This corner of Virginia is renowned for its stocked trout streams and native trout waters. The Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries stocks three local streams with rainbow and brown trout: the Hughes River, the Robinson River, and the Rose River. These are catchable trout streams with a 7” minimum size and a creel limit of six fish.

The Hughes River generally parallels Nethers Road, the Robinson runs along Bohannon Road, and the Rose is adjacent to the Old Blue Ridge Turnpike. All three roads have turnouts where one can park and access the river. Please be mindful of private land that is posted. See the Virginia DGIF web site for information on obtaining fishing licenses and an interactive trout fishing map.

Each of these streams originates in Shenandoah National Park, and their upper stretches may be fished as well. Within the park, all brook trout under 9” must be released while the minimum size for rainbow and brown trout is 7”. A daily creel limit of six fish applies here as well. All the streams in the Shenandoah National Park requires the use of single-hook artificial flies. See this guide for fishing in Shenandoah National Park.

Fishing licenses and supplies are sold at the Syria Mercantile general store, near to the Hughes, Robinson, and Rose Rivers.

 

Here are some recommended fishing spots within a short drive of our cabin.

Hughes River

Access to the Hughes River is near the Old Rag Trailhead, just 6.2 miles from our cabin. You may fish along Nethers Road near your car or go downstream all the way to Peola Mills. Look for the white diamonds; there are several places to pull off along the side of the road.

Alternatively, hike upstream into Shenandoah National Park and try your luck with the native brookies on the upper Hughes in Nicholson Hollow or Brokenback Run in Corbin Hollow.

More information

• Fishing the upper Hughes and lower Hughes at switchfisher.com.
• Fishing the Hughes River and Brokenback Run at brooktroutfishingguide.com.
• Fishing the Hughes River at www.perfectflystore.

Robinson River

The Robinson River flows from its headwaters high on the Blue Ridge through Whiteoak Canyon and confluences with the Rose River between Syria and Criglersville. The “lower Robinson” is stocked and is accessible from the (latlon: 38.47341,-78.3141 text: Old Blue Ridge Turnpike (State Route 670)) and Bohannon Road. The “upper Robinson,” inside Shenandoah National Park, is accessible by parking at the Whiteoak Canyon Trailhead and hiking upstream on the Whiteoak Canyon Trail. You may also fish Cedar Run from this trailhead.

More information

• Fishing the Robinson River at The Outbound.
• Two reports (one and two) of fishing the lower Robinson on switchfisher.com.
• Fishing Whiteoak Canyon at switchfisher.com and brooktroutfishingguide.com.
• Fishing Cedar Run on switchfisher.com and brooktroutfishingguide.com.

Rose River

The Rose River’s headwaters are on the southern flank of Hawksbill Mountain, the highest peak in Shenandoah National Park. The Rose flows 8.8 miles southeast to its junction with the Robinson River near Syria, Virginia.

Like the Hughes and Robinson rivers, there is “lower” section outside of the park that is stocked and an upper section within the park that is not. The lower Rose is accessible along the Old Blue Ridge Turnpike; the upper Rose may be fished by hiking up from the Rose River trailhead.

More information

• Fishing the lower Rose River on switchfisher.com.
• Three reports (one, two, and three) on fishing the upper Rose River on switchfisher.com.
• Fishing the upper Rose River on Trout Bum VA.

Rapidan River

The pristine Rapidan River is one of Virginia’s premier native brook trout streams, supporting thriving populations of big, native fish. It is fly fishing only with single-hook artificial flies and is all catch and release.

The lower Rapidan is accessible from the Graves Mill trailhead. The Staunton River, a tributary of the Rapidan, is also accessible from this trailhead. The upper Rapidan can be accessed from Quaker Run Road (State Route 649), which becomes Rapidan Road. The road becomes gravel and may be difficult to navigate in places without a four wheel drive vehicle.

All men are equal before fish.

Also on the Rapidan River is Rapidan Camp, the Presidential retreat built in 1929 by Herbert Hoover, an avid fisherman. More about Rapidan Camp.

More information

• Fishing the Rapidan River at switchfisher.com and perfectflystore.com.
• Two reports (one, two) on fishing the Staunton River at switchfisher.com.
• Rapidan Camp at the National Park Service
• Articles on Rapidan Camp at the White House Historical Association, Washingtonian Magazine, Wikipedia, and The Virginia Sportsman

Hazel River

This stream, north of the Hughes River, is probably not as well-known as the others on this page but, since many people come to our cabin from DC, this could be a convenient excursion on the way home (it is just a couple of miles out of the way).

More information

• Two reports (one, two) on fishing the Hazel River on switchfisher.com.
• A report on Brookies and Bronze Backs.

Ragged Run

Finally, across the road there is our little creek that drains Old Rag Mountain. There are fish in there (they nibble your legs if you take a dip) but we don’t know if there are trout. You are welcome to fish it and let us know!

 Last updated June 13, 2020