Ivy Creek — Trout Scout /SNP

Ivy Creek from SNP topo

     Several blue lines became apparent to me several years ago when I was studying access to Big Run in the Southern section of SNP.  I’ve yet to hike in to Doyle’s and Jones Runs but now can say I’ve made the acquaintance of Ivy Creek.  The attraction of Ivy Creek comes from its solitude as there are no paths leading to it. It’s a bushwhackers paradise!

      

Cassidy Run at Pinefield Hut

    After searching blog posts there appear to be two established ways to access Ivy.  One is a longer hike starting at Loft Mountain Wayside, hiking north up the Frazier Nature Trail, intersecting with the AT, following the AT until it makes a (map visible) switchback over a gully and then following the gulley run which is a feeder UNT of the main stem of the Ivy. The more direct route is described by Harry Murray in his book on SNP trout streams.  Harry’s directions put you downstream on the Ivy relative to the first access and on relatively bigger and I suspect better water.  Park at the small parking area for the PineField Hut and follow the (only) access trail which goes generally south for about 200m at which point you’ll intersect the AT.  Head straight across the North/South AT and proceed 150m to the PineField Hut (it’s well marked).  As you walk the 150m to the hut you’ll see the start of the run (We named it Cassidy Run) that you’ll follow all the way down to the Ivy.  

Kate and James lead the way

The access trail ends at PineField Hut which is a well maintained AT overnight hut.  Cassidy run is a well defined trickle at the hut.  Follow the gully down to Ivy Creek, it’s about a .5 mile bushwhack.  You can either stay low in the stream bed and scramble under deadfall or stay higher in the gully above the deadfall and deal with .5 mile angled slope.  

You can see how we slowed down from Skyline Drive down to the Ivy in red

Kate Downs, a friend from work and her wonderful dog Cassidy and James agreed to adventure with me and we charted our adventure on a perfect October Morning at the Loft Mountain Wayside at 0930 after driving in from NOVA.  I’d never met Cassidy before and she was the star of the hike keeping track of her loose herd and leading the way into the steep hollow.  

Kate and Cassidy at Ivy Creek Falls

Ivy Creek flowed from right to left when we found her 800 or so feet down the mountain having carved a lovely unspoiled stream valley. A glance up and downstream confirmed that downstream was the way to adventure so with Cassidy close by so she wouldn’t spook any pools we descended further and in short order found the segmented 20+ foot falls where we decided to lunch.  With Kate, Cassidy and James locked in conversation I walked down another 300m (the dark red you see in the hike graphic) and questioned several 59 degree pools with a #16 Mr. Rapidan parachute and a 6’2” glass 3wt.  I couldn’t coax any (mountain) large bookies to strike so I was thrilled when several young of the year took up my offer of a quick tangle. 

         Knowing what I know now I can definitely see myself returning to the Ivy. What I’d do next time is is walk down a full .5 mile from the the intersection with Cassidy Run and fish back up to the Falls.  I suspect that would be about 3 hrs of great exploring.  

James works back up and out of Cassidy Creek 

         We returned moving up the bed of Cassidy run and found that to be easier than the steep slippery bank and the gully.  A great day with friends and another trout stream in my journey.  

Gotta be on the River -- Harmons

Henry and I were looking at going to Gunpowder but after checking water levels we found that the better water might be on the South Branch of the North Fork of the Potomac at Harmons on in WV....boy were we right.    Originally we planned this trip as an out and back but with the long drive we decided to meet in the afternoon and get a late afternoon in day 1 and a full day on day on day 2.


Hen arrived, checked into cabin 8, got our passes and was already on fish when I was still miles away!   I arrived as the sun set in the deep gorge and was able to catch a trout from the riffle above the bridge before low light closed us out.

 Dinner in honor of past feasts was monster ribeyes seared in cast iron, baguette and salad washed down by beer and wine to settle our excited nerves.    Day two started with breakfast in Petersburg as the family restaurant Scott will remember .75 miles north on 220 along the river had closed down.

Henry and I were trying to pull off a local-look but I was betrayed by my work shoes from the previous day (damn...I was so close w my old Camo).  After breakfast the stream beckoned and 1.5" of fresh snow gave it a magical feel.

Hen started w his standard weighted-fly ESN set-up and began lighting them up immediately in the large pool above the upstream most cabins.   I started out w a 2x fly under an indicator rig but it was quickly apparent that Hen's approach was the winner for the day and I switched over, but not before Hen had landed 5-6 beauties.

A great day continued as we headed up the river to there uppermost hole and then back down.   As we approached our money hole we saw activity below us....turns out the Harmons was hosting PHW the next day and they were stocking 1100 lbs of trout!

Damn...some 11-13 inters but MANY breeders...wow, these fish were dazed upon entry to their new haunts and wouldn't bite but it was fun to see some huge trout.   The Hottest fly of the day turned out to be a size 14 tungsten weighted blow torch, but you had to be tight and attentive to your fly to discern the subtle takes in the 42 degree water.   Hen ended up staying another night and fished for a few hour before the PHW crew took over and caught more than any two men deserve😁. what a treat.

Thanks for having a look