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
Species
Brook Trout (wild)
Rainbow trout (wild)
Size
Small
Location
Southwestern Virginia
Nearest Towns
Buena Vista
Lowesville
Alhambra
Season
Year-round
Access:
Good
Non-Resident License
State of Virginia
Weather
National Weather Service Link
Season:
The season runs year-round. March to November is best
Spring
Spring is the best time for fly fishing the South Fork of the Piney River due to the numerous hatches.
Summer:
Summertime is okay, thanks to the heavy canopy of bushes and trees over much of the stream but the water levels can get quite low.
Fall:
Early Fall can be an especially good time.
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.
Fly Fishing South Fork of Piney River Virginia
Part of the South Fork of Piney River is in the George Washington National Forest on the eastern side of the Blue Ridge Parkway. There is also a section of the stream that flows through private property.
The South Fork of Piney River is noted for its nice population of wild brook trout. Like most of the streams in the area, it starts out very small and ends up much larger. Shoe Creek, a good little brook trout stream itself, is just one of several very small streams that increases the flow along the stream’s course.
The South Fork Piney River has a very diverse population of aquatic insects. You will find a early season Quill Gordons hatch, later a good March Browns hatch along with Sulphurs that appear later in the year. There are many others including plenty of stoneflies and caddisflies.
You can access the stream from Forest Service Route #63. Route #827 becomes FS #63. Shoe Creek flows into the South Fork of Piney River just north of Alhambra.
We prefer to fish the upper part of the river that lies on the National Forest Land but the stream can provide other opportunities in other sections. Fly fishing the South Fork of the Piney River has always produced some nice brook trout for us.
Fly Fishing Gear, Tackle and Trout Flies for South Fork Piney River
Virginia
Fly Line:
We are recommending a 4 or 5 weight, floating fly line for all of the fishing. There are some anglers that prefer a 6 weight fly floating fly line for heavier nymphs and streamers. You could easily get by with a 5 weight most of the time.
Leaders:
Leaders should range in sizes from a 0X for streamers up to a 6X for midges and small dry flies. Lengths ranging from nine feet up to twelve feet in length are suggested.
Tippets:
Extra tippet material ranging from 0X to 6X should be available for the leaders we list above.
Fly Rods:
We suggest either a 4, 5 or 6 weight fly rod for each line size you choose to fish. That will handle about anything you will catch from the South Fork of Piney River. It should have a medium fast to fast action and be nine feet in length.
Fly Reels:
The fly reel you use for the 4, 5 or 6 weight line should be light and have good drags, preferably disc drags,
Waders:
You would need waders on the South Fork of Piney River. You can wet wade during the warmer months. We recommend breathable ones.
Wading Boots:
Felt soles or either the new rubber sole boots would work best.
Wading Staff:
We would call this optional but is always a good idea on higher water. The stream is fairly easy to wade in most places.
Flies:
We recommend our “Perfect Flies” because they are the best trout flies you can purchase. The large, holdover trout can be very selective. Although you can catch the stocked trout on the generics (which we also sell at a low price), we recommend more realistic imitations of the naturals. We have flies that imitate all the aquatic and terrestrial insects in the South Fork of Piney River. If you haven’t already done so, we hope you will give them a try.
Copyright 2013 James Marsh