Cast & Sip: Fishing and Wine Pairings in Charlottesville & Albemarle County

Much like a well-planned itinerary of wine tasting, fishing in the mountains is best enjoyed with a roadmap to clear water and an appetizing tackle box. Before any venture, it’d be worth stopping in or giving a call to Orvis Charlottesville, whose central location and seasoned staff can get you rigged up from the Moormans to the Rivanna and everywhere in between.

So grab a glass and a rod, it’s time to hit the road.

It takes about forty-five minutes to hoof it to Sugar Hollow’s premiere destination, a waterfall that rivals just about any natural wonder of Shenandoah National Park. But along that trail, the thousands of hikers who make the yearly trek don’t realize they’re walking over some of the best fly fishing waters in the Park. The Moorman’s River has consistently reproduced a bountiful hatch of native brook trout year in and year out. Thanks to its deep pools that double as trout habitat and a proper spot for a cold plunge, trout have places they can hunker down as the summer heat dries up the small runs. You may very well find RIBJORD Fishing Co. rummaging up past the waterfall; reach out for a guided experience, fast-tracking your day to match the hatch.

Just below the dam on your way to Sugar Hollow’s trailhead, there is a section of stocked trout water where you can try your hand at some picky rainbow trout. While this section is open to the public, you do need a special license. Check out Albemarle Angler and ask them about an experience on their private section of the Moormans River. For those with physical disabilities, Thomas Jefferson Trout Unlimited partners with Therapeutic Adventures to create an accessible fly fishing experience.

While a beading glass of barrel-aged Sauvignon Blanc might quench a sweltering day, be sure to let the native brook trout stay cool over the dog days of summer. Native fish populations are fragile, which makes it imperative that we give them a break during the hot droughts that have become a part of our Shenandoah summers. Spring and Fall are our two pillars for trout fishing, as the vineyards welcome flowering and harvest, we bring strong, healthy trout to hand.

With over one hundred acres of waterway, Beaver Creek has been Charlottesville’s honey hole since the sixties. The reservoir is chock-full of big-mouth bass and feisty panfish. They’ve got a public boat ramp for those looking to explore its tendrils and see what is lurking in the tough-to-reach pockets. In open water, it’d be wise to keep jerk baits on hand to dredge the deep ones off the bottom. But as summer wanes on, topwater baits plopped and scattered around the banks could reward you with explosive eats.

If you are planning to take a voyage on the Jon boat, keep in mind that gas-powered engines are prohibited on the reservoir. An electric trolling motor will scoot you around in no time, just as a couple of oars in a canoe would make for a fine day overlooking the Piedmont.

If you’re looking for an opportunity to get on some of Virginia’s favorite game fish, the tributaries of the James River are where you ought to be itching to go. Striped bass venture up the James in the Spring and Fall from the Chesapeake, providing some of the most exciting topwater eats in the state. There is also plenty of our favorite panfish, black crappie, if you know where to look. Pull up on spots with steep drops or down trees, black crappie love structure, and if you drop a lure to jig off the bottom, you’re likely to find a slab.

Do you have fond dreams of mid-summer floating an inner tube down the river, cooler tethered and towed behind you, sunscreen sweat touching your lips, and a smallmouth bass ripping you towards the opposite bank? Well, this could all be yours thanks to the Rivanna River running right through the heart of Charlottesville. The Rivanna has a slew of fishing options, with smallmouth and largemouth bass being its pillars.

The late Spring post-spawn bass action is hard to beat anywhere else around the state. The top-water frog imitations plunking towards you are hard to resist for any bass in the river, just as it is for the large red-breasted sunfish. The Rivanna could be an excellent opportunity to get your kids into fishing or teach them the ropes of fly fishing in a low-stakes environment. Or, it could just be a great place to bring your fishing pole along on a leisurely float.

For more information on access point and recommended float trips, visit the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources website.

These are just a few highlights of many ways to get outside and enjoy a glass of wine in Charlottesville & Albemarle County. Be sure to explore more below!