Anyone fished the South River in Waynesboro, VA since they took down the Ram Works dam? I’m curious what kind of impact the dam coming down has had on the fishing. Also, the new path along the river has made it MUCH easier to access the river in areas that were previously extremely difficult to get to. The wife has mentioned, on more than one occasion recently, that I should go fishing some time (it’s been way too long). So, I’m wondering if anyone has fished the South lately and if so, how was it. Any noticeable differences/changes?
I have played down there but mostly in the city. From what I hear from Kevin at South River Fly Shop which is right on Main St in Waynesboro, that the DH section is booming right now. Hopefully, I will get a chance to fish it soon. If you stop in the shop, Kevin will hook you up with the flies you need depending on the hatches.
Yeah, I’ve been in the fly shop. I was just wondering if anyone else had any experience fishing it since the dam came down. I’ll probably give Kevin a call when I’m getting ready to fish it.
Thanks for the update, didnt know the Dam was down. Sorry I cant add to your thread but am glad to know about the dam… now it will be like fishing a new river… If i get down there anytime soon I’ll post it…
And they’ve put in a nice paved trail that runs along the side of the river from the downtown bridge all the way to the bridge by the dam (or where the dam USED to be :)). So access is much easier as well. I’m waiting on my new wading boots to come in and then I’m going to carve out a couple hours to go down there.
My thoughts on the South…FWIW.
First, it’s definitely not living up to expectations - at least the SRA on the upper river near Lyndhurst. Not saying it’s awful, but it’s just another continuation of the muted potential of the Valley’s spring creeks.
The DH section does the job in a pinch. It’s the closest trout water to Richmond, but at an hour and 20 minutes, ALL other options have to be off the table for me. I’ll gladly drive an extra half hour to fish the SNP or even pay the $5 for that crick in Ottobine. The $23 annual fee to fish stocked trout waters to me is absurd considering I don’t harvest them in season anyway and I’m far more content fishing for 6" natives 30 minutes from Waynesboro.
Please don’t take this as a high-brow attitude; I’d just rather fish for brookies - weather permitting - or head to another Valley spring creek, even Mossy, if I need a trout fix when Park streams are locked up or blown out, which is pretty darn rare.
There’s always the chance to get into that 13+" oddity in the SNP, too.
ToughGuy,
Thanks for your response. I too prefer to fish other rivers/streams/creeks, but since the South is in my backyard (almost literally), I thought I’d give it a try after the dam came down. I grew up fishing the Hughes (the upper section that is all native) and the Moorman’s off the Skyline Drive. Unfortunately, time constraints have made those trips few and far between these days. So, as a slave to convenience, I’ll go fish the South and pay my stocked trout fee (which I agree is a little ridiculous). One of these days, the fishing Gods will smile down on me and I’ll get to spend that covetted day on the mountain trying for the natives.
NCV-
All well understood! Do you know, perchance, if the smaller concrete dam just upstream from the DuPont efflux was removed as well?
I work in Cville, so if and when you get the change, let me know if you want to meet up and fish somewhere. I’m going to be in Waynesboro this week and might have time to see what the river looks like now that Rife Loth is no more.
BTW, the upper Hughes is a favorite of mine, too. And a couple of its tributaries.
Not sure about the smaller dam, but I don’t think so. If you get the chance you should park behind the YMCA and walk down the new path a little ways. It’s amazing how much water it’s opened up.