Richard Formato

Richard Formato is an avid catch-and-release fly-fisherman from Wytheville, Va. When not on the water, he operates a small business there. Formato loves to fly-fish in his native Southwest Virginia because of the great water and wonderful people. He also loves to fish the flats and shallows of the Gulf of Mexico and Atlantic whenever work and weather permit. He is on the Department of Conservation and Recreation's board of directors and is a trustee of the Shenandoah National Forest and Skyline Drive.

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• Notes from the Charlotte Fly Show
• A chance meeting
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• Talk fly-fishing

Some years ago in a local fly shop I overheard a respectable-looking gentleman say, "The only trout stream I fish is North Creek."

Anyone fishing that stream only alongside the road may wonder how it could fulfill all of his flyfishing requirements. But drive to the end of the road, park, cross the footbridge, hike up the trail a mile or so and you begin to see an altogether different North Creek.

At an elevation of 2,200 feet this stream sports a series of small waterfalls spilling into decent-size plunge pools. The higher up you follow small mountain streams such as this, the more interesting they become. Huge tumbled boulders below rapids retain deep enough holes to harbor a small population of brook trout.

Last Saturday was a day more like October than August. The shade from the deep woods surrounding North Creek made it seem even cooler, while the water temperature was an inviting 56 degrees. Crossing the second footbridge I looked down at the pool formed by a stone weir downstream, but could see no fins or tails.

Hikers crossing this bridge on their way to Apple Orchard Falls most likely keep the trout population wary here. The streamside trail diverges to the right away from the main trail just past the bridge. There were some likely looking holes here, so it seemed a good place to put on hip boots and place a bottle of water in the stream to cool.

My attention was diverted to an abnormally large yellow stonefly perched on a boulder. I picked him up, carefully avoiding the set of pincers on his proboscis. A couple of weeks ago one of his black cousins latched onto my thumb and held on so tight I had to pull his body loose from his head.

Tossing this yellow one into the stream, I watched the minnows swarm about him without inflicting any visible damage. Because of its size an adult stonefly is not significant brook trout food, although pale, newly molted nymphs form a significant part of their diet. Larger rainbows and browns gorge themselves on giant stoneflies in early summer when they emerge to mate, giving them the nicknames salmonfly or troutfly.

I tied on a light Caddis, having seen flies in the air resembling it. Every cast attracted a minnow to my Caddis, and I shook a number of them off. One eventually hooked himself firmly and I reeled it in. To my surprise it was a 3-inch brook trout, and I realized that I had been shaking off trout fry all along. It’s encouraging to see this indication that extensive spawning is taking place here.

Higher up, North Creek emerges from a deep, boulder-strewn gorge with no path alongside it. The rocks here were "restless," tipping under my feet occasionally, just as they do in the West. The prehistoric upheaval here must have been comparatively recent, if that adjective can be applied to millions of years. It just meant I had to test my foothold a little more carefully when wading.

At one point a long pool is headed by a small waterfall and bordered by rock strata covered with lime-green moss. It would have made quite a picture if I had remembered to bring along my camera.

Not having much luck with my Caddis, except for small fry, I decided to switch here to my favorite small brook trout fly, a number 16 Adams. Next to a projecting rock near the falls I spotted a decent rise and cast my Adams to it, attracting a strong, splashing strike which I failed to hook. Figuring this was the kind of pool which held more than one brookie, I continued to work the Adams. Sure enough I hooked into a strong fish that ran the length of the pool a couple of times before I landed him.

Laying this little 8-inch brook trout upon a boulder I observed his deep orange spawning hue catch a beam of sunlight. This is truly the most gorgeous species of fish that inhabits our Virginia waters. I released him gently and reverently, grateful for the visual feast he had allowed me.

North Creek is a special regulation wild trout stream, requiring the use of only single-hook, artificial lures. All fish under 9 inches long must be returned to the water unharmed. Rainbow trout predominate in the lower section, but if you hike up high enough it becomes strictly a brook trout fishery.

Located in Botetourt County only 37 minutes from my doorstep, you can drive from Roanoke to the trail head in less than 40 minutes. Take the Arcadia exit from I-81 north and drive Rt. 614, Forestry Roads 21 and 59 to the North Creek and Cornelius Creek trail head.