Brook Trout Stocked · 13 plants · last April 6, 2026 Best: dawn, day, dusk Smith Creek fishing
Smith Creek fishing is stocked with Brook Trout, Rainbow Trout, and Tiger Trout on a river section. It is stocked about 2.9 times a year since 2017, most often in March and April. Species guides list dawn, day, and dusk for Brook Trout and dawn and dusk for Rainbow Trout and Tiger Trout.
- Last stocked
- April 6, 2026
- · Brook Trout
- Plants on record
- 29
- Species recorded
- 3
- Elevation
- 1,068 ft
Fish at Smith Creek
Brook Trout Stocked · 13 plants · last April 6, 2026 Best: dawn, day, dusk 
Rainbow Trout Stocked · 1 plant · last April 20, 2022 Best: dawn, dusk 
Tiger Trout Stocked · 1 plant · last January 29, 2024 Best: dawn, dusk Smith Creek in Alleghany County offers diverse trout fishing, with plentiful fish due to trout runs from the reservoir. Anglers have choices, being able to test themselves against bigger fish in deep pools south of the dam. The Virginia game department stocks the creek north of the reservoir with trout. Farther upstream, anglers can hunt wild brook trout in clear water. (blueridgeoutdoors.com, accessed October 5, 2026)
Drafted by AI from the cited sources and checked before publishing.
How Smith Creek is stocked
Wilson Creek (1.4 mi), Clifton Forge Reservoir (2.6 mi), Jackson River (3.4 mi), Douthat Lake (6.4 mi), and Pads Creek (10.2 mi) were stocked more recently. Wilson Creek is also stocked with Rainbow Trout, Tiger Trout, and Brook Trout, Clifton Forge Reservoir is also stocked with Rainbow Trout, Brook Trout, and Tiger Trout, Jackson River is also stocked with Rainbow Trout, Brook Trout, and Tiger Trout, Douthat Lake is also stocked with Rainbow Trout, Brook Trout, and Tiger Trout, and Pads Creek is also stocked with Rainbow Trout, Tiger Trout, and Brook Trout.
Stocking history
| Date | Species | Quantity | Avg. length | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| April 6, 2026 | Brook Trout | – | – | report |
| March 16, 2026 | Brook Trout | – | – | report |
| February 26, 2026 | Brook Trout | – | – | report |
| April 16, 2025 | Brook Trout | – | – | report |
| March 20, 2025 | Brook Trout | – | – | report |
| February 7, 2025 | Brook Trout | – | – | report |
| April 3, 2024 | Brook Trout | – | – | report |
| March 7, 2024 | Brook Trout | – | – | report |
| January 29, 2024 | Tiger Trout | – | – | report |
| April 10, 2023 | Brook Trout | – | – | report |
| March 17, 2023 | Brook Trout | – | – | report |
| February 14, 2023 | Brook Trout | – | – | report |
| April 20, 2022 | Brook Trout | – | – | report |
| April 20, 2022 | Rainbow Trout | – | – | report |
| March 15, 2022 | Brook Trout | – | – | report |
| April 6, 2021 | – | – | – | report |
| March 5, 2021 | – | – | – | report |
| January 7, 2021 | – | – | – | report |
| April 7, 2020 | – | – | – | report |
| January 16, 2020 | – | – | – | report |
| April 26, 2019 | – | – | – | report |
| March 1, 2019 | – | – | – | report |
| January 25, 2019 | – | – | – | report |
| April 19, 2018 | – | – | – | report |
| March 14, 2018 | – | – | – | report |
| January 29, 2018 | – | – | – | report |
| April 12, 2017 | – | – | – | report |
| March 17, 2017 | – | – | – | report |
| January 26, 2017 | – | – | – | report |
Access and facts
- Water type
- river section
- Nearest town
- Clifton Forge, VA
The creek drops from Clifton Forge Reservoir, set in a National Forest gorge above town. For the special-regulation reach between Clifton Forge Dam and the Forest Service line above the C&O Dam, take Route 606 to the water plant access road, park at the entrance, and walk a half mile to the stream.
Drafted by AI from the cited sources and checked before publishing.
Advisories, closures, regulations and water conditions change. Check the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources before you go.
About Smith Creek
According to Robert Grattan, when fishing Smith Creek in the spring, he has had success with a size 16 elk hair caddis or a 14 to 16 pheasant tail nymph. (blueridgeoutdoors.com, accessed October 5, 2026)
Drafted by AI from the cited sources and checked before publishing.
Nearest lakes
Camping near Smith Creek
Campgrounds within 15 miles of Smith Creek's mapped point, nearest first: Morris Hill camping (11.5 miles), Coles Point camping (12 miles), and Bolar Mountain camping (14.1 miles), each with its own campground page on campgroundsdb.com.
Straight-line distances.
Public land at Smith Creek
Smith Creek is 0.4 miles outside the edge of George Washington and Jefferson National Forest.
Boundaries from Public Lands DB, part of the same network.
Common questions
What fish are at Smith Creek?
Fishing Smith Creek usually means Brook Trout: Brook Trout accounts for 13 of 15 plants on record, ahead of Rainbow Trout and one more. Brook Trout was last stocked April 6, 2026. Rainbow Trout was last stocked April 20, 2022. Tiger Trout was last stocked January 29, 2024.
When is Smith Creek stocked?
Last stocked April 6, 2026. It is stocked about 2.9 times a year since 2017, most often in March and April.
How do you get on Smith Creek?
The nearest town is Clifton Forge, VA. The creek drops from Clifton Forge Reservoir, set in a National Forest gorge above town. For the special-regulation reach between Clifton Forge Dam and the Forest Service line above the C&O Dam, take Route 606 to the water plant access road, park at the entrance, and walk a half mile to the stream.
Which lakes near Smith Creek were stocked more recently?
Wilson Creek (1.4 mi), Clifton Forge Reservoir (2.6 mi), Jackson River (3.4 mi), Douthat Lake (6.4 mi), and Pads Creek (10.2 mi) were stocked more recently. Wilson Creek is also stocked with Rainbow Trout, Tiger Trout, and Brook Trout, Clifton Forge Reservoir is also stocked with Rainbow Trout, Brook Trout, and Tiger Trout, Jackson River is also stocked with Rainbow Trout, Brook Trout, and Tiger Trout, Douthat Lake is also stocked with Rainbow Trout, Brook Trout, and Tiger Trout, and Pads Creek is also stocked with Rainbow Trout, Tiger Trout, and Brook Trout.