Fly and Gear ordering and delivery: We can get flies to you within two to three business days from the time you place your order via Priority Mail. 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. Please see the bottom of this column for ordering options.
We have custom Perfect Fly selections in 3 different price ranges for this stream that come with or without fly boxes that make excellent gifts. Click Here To Order or Call us at 800 594 4726 or email us at sales@perfectflystore.com.
Type of Stream
Freestone/Spring River
Species
Rainbows (stocked with some
holdovers)
Brown Trout (stocked with holdovers(
Size
Small to Medium
Location
West Central Virginia
Nearest Towns
Waynesboro
Staunton
Season
Year-round, but with special
regulations
Access:
Good
Non-Resident License
State of Virginia
Weather
National Weather Service Link
Season:
The season runs year-round but special regulations apply as mentioned above
Winter:
Trout can be caught on nice, warm winter days. Spring water helps keep the water temperature more constant and warmer during the winter.
Spring:
Springtime is the best time for fly fishing South River because of the aquatic insect hatches.
Summer:
Summertime is okay in the upper SRA but not in the DH area.
Fall:
Fall is a great time for fly fishing the South River.
Fly and Gear ordering and delivery:
Email us at (sales@perfectflystore.com) with the dates you will be fishing and we will send you a list of our fly recommendations. We can get flies and gear to you within two to three business days from the time you place your order via Priority Mail. 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. Your can also call us at 800-594-4726 and we will help you decide what flies and gear to use. All orders are shipped free in the U.S. If under a $100 order requiring Priority mail is a charge of only $8.10. Orders over a $100 are shipped free via Priority Mail.
Copyright 2013 James Marsh
a
Fly Fishing the South River Virginia
The South River is one of the two tributaries that form the South Fork of the Shenandoah River. It starts near Staunton, Virginia, as a small stream that flows into the Shenandoah Valley at Port Republic, where it merges with the North Rivet to form the South Fork of the Shenandoah River. You have several good options when fly fishing the South River Virginia.
Near Waynesboro, the stream gets an enormous supply of cool, limestone spring water, raising its pH level and providing a excellent habitat for trout and the food they need to survive. It also almost doubles the stream flow. There are two areas open to the public to fish for trout. The new Upper South River’s “Special Regulation Area”, and a “Delayed Harvest” section located in the city of Waynesboro.
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The Upper South River’s “Special Regulation Area” is Virginia’s newest SRA for trout. It was opened for fishing on the first day of January, 2011. You must have a special permit to fish this section of the stream. It’s free and available from the state at this address as well as some of the local fly shops in the area. Fly fishing the Upper South River’s SRA is a real treat and should only get better.
The “Delayed Harvest’ section runs from the Rife-Loth dam downstream to the Second Street bridge. Trout are stocked between the first of October 1 and the 31st of May. It is “catch and release” regulations during that time span. Open regulations allowing anglers to keep a limit of 6 trout per day are in effect from the first day of June to September 30th.
The SRA area is just like a spring creek. It has a population of aquatic insects as well as crustaceans. The DH section is more like a typical freestone stream with pools, runs and riffles.
The aquatic insect population varies depending on the area but some of the major mayflies are the Blue-winged Olives, Blue Quill, Quill Gordon, American March Browns, Light and Cream Cahills, Mahogany Duns and Tricos. There are lots of Cinnamon Sedges, Green Sedges, Great Autumn Brown sedges, Little Black Caddis and others. There are some stoneflies, mostly Little Winter stoneflies, Needle stoneflies and Little Yellow Stoneflies. Scuds are present in some sections. Sculpin are very plentiful. During the summer months the terrestrials become important. You should have imitations of ants, beetles and grass hoppers.
Fly Fishing Gear, Tackle and Trout Flies for the South River
Virginia
Fly Line:
You would probably want a 4 or 5 weight fly line for your most of your fly fishing on the South River’s Delayed Harvest section and Upper South River Special Regulations Area.. You could get by using a 5 weight floating fly line for everything. Many anglers that fish heavy nymphs and streamers would want a 6 weight fly line but it would not be absolutely
necessary.
Fly Rod:
I would suggest a rod for the 4 or 5 weight line and another for the 6 weight line if you choose to use it. The four or five weight rod should be between eight and nine feet in length, a medium to medium fast action would work best in our opinion.
If you choose to fish heavier nymphs and streamers on a six weight line then you would probably want a fly rod that is a little on the stiff side. It should be nine feet in a medium to a medium fast action.
Fly Reel:
The reel for the four or the five weight rod should have a decent drag. It should be smooth. A disc drag that adjust in fine increments would be best. The reel for the six weight line should fit the same description.
Leaders:
You should probably be using at least a 7 and a half foot leader anywhere you fish the South River. There are situation where you would want to go up to 9 feet. I would suggest having them in sizes ranging from 1X for streamers, up to 7X for small dry flies and midges, in both the 7 and half and 9 foot lengths.
Tippet:
You should have extra tippet in sizes ranging from 1X to 7X.
Waders:
Waders are necessary for the South River.
Wading Boots:
Much of the bottom in either gravel, sand or rock. You would not want cleats. Felt soles are the best. We are testing the new rubber soles out and have no comment about them yet.
Trout Flies:
We recommend “Perfect Flies”. We think they are the best trout flies you can purchase. Ifyou haven’t already tried them, we certainly hope you will. You want be disappointed. We have imitations of every insect that hatches on the South River as well as a full line of terrestrial patterns. You may also notice that we sell standard, generic and attractor flies at a very low price.