Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: THURSDAY, August 11, 1994                   TAG: 9408120041
SECTION: SPORTS                    PAGE: B4   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: BILL COCHRAN
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

RAINY SUMMER HAS TROUT RUNNING IN MANY STREAMS

A wet July has kept creeks and rivers in spring-like condition. While the number of fish is low in most put-and-take streams, summer samplings by Department of Game and Inland Fisheries biologists have turned up impressive numbers of trout in water where catch-and-release is preached.

Here are some examples:

MOSSY CREEK: Paul Bugas, a state fish biologist, recently sampled a 3-mile segment of this fly-fishing only stream in Augusta County and reported it to be in stellar condition. Several brown trout pushing 16 inches were sampled, and one giant measured 21 inches.

"He was a 5-pound fish, easily," said Bugas. "There also are plenty of small fish for the inexperienced fly fisherman."

Anglers can obtain a special permit to fish the stream from the Game Department office in Verona, 703-248-9360. On some mid-week days you can have the stream to yourself.

SMITH CREEK: Located in Rockingham County, this is a spring-fed, low-gradient, valley-steam similar to Mossy Creek. Fishing techniques and fly patterns that work on Mossy Creek will produce results here. You must obtain a free, annual permit from the Verona office to fish the stream.

"Fisheries personnel found outstanding numbers of rainbow trout ranging from 8 to 16 inches distributed throughout the special regulations area near Lacey Springs," said Bugas.

There are enough large brown trout to challenge the accomplished fly caster.

JACKSON RIVER HIDDEN VALLEY: This remote, 3-mile section of the Jackson River in Bath County, where special regulations are enforced, holds impressive numbers of trout just under 12 inches.

"There are a lot of 10- to 11-inch trout left over from the May stockings," said Bugas.

The stream was established as a special regulations area two years ago. Biologists wanted to create a fishery where trout would be plentiful, they would be of decent size and they would survive the Dog Days of summer.

Most of that has come true, but the trout aren't as big as many anglers would prefer. You can keep fish that are 12 inches or more, and apparently fishermen are doing that, leaving the bulk of the trout just under that mark. The stream still is a fine place for casting flies or single-hook spinners.

JACKSON RIVER TAILRACE: A stretch of the Jackson below Gathright Dam has gained the reputation of being Virginia's finest trout stream.

"There are tons of 12-inch trout in there," said Bugas, following an annual survey of the population.

Some anglers have expressed disappointment in the scarcity of large fish, but Bugas said sizes appear to be improving.

"The fish seem to be a larger size on the average," he said. "We have found them in the 16- to 18-inch range, definitely."

Maybe the most important discovery was reproduction, in the form of several young rainbows spotted in the survey.

"This is the first, definite indication of a successful spawn," Bugas said. "That was extremely encouraging."

SMITH RIVER: Recent surveys of this Henry County stream uncovered trout up to 17 inches in the lower reaches of the 3-mile special-regulations area. Scott Smith, the fisheries biologist who did the work, also found impressive numbers of 12-inch trout.

There were abundant signs that reproduction is taking place.