Wild Virginia Trout on the Moorman's River 16.9 Mile Hike & Fish |

Another Shenandoah National Park Hike & Fish adventure in the Appalachian Mountains. This was a wonderful 16.9 mile hike in the South District near mile-marker 87.4. I started at Moorman's River Trailhead just west of the Sugar Hollow Dam and Reservoir, which is also known as Moorman's River Storage Dam and City of Charlotteville Reservoir. The trail head is about 5 miles NW of Crozet, Virginia.

I arrived early, just after sunrise. There is a stocked section of the river that is tended by the Thomas Jefferson Trout Unlimited (TJTU) and one can purchase a ticket at a kiosk (that I never found). Perhaps, it's online or somewhere else.

I departed the trail head, which has about 10 parking spots (all unmarked) and headed north along the North Fork Moorman's River Trail. The scenery was excellent and there were many fishing spots, very close to the parking area, but I wasn't there primarily to fish. I was there to hike and then fish on the way back. From the trailhead to Blackrock Gap at Skyline Drive, the distance is about 6.2 miles. I took the Paine Run Trail for about 1 mile and found some willing Brook Trout opportunistically feeding on my Stimulator Dry Fly and TH Bead nymph.

The hike did venture into some private land, but if you stay on the trail, you are good for that portion. I found plenty of Brook Trout on this hike - some on the front leg, but most on the back leg as I was returning. There is a 60+ foot waterfall on Big Branch that is less than 2 miles from the trail head. I hope you enjoy and get out there and hike & fish. Life is ticking....better get hiking & fishing!

00:14: First Bridge Crossing
00:29: Second Bridge Crossing
00:45: Thomas Jefferson Trout Unlimited Special Regs Area
01:52: Sugar Hollow Dam and Reservoir
02:38: Moorman's River Trailhead
03:49: Moorman's River Trail Info Kiosk
04:22: First River Crossing on the Trail
05:13: Second River Crossing on the Trail
06:06: Third River Crossing on the Trail
07:16: Big Branch Waterfall
08:25: Old Bridge Section on the Trail
08:49: Private Land Section at 3.5 miles
09:16: Old Rusted School Bus on Private Land
10:06: First Brook Trout of the Day
11:20: 4.6 miles
11:37: Back on Public Land Section
12:28: Skyline Drive - 5.8 miles from Reservoir
12:58: Backrock Gap Parking Lot on Skyline Drive
13:22: Paine Run Trail
14:29: Paine Run Stream Brook Trout
15:26: Brook Trout on Paine Run
16:43: Blackrock Gap - 8.8 miles
17:33: Private Property Section
19:15: Back on Public Land
19:33: Brook Trout caught in Big Pool on Moorman's River
20:13: Brook Trout in Fast Water
22:40: 16.6 miles
22:56: Brook Trout


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