Upper South River SRA

The Upper South River Special Regulations Area is a brand new fishery that opened January 1, 2011. It is a fly-fishing only fishery, with one 20"+ fish allowed to be taken every day. This is one of three South River fisheries, which includes catch & release (Constitution Park), put-and-take (Ridgeview Park), and fly-fishing only (Upper South SRA).

It was created through the collaboration of SVTU and Virginia Department of Game & Inland Fisheries and the support of Dominion Resources, Dupont, and many landowners who generously granted access to their property. Please respect their land and privacy by staying within 30' of the river and respecting all signage. When in doubt, wade in the river. No camping, fires, pets, or swimming.

Fishing the Upper South requires a special permit available at the South River Fly Shop or online the same way you get the special permits for Buffalo Creek and Mossy Creek.

The Upper South River is a spring creek, fed by numerous cold springs that keep the water below 70 degrees all year long, just the temperature required for trout to survive and grow to large size. The Upper South has tremendous hatches year-round, including BWOs Fall-Spring, Sulphers April-May, heavy Tricos June-August, and big Hexagenia July-September.

See the South River Hatch Chart (developed by Tom Benzing) at the bottom of the page.

Kurt Krueger with a fat rainbow near the confluence with Back Creek on Opening Day.

This is near the upstream boundary of the fishery.