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)
Brown Trout (stocked)
Rainbow Trout (stocked)
Size
Small
Location
Shenandoah National Park
Nearest Towns
Syria
Season
Year-round
Access:
Fair but hiking required
Non-Resident License
State of Virginia
Weather
National Weather Service Link
Season:
The season runs year-round
Winter:
Trout can be caught on warm winter days.
Spring:
Springtime is the best time for fly fishing White Oak Canyon Run because of the aquatic insect hatches.
Summer:
Summertime is fine because the steep gradient and deep plunge pools keeps the water cool.
Fall:
Fall is a great time for fly fishing White Oak Canyon Run.
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
Fly Fishing White Oak Canyon Run In Virginia
White Oak Canyon Run is one of the best and most popular brook trout streams in the Shenandoah National Park. It has a good population of large brook trout.
This stream falls on a very steep declination with lots of waterfalls and plunges. The pools are usually deep and unlike many other small streams in Shenandoah, White Oak Canyon Run keeps an adequate amount of water even during the hottest months.
Fly fishing White Oak Canyon Run is quite different from fishing many brook trout streams. Often the stream is so steep that you can make a short cast to a pool that’s level with the top of your head. This helps you stay hidden and from spooking the trout.
You can access White Oak Canyon Run from Skyline Drive at Limberlost. You will hike a short ways down the Old Rag Fire Road to intersect the White Oak Canyon Trail. You can fish the stream from that point all the way to the valley.
You can also access it from the lower section of the Run. Route # 600 will take you to the lower end of White Oak Canyon Trail which follows the stream to its headwaters.
White Oak Canyon Run has a very diverse population of aquatic insects. Little Brown and Little Yellow stoneflies; Quill Gordon, Blue Quill, and Light Cahill mayflies; and Green Sedge, Cinnamon and Great Autumn Brown Caddisflies are present in the stream. During the summer months be sure to try imitations of ants, inch worms and beetles. The woods are full of terrestrials during the summer months.
Fly Fishing Gear, Tackle and Trout Flies for White Oak Canyon Run
Virginia
Fly Line:
You would probably want a 3 or 4 weight fly line for your dry fly fishing on the White Oak Canyon Run. 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 3 or 4 weight line and another for the 5 weight line if you choose to use it. The three or four 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 five or 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 three or the four weight rod should be light and with a smooth drag. A disc drag that adjust in fine increments would be best for the five or six weight line.
Leaders:
We recommend at least a 7 and half foot leader anywhere you fish White Oak Canyon Run. There are situation where you would want to go up to 9 feet. I would suggest having them in sizes ranging from 2X 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 2X to 7X.
Waders:
Waders are necessary for the White OaK Canyon Run. We prefer the breathable types. You can wet wade during the summer months.
Wading Boots:
Much of the bottom is rock, sand and gravel. Felt soles are the best.
Trout Flies:
We recommend our “Perfect Flies”. We think they are the best trout flies you can purchase. If you haven’t already tried them, we certainly hope you will. You want be disappointed. We have specific imitations of every insect that hatches on White Oak Canyon run 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.