Jackson River Wild Browns & ’Bows

Scud and sow bug imitations (#14-20) are dependable during nonhatch periods throughout the year. Dark Hare’s-ear and olive tones seem the best, but ginger and pinkish-orange versions also work well. Fish beetles, ants, and grasshoppers close to brushy banks, overhanging trees, and near grassy shorelines during the summer and fall when mayfly and caddis activity slows.

Smith Bridge. This area provides wading anglers with the best access to the lower river. A long, tumbling series of riffles and runs just below the bridge can keep you busy for hours, especially if there are bugs hatching. There are more and bigger brown trout downstream of Smith Bridge than in the areas upstream. If you are floating, bring an extra 5- or 6-weight rod rigged with a crayfish or minnow imitation to search for oversized browns and ’bows. High water in the spring can make larger trout more active, making it a good time to high-stick a crayfish pattern along the bottom.

Use a 4- or 5-weight rod for dry-fly fishing and nymphing with smaller flies. Always fish a dropper nymph when dry-fly fishing the lower Jackson, and experiment with larger patterns. A #4-8 Chernobyl Ant, Dave’s Hopper, Turck’s Tarantula, or large Parachute Adams makes a good indicator fly for a small nymph and sometimes brings surprising strikes from larger fish.

Indian Draft. The float from Smith Bridge to Indian Draft is 3 miles of riffle water separated by long and sometimes deep pools with submerged grass beds and large boulders for trout to hide in. While most of the fish are in the 10- to 14-inch range, there are big rainbows and browns in this water. Two-nymph rigs—like a Soft-hackle Pheasant Tail with a scud dropper—below an indicator and some split-shot can easily turn up an 18-inch rainbow.

Petticoat Junction. Four miles below Indian Draft is Petticoat Junction—the last public take-out point before the Westvaco plant and, for most people, the end of the trout fishing water on the Jackson. There is little wade-fishing opportunity at Petticoat Junction and most people use it only as an exit point. Written permission is necessary to fish or to take a boat out downstream of Petticoat Junction.

A float down the Jackson typically starts at the Johnson Springs boat ramp and the distance can range anywhere from 6 to 15 miles, depending on the float, water levels, and how quickly you move. Plan accordingly, and don’t make the common mistake of trying to cover too much river in one day, as some of the best runs can be fished for well over an hour, and you may still be leaving fish behind when you drift away.

Hidden Valley

The best public wading access to the Jackson River is above Lake Moomaw in the Hidden Valley area. This area has 7 miles of hatchery-supported trout water fall through spring, although good populations exist year-round. The Hidden Valley area consists of a 3-mile special-

regulations area with a two-trout daily limit, bordered on the upstream and downstream end by two general trout regulation sections, each about 2 miles long. The upper and lower areas are stocked heavily and attract a lot of bait fishermen, so it’s best to avoid them near stocking time. Stocking information is available online or call (434) 525-3474 for a voice recording of the latest trout stocking infor­mation.

In the special-regulations area, it’s rarely necessary to match the hatch. Nymph with generic bead-head patterns like #12-18 Copper Johns, Soft-hackle Hare’s Ears and both regular and Flashback Pheasant Tails.

Spring and early summer offer the best surface activity. Olive- and brown-bodied Elk-hair Caddis (#12-18), Patriots (#10-16), Stimulators (#10-16), Grizzly Wulffs (#12-18), Humpys (#14-18), and Parachute Adams (#14-18) catch plenty of trout.

A wide variety of flies and tactics catch trout in Hidden Valley. Be versatile and you can catch trout on everything from egg patterns to midge larvae and Woolly Buggers.

Hidden Valley receives most of its fishing pressure during spring and fall. When it’s crowded, hike up- or downstream. A well-established trail follows the river and the farther you walk, the less crowded it becomes. The crowds diminish dramatically a week or so after stocking-truck visits, and at times the fishing is better in the two general-regulation areas than in the special-regulation section itself.

Freshly transplanted trout sometimes only eat flies resembling brown food pellets. For these reluctant fish, try small brown nymphs of any sort such as #6-8 peach Krystal Buggers, or #8 orange Glo-Bugs.