Camping on Virginia Smallmouth water?

[Steve Sucher]

Hiya folks,

I did a search on "camping" and the hits seemed to be focused on trout streams. Now, I have a blast primitive camping in GWNF & SNP and pulling brookies out of streams but, I have a yearning for some bronzebacks.

So much so that I'm thinking about them almost 5 months too early :P

Does anyone have any suggestions for primitive camping along smallmouth waters? 

 

I have camped at Shenandoah River Outfitters near Luray & that was a nightmare of redneck drama. Don't get me wrong, I'm pretty gritty myself but a drunk screaming "You left me out there to dieeeee!" and folks almost burning down the place using whole pallets as firewood is not a fun time for me. I want to see fish not people. A topo map shows the majority of the area is National Forest but actually scouting the area it appeared to be private land and posted.

 

Onward to the Rappahannock River!  I did a trip from Kelly's Ford to Motts Landing but it seemed like we spent more time paddling than fishing. Part of this was due to the fact a storm upstream was causing the river to rapidly rise. Literally an hour after we got off the river the level was deemed "dangerous"  There were several camping spots (heavily used) but they all seemed like water access. Also, lot's of partiers there. Nothing like pulling into a site tired & ready to relax & finding a Grogan in the middle of camp.

 

I'm not overly picky, I just like natural settings over seeing & hearing people hoot-n-holler all weekend.

So, primitive camping (I hammock camp), on a smallmouth river, accessible by land (preferably close to parking), and 2-3 hrs from DC.

(ok maybe I am picky :) )

 

-Steve

[Aden]

I hammock camp as well and love chasing the smallies.  My go to place the last couple of summers has been the confluence of the Rapp and the Rapidann.  The land on either side is owned by the city of fredericksburg and is all public.  There are miles of good camping and wading and it is somewhat remote.  I hike in because i do not have a boat and there is just an amazing amount of water to cover there.  Best flies I find are red damsel flies (i don't see and blue damsels there) black clousers with red eyes and crawfish imitations.  If you take a 3wt and throw micro poppers you can catch over 50 hand size or bigger of the hardest fighting bluegill you have ever caught.  

If I-95 is flowing it only takes me about an hour and a half from Alexandria to get to the trailhead and then a 20 minute hike to the water.  

What hammock setup do you use?  I am still tweaking my ENO stuff.

[Danny Barrett]

I would suggest the confluence of Rappahanock and Rapidan.  From the closest parking its less then an hour hike.  Ive done it as more of a wade and camp.  But im sure if you put in somewhere upstream of it, you can pull off there and camp.  It is just an point of land where the two rivers meet.  Last time there. I saw a party of 9 guys.  Beer was there, but all had more fishing gear then beer, seemed like nice guys.  More then willing to offer advice.  And the fishing was great. in a 4 hour stint on the river I picked up around a dozen smallies.  2 of them were in the 14-16in range. Most were 10-12in.  And a couple little dinks.  All in all, its a spot I will fish again easily.  I could spend a few nights there and fish the Rapidan, Rappahanock pre confluence and post confluence.

Tight lines,

Dan Barrett

 dannyt...@gmail.com

(540)-222-8064

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[Steve Sucher]

Hey Aden & Dan thanks for the info.  The Confluence seems to be "where it's at" from what I read (and you said ;) )
The Rapp side from the point there was the Grogen camp I encountered, but I like the idea of sorta bushwhacking about.
It looks like at the confluence there is a parking lot of sorts. I assume this is where I would  enter/egress from.
:)  Looking forward to a fun spring/summer.  Thanks for the info.

Aden, I am in a Warbonnet Blackbird & yes the hype is all it's cracked up to be. Before that I was in a Hennessy. Eno's are nice but I like that asym lay. I'm looking at making a gathered end for a day bag. Shore naps are nice, but a shore nap in a hammock? Shooooo....
Insulation I use a HammockGear (angrysparrow) 3 season top & bottom. He's a good guy.
Arrowgear makes some nice but bulkier synthetic stuff.

-Steve

[Bob R]

I agree with the confluence as well.  The hike in is just far enough to keep the serious partiers away but not too far of a hike if you camp light.  A mountain bike makes it easy. 

[namfos]

I've seen plenty of campers along the Potomac on the MD (C&O Canal) side but I think the problem you'll run into is being able to park your car overnight. C&O Canal NP regs should enlighten in this regard.

I'd be interested to know more about either of your hammock camping setups.

Mark

[Herman Yam]

Passage Creek at the Northern part of the GWNF, was a solid mixed stream for smallies, brookies and rainbows when I used to go there regularly 7-8 years ago.  The only camping I know of there (Elizabeth Furnace) is not primitive, but there may be options nearby.  I prefer to fish in the special regulations area downstream from the Elizabeth Furnace campground.