Pretentious Snobby Bastard Fly Fishing!

Fly Fishing Reports => Local Trip Reports => Topic started by: Larry on February 14, 2007, 13:14:43 PM

Title: Smith River - fishing and not catching
Post by: Larry on February 14, 2007, 13:14:43 PM
I've told of my successes so I might as well tell of my "fishing" as well. A friend and I went to the Smith on Monday 2/12/07 and neither of us did any catching. I saw three fish with one of them being about 15 inches, but had no takers. Mostly fished nymphs, but they did not seem to be interested. It was still a nice day just to be out on the river. This time of the year, any day you can go fishing is a good day. I did see a king fisher, a racoon, and a very large bird. It appeared to me that they all were "catching".

Larry
Title: Re: Smith River - fishing and not catching
Post by: Woolly Bugger on February 14, 2007, 16:59:12 PM
Yeah, the Smith can be very tough indeed this time of year with low water tempatures and clear skies. Those fish aren't moving much to get food. Just be glad you got out!
Title: Re: Smith River - fishing and not catching
Post by: troutphisher on February 14, 2007, 18:44:50 PM
Larry:

Your Monday was better than mine! I didn't go fishing at all   :'(
It is good to see the rest of nature while your out fishing too.
Title: Re: Smith River - fishing and not catching
Post by: Woolly Bugger on February 14, 2007, 19:21:04 PM
Quote from: troutphisher on February 14, 2007, 18:44:50 PM
Larry:

Your Monday was better than mine! I didn't go fishing at all   :'(
It is good to see the rest of nature while your out fishing too.

We need to get your ass down to the Smith and test your skills on those wild browns!
Title: Re: Smith River - fishing and not catching
Post by: troutphisher on February 15, 2007, 12:21:05 PM
From the pictures and reports in the past, the Smith looks like it would be very fun to fish.
I have never fished it, maybe next month we can set up a trip?
Title: Re: Smith River - fishing and not catching
Post by: kylemc on February 15, 2007, 12:50:03 PM
I have never fished the Smith either.I sure would like to though.
Title: Re: Smith River - fishing and not catching
Post by: Al on February 15, 2007, 16:32:03 PM
For the folks who are new to the Smith - Here is a good starting point.

I wrote this a few years back for the Roanoke Times - It also appeared on the forums back when we talked more about fishing

http://www.roanoke.com/outdoors/billcochran/wb/7822

http://www.roanoke.com/outdoors/billcochran/wb/8079

No absolutes here, and others do well with different methods, but this is what works for me.


Title: Re: Smith River - fishing and not catching
Post by: Fire-Fly on February 15, 2007, 17:18:36 PM
Quote from: kylemc on February 15, 2007, 12:50:03 PM
I have never fished the Smith either.I sure would like to though.
Quote from: troutphisher on February 15, 2007, 12:21:05 PM
From the pictures and reports in the past, the Smith looks like it would be very fun to fish.
I have never fished it, maybe next month we can set up a trip?
Any of you who would like to fish the Smith email me and maybe we can get together and fish it, i live ten minutes from the Smith and have a fairly good knowledge of the stream.
Title: Re: Smith River - fishing and not catching
Post by: troutphisher on February 15, 2007, 17:32:46 PM
Thanks, I will.
Title: Re: Smith River - fishing and not catching
Post by: kylemc on February 15, 2007, 18:15:26 PM
cool,Thanks man :)
Title: Re: Smith River - fishing and not catching
Post by: phg on February 16, 2007, 10:08:45 AM
We can get up an outing on the Smith, once the weather warms up a bit.  Middle to end of March should be good.  The only caviat is that most of the stream is stocked water, so a trout stamp is required, except for the Special Regs. section.  I think it was last year that some of us had an outing at the dam that was well received.
Title: Re: Smith River - fishing and not catching
Post by: troutphisher on February 16, 2007, 16:04:53 PM
AL and Larry:

What flies do you guy's recommend in the spring?

Thanks
TP
Title: Re: Smith River - fishing and not catching
Post by: Al on February 16, 2007, 17:53:16 PM
Quote from: phg on February 16, 2007, 10:08:45 AM
We can get up an outing on the Smith, once the weather warms up a bit.  Middle to end of March should be good.  The only caviat is that most of the stream is stocked water, so a trout stamp is required, except for the Special Regs. section.  I think it was last year that some of us had an outing at the dam that was well received.


Good idea Paul. We need a good old fashion "fish off" - Count me in. We probably better come up with a date or many of our calendars will already be filled in - ie, if you are thinking of a Saturday 10, 17, 31 March are already out for me. How about Apr 7th or 14th. Sundays are a little easier for me, but might not be for some folks.

TroutPhisher asked about flies - Well, the Allieworm of course! Truth be told, most any dark beadhead nymph will probably work. I've used a brassie and a squirrel tail with pretty good success.


Title: Re: Smith River - fishing and not catching
Post by: lepomis_mcro on February 16, 2007, 18:07:47 PM
i have yet to go fishless up there using a 16-18 size pheasant tail... but now that i have jinxed myself, im sure now the next time i go up there i will come home fishless ;)
Title: Re: Smith River - fishing and not catching
Post by: Trout Maharishi on February 17, 2007, 11:59:59 AM
Quote from: lepomis_mcro on February 16, 2007, 18:07:47 PM
i have yet to go fishless up there using a 16-18 size pheasant tail... but now that i have jinxed myself, I'm sure now the next time i go up there i will come home fishless ;)

Even though you're a legend in your own mind, you have just put the surest course to a skunk on yourself I've ever witnessed. ///?
Title: Re: Smith River - fishing and not catching
Post by: lepomis_mcro on February 17, 2007, 12:35:02 PM
we will see TM ;)... im all in for a group trip we could call it the VFF vermin flyfishers..weekends of march 17-18 or march 31-aprl 1st works for me
Title: Re: Smith River - fishing and not catching
Post by: phg on February 17, 2007, 20:10:54 PM
Quote from: Al on February 16, 2007, 17:53:16 PM

Good idea Paul. We need a good old fashion "fish off" - Count me in. We probably better come up with a date or many of our calendars will already be filled in - ie, if you are thinking of a Saturday 10, 17, 31 March are already out for me. How about Apr 7th or 14th. Sundays are a little easier for me, but might not be for some folks.


I just checked my calendar.  I'm open for either April 7 or April 14.  Let's start a group outing thread and see where it goes.
Title: Re: Smith River - fishing and not catching
Post by: troutphisher on February 17, 2007, 21:37:14 PM
Quote from: lepomis_mcro on February 17, 2007, 12:35:02 PM
VFF vermin flyfishers.


Belly Laugh'in...Day'um  ;D ;D ;D ;D
Title: Re: Smith River - fishing and not catching
Post by: Fire-Fly on February 19, 2007, 13:05:39 PM
Quote from: phg on February 16, 2007, 10:08:45 AM
We can get up an outing on the Smith, once the weather warms up a bit.  Middle to end of March should be good.  The only caviat is that most of the stream is stocked water, so a trout stamp is required, except for the Special Regs. section.  I think it was last year that some of us had an outing at the dam that was well received.
I just checked the laws on the trout lic. and to fish the Smith even in the spec. Regs. section you still need a trout license. Only streams that are considered wild or spec reg streams that are not listed on the Va. trout stocking plan do not require a trout lic. The Smith is listed in the plan so i would have a trout lic. if i came and fished it.
http://www.dgif.virginia.gov/fishing/trout/licenserequirements.asp
Title: Re: Smith River - fishing and not catching
Post by: phg on February 19, 2007, 14:02:30 PM
I know the regs can be a bit confusing, but no, you do not need a trout stamp to fish the Special Regulations section of the Smith River.  This is marked by Towne Creek at the upstream end, down to the first bridge in Bassett.  This stretch has not been stocked in many years.  It is home to a "wild" naturally reproducing population of brown trout.

All of the rest of the river does require a trout stamp this time of year, and that includes several miles of nice, productive water from the dam down to Towne Creek.  Buying the trout stamp does open up a lot of fishing, as VA is very generous with their "Stocked water" designation.