Made a detour to SNP on my way back to Pa. from visiting the family in Va. I grew up in Va, but not near any trout water, so I have motivation to do some venturing when I'm down there.

I headed to the Rapidan River Area but didn't go through the park/Skyline Drive. The forecast had rain, but since I took a vacation day I decided to deal with it.
I actually missed a turn and before I realized it I found a decent looking stream with some parking access. There were good numbers of small brookies and many volunteered to take the fly. (the photos are not the greatest...all I had was an old iPhone and it was an overcast day)





The terrain was getting steeper, the fish and holding water were getting smaller, so I decided to head to the Rapidan. I ended up in an easily accessible area that I would imagine gets pressure but I only saw 2 cars passby while I was there. Of course, as I was getting to the stream it started raining harder. The water was rising the whole time but the rain would lighten up at times to make it bearable.
The larger streams in SNP have brookie fishing that is different that I'm used to. I'm used to tight brush and small pools, where this has larger pools and is fairly open...using a 9 ft+ rod is not an issue and preferred.


I saw March Browns hatching, but no surface action. Starting with a dry and dropper. No takes, so switched over to nymphing which I rarely do.


Finally found some rising fish in the back eddie of a large pool. I've read about this situation many times in Harry Murray's reports and books, but this is the first I witnessed it. Since there were more bugs than I normally see in brookie water, and bigger holding water, it makes sense that they become more selective. I couldn't see what they were taking but I thought there's no way they'd reject an ant...wrong. After another couple rejections I plucked a small klink from my patch and they pounced on it.





I was able to bring in a couple more to hand, was glad enough to get takes from the fish that were rising. All in all it made for a long day, but it was a great time and I will be back.

I've actually found a pretty good sulfur hatch on the Rapidan at times in the past, in May and June. Dusk to dark-30+, the usual sulfur routine.

Love the Rapidan, the first time I went there at the first pull-off in the Park and a real giant came up from the depths of the large pool there and missed my fly. I could get him up again. But I've had a half dozen very good days there during two different trip one summer a few years back.
I like the Rose too, and White Oak Canyon. And the Mormans North Fork.

That was my stream back in the mid 60s.
Loved it.

Really nice report,and great pics. Thanks.