Why Barbless Hooks Matter for Native Brook Trout in the Appalachians

If you spend any time scrolling through fly fishing Facebook groups, Instagram posts, or the comment sections of YouTube and TikTok videos focused on wild brook trout in the Appalachians, you’ve probably seen it—someone jumps in with, “I hope you were using a barbless hook.”

Sometimes it’s said with care. Other times, not so much.

Truthfully, some fly fishermen should be ashamed of how they talk down to others who haven’t yet gone through the same process of learning and growth. It is a learning process. Some anglers get there sooner than others, depending on who they’ve rubbed shoulders with or the fly fishing environment they were raised in.

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A Simple Four-Fly Approach to Targeting Wild Trout in the Northeast

Fly fishing can seem overwhelming for those new to the sport. Walk into a fly shop or browse an online catalog, and you’ll find dozens of fly patterns, each seeming to have a specific purpose. It’s easy to assume you need a fully stocked fly box filled with every possible imitation to catch fish. But the truth is, you don’t need all that complexity, especially when fishing the wild trout streams of the Northeast.

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Wild Brook Trout Of Madison County And Shenandoah National Park

Throughout 2019 I spent time researching the brook trout fishing opportunities in Shenandoah National Park. I was waiting for the right time to hike in at an access point I’d discovered in Madison County, Virginia. Having talked to several people that were familiar with the area, a small tributary to the Rapidan River named Staunton Run seemed like a great place to start.

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Losing Daylight And The PA Wilderness Trout Stream

In Union County, Pennsylvania just west of the town of Mifflinburg, there is a thirteen-mile Class A Wild Brook Trout Stream known as North Branch Buffalo Creek. The Pennsylvania Fish & Boat Commission designates North Branch Buffalo Creek as a Wilderness Trout Stream. This means that humans have not encroached upon the stream and it provides the fisherman a true wilderness experience. The stream is referred to as providing Exceptional Value. This spring fed creek is a tributary to Centre County’s Buffalo Creek.

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