Good morning everyone. I’m Jason from coastal NC. My family and I are traveling to Winchester VA in the beginning of October. Wondering how the small mouth fishing is then. I’ve never targeted them. Was thinking of bringing my kayak if it’s worth it. Was looking at fishing the south fork near Front Royal.  Any help would be great!

 

thanks

jason

I've camped at a private camp spot at the end of Algers rd several times and paddled from Island Ford rd back to camp. It's about half way between Front Royal and Luray... I believe there is a public ramp across the river too. The fishing is great in the summer, I can only imagine it would be on fire in the fall.  Compton rapids can get hairy depending on river level, but we always "pull over" to a bank before it and stow or tie down our gear before running it.  One of the prettiest stretches of river I've been on, too.  Have had the best luck on 3 and 4 inch stick baits, or small plastic craws on light keel weighted hooks

Many float options nearby.  Absolutely bring a kayak.  If you have someone to drop you and pick you up, great.  But there are a number of outfitters around that will transport you up or back for a fee.  

Depending on level, the South Fork offers a lot of trips that offer great opportunities at smallmouth, generally more in number than in size, although a 14-17" smallie won't turn any heads.  The most popular trip is probably the state park to Gooney Creek.  The outfitter that will rent you fishing kayaks is Front Royal Canoe https://frontroyaloutdoors.com/.  You can go further downriver into Riverton from either their put-in or Gooney Creek if they're renting you a boat.  Some of these are better than others if the river is low, so talk to Don or someone so you aren't dragging your kayak.

 

Farther upriver there are several good runs, and Downriver Canoe https://www.downriver.com/ is a good outfit to go with.  A word to the wise - these trips can take a while if you're fishing hard or the river is scrapey.  I take at least an hour to fish each mile on that river, sometimes 2.  Around Hazard Mill down to the state park can be productive.

 

Baits I don't find as important as being on the river when they're biting.  I usually will have a 3.3 Keitech Swing Imact tied on, and a Senko is never a bad idea.  But I've had 60 fish days on a Vibrax, a prop bait, and a helgrammite.