Within the special regulation sections of Whitetop Laurel the stream is managed as catch and release, in addition to a single hook artificial lure only regulation. Write review . It flows off the mountain down to the Virginia Creeper area. Learn to tie the Woolly Bugger fly with master tier Charlie Craven. There are new hatches that should start anytime now in addition to the BWOs and midges Quill Gordons, Blue quills, Little Black caddis and Little Brown stoneflies. Turn left and follow the Creeper through Taylors Valley and up to Whitetop Laurel Creek gorge to junction with AT at Creek Junction. Trout University will never recommend a generic fly either! Light rain More Details. This creek offers 7 miles of stocked water in addition to 5 miles of special regulation water in Mount Rogers National Recreational Area. The 6 miles of Whitetop Laurel Creek below Konnarock beginning at Creek Junctionthe confluence of Whitetop with Green Cove Creekare designated artificials only, and all trout smaller than 12 inches must be released. While most anglers who fish the special regulation waters use fly fishing gear, spinning tackle can also be very effective. occurring. Mayflies Caddisflies Midges Stoneflies Streamers Terrestrials Miscellaneous Collections Pre-Rigged Dropper Selections. Within the stocked portions of the stream there is a seven-inch size limit, a six fish per day creel and a trout license required from October 1, through June 15 in addition to the statewide freshwater fishing license. Beautiful scenery whitetop station down to Damascus. Want to report conditions for this trail? For more information: https://dwr.virginia.gov/waterbody/whitetop-laurel-creek/, https://dwr.virginia.gov/waterbody/whitetop-laurel-creek/, Whitetop Laurel: Virginias Most Unique Trout Stream, 2023 Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources. Whitetop Laurel has an excellent forage base, and patterns including everything from tiny caddis larvae to giant black stonefly nymphs are effective. The fishing is great. With over 1 million print readers per month and the industrys most expansive distribution network, we have emerged as one of the largest outdoor publications in the United States and abroad, thus solidifying our place as a preferred resource. Whitetop Laurel Creek Fishing near Damascus, Virginia We also market what we call the Whitetop Box, a custom fly box with patterns for throughout the year.. 07/26/22 We received three good reports from customers fishing this past week. After Stovall and I finished plying Whitetop Laurel, we went to Green Cove Creek and caught rainbows, considerably lessening my misery about losing the large brown. 12/23/21 The stream is still low but we are still getting good reports, especially from the stocked section along the road and old track. 03/21/22 The stream is flowing near a normal level in good shape with hatches of Quill Gordons, Blue Quills, Little Black Caddis, Blue-winged olives, and Little Brown stoneflies. 12/07/21 Stream levels are near normal and customers are catching good numbers of trout along the old railroad bed and in the wild trout section. By the way, the fishing is also good downstream at the end of the #725 paved road. ) or https:// means youve safely connected to the .gov website. It should be good the coming week. 05/26/21 The stream levels are still low but we continue to get good reports from customers. In addition to above, American March Browns and Slate Drakes have started hatching. Spring:The best time to fish the stream would beduring the months of April and May whenthere are a lot of hatches occurring and thedry fly fishing is great. 10/25/21 Good stream conditions exist. Virginia Creeper Trail (276-783-5196). 08/16/21 The stream is in very good shape with good stream levels. Good hatches are taking place. Head out on this 18.7-km out-and-back trail near Damascus, Virginia. We received two good reports from customers fishing yesterday. The latest Costa Film "Hooked On: Bonefish" explores the pursuit of this prized gamefish, which requires expert marksmanship and delicate execution to be successful. 04/10/23 We are still getting some very good reports from both the stocked and wild trout sections. | little BWOs and other insects hatching. My wife and I stayed and dined at the inn, which lies on the banks of Whitetop Laurel. Rogers National Recreational Area located in southwest Virginia and it flows down to Damascus, Virginia where it meets the Tennessee Laurel. From Skulls Gap Overlook, return to Rt. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. 06/12/22 The stream is near a normal level and mostly clear. We continue to get good reports from both main sections of the stream. These rivulets flow in and out of private property through a mountain basin located near the hamlet of Konnarock. Caddis come in May, and the famous green drake hatch arrives usually in early June. We received one good report from the wild trout section and two from the stocked section along the road. The special regulation sections of Whitetop Laurel have parking areas, restroom facilities, and information postings provided by the U. S. Forest Service at the top portion of the upper special regulation area and the ending portion of the lower area. The town of Damascus, Virginia is located a near Whitetop Laurel offers different locations to dine and purchase needed items. A small levee and control structure exists on the east end of the flooding. The Appalachian Trail and Virginia Creeper Trail follow Whitetop Laurel Creek through a . An Insider's Guide to Far Southwest Virginia My wife M. J. and I wanted to avoid crowds on a recent Labor Day weekend and planned a first course of some big Virginia smallmouth bass, followed by Whitetop Laurel Creek trout fishing for dessert. I like to hit them during the summer with small hopper and beetle patterns, which the trout slurp with amazing regularity. Theres a Laurel Creek close to the Whitetop Laurel Creek that I will mention just to avoid any confusion. Whitetop Laurel has a huge, very diverse population of aquatic insects that hatch throughout most of the year. The Silver Shadow. 05/18/21 The stream levels are a little low but we are still getting good reports from customers. While rainbows dominate the Taylor's Valley section, browns appear in equally high numbers down to Straight Branch. There are very good hatches taking place and we have been getting good reports from customers fishing. Phone: 540-783-4860. Late spring brings early hatches of Yellow Sallies, and Whitetop Laurel trout hammer #14 Dirty Salliesdark versions of Mike Lawson's Henry's Fork Yellow Sallyall day long. Even with the 12-inch keeper rule, you'll see many larger trout in the Taylor's Valley section, with the Virginia Creeper Trail providing good spotter's access. A road doesnt follows the Taylor Fork Sections. To get started, click the link below to visit mymagnow.com and learn how to access your digital magazine. 04/30/22 The stream is turning out some very good numbers of trout in all sections, especially along the old track. 03/29/22 Excellent conditions exist. 08/23/21 The stream is still in good shape with good hatches taking place. A #12-14 Letort Hopper followed by a #14 Epoxy TransparANT dropper is highly effective. Whitetop Laurel Creek has a decent hatch of Eastern Green Drakes that starts about the first of May and last around three weeks. The low-elevation sections are within the boundaries of the Jefferson National Forest. The low-gradient first mile of Whitetop Laurel below Creek Junction has numerous large pools, and access for handicapped anglers. Keeping a low profile and making long, quiet help prevent spooking the trout, which often readily take imitations of terrestrial insects if no other hatch is occurring. Whitetop Laurel Creek at Konnarock, VA - USGS For anglers, the place to begin on Whitetop is the 6 miles of stream below Konnarock beginning at Creek Junction, near the confluence of Whitetop and Green Cove Creek. Directions Location: Adjacent to Damascus Town Park, located at 301 South Beaver Dam Ave., Damascus, VA 24236. 01/28/23 The stream is turning out some good catches in the stocked and wild trout sections. 728, and turn left. 06/20/22 The stream is still in good shape and we continue to get good reports. We have been getting lots of good reports from customers fishing the stocked and the wild trout sections. To get to Taylors Valley go east from Damascus on 58, turn right on 91, then a left turn onto SR 725 and follow that to the junction of SR 726, There is parking available as well as the Creeper Trail Cafe,where you can get a quick meal. The easiest access to the Whitetop Laurel Creek is by taking highway 58 east from Damascus, VA. Highway 58 follows Whitetop Laurel for about 4 miles up to the confluence with Straight Branch where there is parking, rest rooms and picnic areas. If trout are rising, fish a dry fly but if you dont see any insects or trout rising you are probably better off fishing a nymph. Levels are a little below normal but okay. We received two good reports from customers fishing yesterday in the wild trout section. Look for larger browns up to 20 inches or more sulking around logjams, undercut banks, and boulders. Most stocked trout range from 10 to 14 inches. Washington County - Fish Virginia First Fishing Holes Locked padlock There are good hatches taking place and both the stocked and wild trout sections are turning out good numbers of trout. It offers easy to access areas with stocked trout as well as lots wild trout in secluded areas you can access with a little effort. Virginia Trout Fishing - Whitetop Laurel Creek 2021 - YouTube The best hatches start in February and last through June. Whitetop Laurel flows along 58 east, where it can be accessed easily. This is a popular trail for birding, fishing, and mountain biking, but you can still enjoy some solitude during quieter times of day. This information is typically posted on a site's own website. An injury and what seemed like the end of a career paved the way for a new passion. Listen for calls from all directionsthe sounds of Carolina chickadees ring through the forest. Whitetop Laurel: Virginia's Most Unique Trout Stream Apple Creek Campground | Michigan We are conveniently located 1 mile from Wolf Lake, 8 miles from Irish Hills, and 12 miles from Michigan Int'l Speedway. A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the On Whitetop Laurel, where sparse hatches are the rule rather than the exception, hatch matching isn't as important as hatch approximation, where the sporadic hatches require attractor flies. These birds are often joined by Carolina wren, which also frequent streamside brush. Walk the trail along the creek checking the creekside brush for Louisiana waterthrush, which can often be seen flying along the creek. Whitetop Laurel | Virginia DWR Weather, flows are worthy. one outlet known as Grass Creek. 04/06/22 The stream is on the way up due to recent rain but we have been getting good reports from the wild and stocked sections. These are the most important caddisflies. Fishing from the banks is usually easy and the stream can be waded easily, but be careful as some pools are rather deep. Basically, you can fish plunge-pool type water all day, year-round here. Parking areas have maps and trail information on display. Explore this 8.6-mile out-and-back trail near Troutdale, Virginia. Little Brown Stoneflies (actually in the same family as the Little Blacks) hatch in March and until the middle of April. Approximately seven miles are stocked trout waters located on both private and public lands with an additional five miles of special regulation waters flowing through the Mount Rogers National Recreational Area. The terrestrial become important about the middle of June through September. Midges hatch throughout the entire year but are most important during the winter.