Waynesboro

The City of Waynesboro sits at the base of the Blue Ridge Mountains, just a few miles from the entrance to the Skyline Drive and the Blue Ridge Parkway, and offers some of the finest trout fishing in Virginia. Native brook trout thrive in the mountain streams of the George Washington National Forest and Shenandoah National Park. The South River flows through downtown Waynesboro and provides the opportunity to catch trophy-size rainbow and brown trout. The best fly fishing is in the catch and release section downtown. This area extends from Wayne Avenue bridge downstream to Second Street bridge and is easily accessible from the South River Greenway, a paved walking path along the river.  If you are looking for a put-and-take section, head to Ridgeview Park.

In spite of the fact that this is an urban fishery, the South River gets tremendous hatches all year. Of special note is the Sulphur mayfly hatch that begins in the evening from April to June. There is also a terrific trico hatch from May through July. Midges and BWOs keep the fish rising all winter.

Just outside of Waynesboro, near the community of Lyndhurst, the South River offers 4.5 miles of fly fishing only special-regulations trophy trout water. A few minutes south of Lyndhurst is the Sherando Lake Recreation Area in the George Washington National Forest. The Upper and Lower Sherando Lakes, along with several miles of Back Creek, are stocked with rainbow and brook trout.