First time going to Mossy Creek VA

[Rodrigo]

Hi all,

Any recommendations for heading to Mossy Creek in VA this weekend? I am taking my father fly fishing for the first time.
Thanks,

Rod

[wbmat...@gmail.com]

Rod,

Mossy creek is a tough creek for newcomers. There’s a lot to get hung up on with your back cast, and there are plenty of no fish days (and days with massive trophy trout). 

Where are you located?

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On Oct 22, 2021, at 16:23, Rodrigo <rva...@gmail.com> wrote:



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[Rodrigo]

I am in Alexandria city. Any other location within two hours that you recommend? 

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[wbmat...@gmail.com]

Gunpowder River, and Big Hunting Creek MD. Beaver creek MD is also a good spot, but has at least as much stuff to get hung u on as mossy. 

Sorry, I don’t have any more VA locations yet. If anyone else has ideas chime in. 

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On Oct 22, 2021, at 17:56, Rodrigo <rva...@gmail.com> wrote:



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[wbmat...@gmail.com]

Also note that Mossy Creek VA has a special permit you need to get from the Virginia DWR website. It’s free, but required to fish on the stream. 

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On Oct 22, 2021, at 18:33, wbmat...@gmail.com wrote:

Gunpowder River, and Big Hunting Creek MD. Beaver creek MD is also a good spot, but has at least as much stuff to get hung u on as mossy. 

[Rodrigo]

Thanks for the recommendations. I want to go somewhere in VA since we already have the fishing license, as well as the special permit we obtained online. 

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[thekingsgatheringny]

Beaver Creek is in Dayton and just down the road from Mossy Creek.  It's a catch and release stream managed by the Massanutten TU.  The challenge is that you have to get a permit ($10) from the Ottobine Country Store the morning of and they only give out 4 permits a day.

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[Doug Graebner]

I would look at the SNP streams (can someone here confirm/deny if the water temperatures/levels are OK for fishing again?) as well; they're as close or closer than Mossy depending on the stream and can be good this time of year. The big name ones are Whiteoak Canyon Run and the Rapidan, but most of the larger streams hold fish. They're brookies so they should be more forgiving even if the backcast room is a bit on the tight side.

[James McCeney]

I’m not sure if the warm temperatures have delayed the native brookie spawn, but you may want to stay away from the SNP streams until the new year just to be safe. 

VA has resumed stocking designated trout streams, and the upper passage creek might be ok, depending on the stocking schedule. Just be on the lookout for the guys with the power bait and buckets.

Honestly, for a first timer, why not try cook lake in Alexandria? Plenty of room for backcasting, really close, and it’s stocked with ‘bows (hopefully) by dwf. Check the stocking schedule to be sure.

- James

On Oct 22, 2021, at 8:54 PM, Doug Graebner <dgrae...@gmail.com> wrote:

I would look at the SNP streams (can someone here confirm/deny if the water temperatures/levels are OK for fishing again?) as well; they're as close or closer than Mossy depending on the stream and can be good this time of year. The big name ones are Whiteoak Canyon Run and the Rapidan, but most of the larger streams hold fish. They're brookies so they should be more forgiving even if the backcast room is a bit on the tight side.

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[Yambag Nelson]

The brook trout streams are going to be low and the fish may have started spawning.  Either way i would probably not go.

Beaver you are mostly likely going to have to be there before 6 on a weekend.  Maybe during a weekday you could show up later and get a pass.

Mossy is tough for good anglers, would be extremely difficult for a beginner although you could try throwing streamers.

I would look towards trout water.  The state has been stocking the last few weeks.  Something like passage creek or big stony could be good choices.  if you wanted to do an overnight you could head out to the upper jackson and back creek.  All of those have been stocked recently and should have catchable trout.  Passage would maybe be my recommendation.  Just over an hour from arlington.  

[Doug Graebner]

YIKES, thought the brookies were done spawning by now and that temps had dropped enough to be OK but I haven't kept real tabs this fall. 

Beaver-I've gotten there at 8/9 AM on weekdays and been the first car there. But it's a tough stream for a beginner as discussed above. 

[Rodrigo]

Thank you all for the great tips and recommendations. We ended up going to Mossy creek for the day and we managed to catch four trouts and one creek chub. It was very fun and a great experience. The place is beautiful. But I do agree that it is a difficult place to start for someone who hasn't gone fishing before. My father has been fishing his whole life, but it was his first time fly fishing. So he picked it up very quickly and landed two trout. 

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[Doug Graebner]

that's great! I'm legit impressed.