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On the way we notice that everything is green here, while at home the first leaves are just starting to show at the still bold trees.
The evening of arrival we go to the Bass Pro Shop. When I enter the store, my mouth drops. Without any doubt it is the biggest outdoor shop I ever laid eyes on. What they have in stock is unbelievable. All aspects of outdoor life are here, from camping, hiking, climbing to hunting and fishing. A complete airplane is hanging from the ceiling. I don't think that there is a shop like this in all of Europe (if there is, tell me where please).
On their website I had noticed some nice things, so of course I got some stuff there.
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| While my two colleagues are still watching, I catch the first little brooktrout. It really makes me happy, this is what I came for. It is a beautiful litlle fish to see, with sparkling yellow and red dots. Locally it is called speckled trout. A bit later I catch another one, which also is released carefully. Epco has made a movie of it with his camera. Then they leave to find a hiking trail, and I fish on in all rest and peace. The brook is very narrow and completely wild. No pruning of shrubs or keepering of the stream here. Here and there fallen trees ly across the stream. Every now and then I catch a small brookie from a little pool. I enjoy the fishing. |
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The mountain streams of Shenandoah National Park provide some of the best protected strongholds for native eastern brook trout. Where the road crosses the stream, there is a pool that is a litlle bit bigger. There must be some trout here, I think. And indeed there are. A bit further upstream, a little trout comes up to grab my dry fly, but I see the fish come up, react too quickly and pull the fly away from his mouth. A second time he refuses to take it. I change to a nymph that was give to me by Hans Hilgers I have promised him to test them. On the second cast the nymph is taken and I catch a beautiful brookie. Some of them have the brightest orange bellies you can imagine. |
| Our intention is to go back north via the Skyline drive, a route that runs through the park from north to south, and is 105 miles long. At Front Royal we can then join highway 66 and drive back to the hotel. Skyline drive turns out to be a very scenic rout, living up to its name. You will find here the most beautiful views on the Shenandoah valley and the blue ridge mountains. Suddenly we spot two deer alongside the road. Epco carefully slows down and near the deer we stop. They are not at all shy and come to very close to the car, so we can have a vey good look at them. Brilliant !! To our surprise we see 14 deer on this within 10 miles or so, plus several grey squirrels. |
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When I show him my licence, we talk a bit and he advises me to go a few miles upstream. Two weeks ago trout was released there and last week the season opened. He tells me that the water migh be clearer there too. After trying the brown creek for five minutes, I get into the car and try to find the place that the sherriff told me. After a bit looking around I find the park entrance. I put the entrance fee in the little box and a few minutes later I am at the parking lot. When I passed the bridge, I saw two other flyfishermen, so that gives hope. |
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Here the river is wide and the water is clear. It lookes very appealing. I start fishing and calmly make cast after cast, while enjoying the scenery. There are no fish rising, so I have put on a little goldhead pheasanttail nymph. A few Canada geese fly by and land on the water behind me. When it is about seven thirty, I come to a spot where a tree stands at the water edge. I want to make a cast under the branches. The line dangles behind me when I wade into position and when I want to make the cast, a trout is already on. A nice rainbow, and I am very pleased with it. After taking a picture it is carefully released. Fifteen minutes later I quit fishing, to be back in time for dinner with Willem and Epco.
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