A buddy and I are gonna trek out to the mountains this weekend for some river fishing, and I have little experience with this as I tend to stick to local ponds and lakes for largemouth. He listed the Rose, Hughes, Rapidan or Robinson rivers specifically as possible options. I do have a fly rod though little experience using it, and plan on bringing my lighter spinning rods as well. Does anyone have some advice for good strategies? I am not sure if we plan on wading or kayaking yet, but I'd like to target smallies and trout hopefully. Thanks in advance!

https://www.bassresource.com/bass-fishing-forums/search/?&q=Shenandoah &search_and_or=and&search_in=titles

 

check the regs on those rivers and specifically where you will be fishing as some of those rivers mentioned have special regs and I know the rapidan does see some game warden presence.  Majority of the trout areas you mentioned a kayak wouldn't be possible to use.

I've never fished the Rapidan in or near Shenandoah NP, but I'd imagine there's scant smallmouth until you downstream a bit (I've only fished it around Summerduck).  If you're bringing a kayak and want to fish out of that, I'd just go to the South Fork Shenandoah.  Usually folks go to Shenandoah NP to hike Old Rag or see the leaves turn color; bass fishing is not what that park's known for, so far as I know.

4 minutes ago, CountryboyinDC said:

I've never fished the Rapidan in or near Shenandoah NP, but I'd imagine there's scant smallmouth until you downstream a bit (I've only fished it around Summerduck).  If you're bringing a kayak and want to fish out of that, I'd just go to the South Fork Shenandoah.  Usually folks go to Shenandoah NP to hike Old Rag or see the leaves turn color; bass fishing is not what that park's known for, so far as I know.

you are exactly right, the SNP is all about the only native trout (char actually but save that for another thread) in Virginia and arguably one of if not the most beautiful non tropical freshwater fish.  This thread makes me want to go chase them this weekend I think....

Go knock yourself out @flyfisher.  I'll be those things are some kind of skittish.  I know I can't catch them.

1 minute ago, CountryboyinDC said:

Go knock yourself out @flyfisher.  I'll be those things are some kind of skittish.  I know I can't catch them.

They are but a fly rod makes it easier for sure.  You are right though that it really is about not spooking them.  I used to fish for them a ton when I lived in harrisonburg and I can count on one hand the number of times the wanted a specific fly over another.

I guess I'm not cut out for fly fishing.  It's a good thing that where you need a fly rod, there's abundant eye candy.  Otherwise I could get really discouraged after a day or so.  I'll bet it makes you smile all over when you actually land one.