Jackson river Warm springs Virginia 12/14/20:
 

Spent the night in Waynesboro, got up took the hour plus ride over to the upper Jackson river near Hidden Valley. When I say it rained, I mean it poured just about the entire 4 hours I was there from 8am to 12 noon when the river finally went to a chalky white mess. River reminded me a lot of the Beaverkill in N.Y. Did okay, got what looked like some holdover browns and rainbows, conditions were tough in the pouring rain (camera stayed dry). Reports said go up and the fishing gets better, walked up I think 2 miles, meh. Didn't see another person the entire time I was there.
Plugged in the GPS to come home, 5 + hours, North Carolina and Virginia are BIG states. I think today was the cleanest air I ever breathed in my entire life. Even here snow plows were making preparations, saw signs for ski resorts.
Would like to look into the CowPasture river as well as a few other above Roanoke. Goshen Pass is also on the to-do list this winter, got my 1 year non-resident Virginia fishing license.
Virginia is so beautiful, I think I was in the George Washing National Forest.

Re: Jackson river Warm springs Virginia 12/14/20:
 

beautiful indeed. All the streams in the blue ridge mountains are impressive and pure gems!

Re: Jackson river Warm springs Virginia 12/14/20:
 

Great you're getting out and exploring new water, Andy. Yeah, both of those states are huge, but if you make the drive, there are fantastic trout fishing opportunities, though some of them require serious mountain hiking. Also, to the east near Kitty Hawk, I hear Currituck Sound is making something of a comeback, if you're at all interested in largemouths, though I can't remember any incident of your fishing for them. Of course, if you want to fish saltwater, the banks are fantastic.

Re: Jackson river Warm springs Virginia 12/14/20:
 

Some beautiful water down there. Good luck with the fishing and exploring. You will find the motherload I’m sure. :D

Re: Jackson river Warm springs Virginia 12/14/20:
 

Goshen Pass is only put and take trout, small smallies and panfish. Beautiful but mediocre fishing. Too warm for holdovers and lots of pressure. Cowpasture is warm water and mostly private. Bullpasture is better put and take trout at the ravine stretch. Upper stretch has more wild rainbows but is almost all private. Lower Jackson has good wild browns and rainbows but bad access. Headwaters of the Jackson have good wild rainbows and browns but poor access.