River guide · Virginia

Fly Fishing the Smith River

Virginia's finest tailwater and arguably the best wild brown trout fishery east of the Mississippi, the Smith River below Philpott Dam stays cold year-round, supporting a naturally reproducing population with fish commonly 12–18 inches and the occasional 20-plus-inch trophy. Legendary sulphur hatches draw dry-fly anglers from across the Southeast each May and June.

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When to fish

Year-round

Best months: year-round

Best

Sulphurs / Eastern Pale Evening Duns — May through June: legendary mass evening hatch.

Today's conditions

Where to fish

Along the Smith River

Willis1 shopBassett2 shops

Roanoke1 shopIrisburg1 shop

Nine public access points are managed by Henry County Parks & Recreation and the Dan River Basin Association along Route 57. The primary wade-in access is at Philpott Dam via CR 904 then CR 905 to the parking area; the Smith River Trail runs a half-mile along the south shore. Additional access at Trenthill Bridge in Bassett and River Road (CR 682) in Fieldale. Check TVA discharge schedule at 276-629-2432 before wading.

The water

Tailwater

Key hatches

Midges
Blue-winged Olive
Hendricksons / Red Quills
Sulphurs / Eastern Pale Evening Duns
Little Yellow Stonefly

Hatch calendar

Conditions

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6-day forecast

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Forecast from the National Weather Service ↗

Key hatches

Midges — year-round, the dominant pattern
Blue-winged Olive — January through February, October through December
Hendricksons / Red Quills — mid-March to mid-April
Sulphurs / Eastern Pale Evening Duns — May through June (legendary mass evening hatch)
Little Yellow Stonefly — May onward
Caddis — spring through fall
Terrestrials (ants, beetles, hoppers) — June through September