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The VDGIF points out on their website that the public has an automatic easement around bridges as a result of the VDOT right of way. Lon and I took advantage of this in late July to investigate the Rapidan River where it runs underneath the 522 bridge. Lon headed upstream and I moved down.
This location is a popular put-in spot for canoes and kayaks. There is a broad, dirt road that leads down the right edge of the highway into a small parking area underneath the bridge as well as other scattered locations to the east. We were impressed with the river. The Rapidan is wide and shallow here with an active current pushing the water downstream.
Lon and his son headed upstream while I headed down. Immediately downstream of the bridge, the water collects in a deep pool next to the southern bank. There is plenty of overhanging vegetation to throw some shade on the water and the sunfish were enjoying this when I arrived. I flipped a small blue popper to float under the brush and aggressive sunfish slashed at it unmercifully. Hoping to get the bass I imagined were huddling closer to the bottom of the river, I switched to a streamer and drifted it along the bottom with no results. After fishing the gradient break that produced riffles and oxygenated water in the same location, I began to work my way farther downstream.
The red flags popped up within feet of starting to move. The river bottom was sand -- a desert. Without any rocks to provide the required habitat for baitfish and bugs, I lowered my expectations. Recognizing that little would hold in shallow water in the center under the blazing sun, I moved to the north bank and focused my efforts there. By this time, the shade had started to move across the bank and out towards the center of the river. The left hand bank held more depth and therefore more fish, but the entire section downstream for approximately a mile was little more than a dead zone. I picked up a few small smallmouth and countless sunfish off the northern bank.
A quick look at the satellite view of this section of the river in Google reveals the sad truth. On the day I looked at that satellite photo, you can clearly see that immediately downstream of the bridge -- beyond the initial set of riffles -- a sandy bottom prevailed all the way to the turn into Raccoon Ford. That turn marks the upper extremity of the trip I documented earlier. Given my bad luck, I called Lon on the radio to check in with him. He and his son had had marginally better luck upstream where there were more rocks and additional structure hanging off each of the banks. The next time I come here, I'll work upstream instead of down.
Bottom Line: A good access point for canoes and kayaks, but a marginal location to fish. There are better, rockier locations on the Rapidan where you can spend your scarce fishing time more wisely.
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Remember to refer to my rating explanations - these are based on what I look for - so RED for Physical Fitness translates to easy physically - you do not need to be in shape to fish this section. I prefer terrain that is tough to get into and out of.
Getting There: From Northern Virginia, take Exit 43B from I-66 onto US 29. Follow US 29 for 37 miles to the junction with US 522. Take the ramp from US 29 onto US 522 south. After 7 miles, 522 crosses the bridge over the Rapidan. Go across the bridge and turn left into a gap in the fence to bump down the dirt road to the unofficial parking area.
Google Local Coordinates: 38.358682,-77.97261
Secrets Revealed? No. The Rapidan is very public location that is documented in the following places:
Virginia VDGIF
Flyfisher's Guide to Virginia
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Date Fished: 7/24/2009
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