams but you are wrong. Well at least partially wrong. There are some trout that naturally reproduce in our streams. These trout are mostly comprised of Brook Trout or as many of our townspeople refer to them as "Natives". If you ever hear a fisherman say they are going "native fishing" they are probably referring to fishing a small creek which is often located high in the mountains for Brook Trout. Because the creeks are so small where these fish live the size of the native Brook Trout is usually small. A very large native Brook Trout would only be 12 inches in our area... although there are stories of even larger ones being caught from some secret "honey holes" in our area. These honey holes are becoming even larger secret as destruction to property and concerns of lawsuits have caused landowners to post NO TRESPASSING signs on many of the properties we have took for granted that could fish and/or hunt on over the years.
In Page County two small creeks are available to the public to fish for native Brook Trout but there is a drive involed that may surprise you. Naked Creek and Jeremys Run are both located in Page County and the only public way to fish these waters is to drive up to the Shenandoah National Park and access the the creeks from foot. It can be a long hike to the creeks but the rewards of experiencing your day in the mountains is well worth the walk. Catching fish in these areas are just a bonus in my opinion as the breath taking views are the real prize of these fishing trips. You will have to check with the Shenandoah National Park to see if you can harvest any of the trout as they have their own set of fishing regulations for fishing on the Shenandoah National Park. Remember these trout rely on natural reproduction and depending on mother nature the survival rate for new born trout is often very low. Successful catch and release is encouraged by using barbless single hooks, wetting your hands with water just before handling the fish and quickly returning the fish to the water.
Brook Trout
Now what about all those other larger trout you see people showing off and eating on a regular basis? Each year the Department of Game and Inland Fisheries stocks hathery raised trout all over Virginia. If you hear someone say they are going "stock trout fishing" they are fishing for trout that the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries have grown in one of the nine different fish hatcheries the department owns. These fish are grown as a "put-and-take" fish meaning theat the department will raise the fish to a large size, put the fish in the water and (if you are lucky enough) you will take it out for the dinner table. The most common trout raised in the hatcheries are Rainbow Trout. Brook Trout and Brown Trout are also also raised for stocking in Virginia waters.
In Page County you can fish for these "stock trout" in Cub Run, Hawksbill Creek and Upper Passage Creek. Cub Run is the closest to Shenandoah and is located next to Catherines Furnace located in the George Washington National Forest. Hawksbill Creek is easy to find as it runs right smack through the middle of the Town of Luray and Upper Passage Creek is located in the National Forest at the top of the mountain as you drive on Rt. 211 towards New Market. A Virginia State Fishing License and a Virginia Trout license is required to fish Hawksbill Creek. In addition to those two licenses you will need a National Forest Stamp to fish in Cub Run and Upper Passage Creek.
Rainbow Trout
Brown Trout
The largest trout hatchery in Virginia is Coursey Springs State Fish Hatchery located in Bath County. Vistiors are welcome during working hours. If you are looking for a fun day trip to take kids... this may just be the trip!
