Jackson River — Lake Moomaw Tailwater
About
Gathright Dam completed in 1981 created Lake Moomaw and transformed the Jackson River into Virginia's premier tailwater trout fishery. Cold releases from the lake's depths maintain water temperatures that support both wild and stocked trout populations through 20 miles of river flowing north through Bath and Alleghany counties. The upper trophy reach from Gathright Dam to Smith Bridge covers five miles of the most productive water, while the middle section from Smith Bridge to Covington extends another 10 miles of mixed wild and stocked fishing. Below that, the lower Jackson widens for five miles before joining the Cowpasture River to form the James. At 580 CFS average flow with an optimal range of 300–1500 CFS, the river runs as continuous riffles rather than discrete rapids. Murray's Fly Shop serves as the local outfitter for this USACE-managed tailwater. USGS gauge 02012500 tracks releases from the dam.
River conditions are community-verified. CFS ranges, difficulty ratings, and access points may not reflect every flow level or seasonal change. Always check current conditions, scout unfamiliar rapids, and paddle within your skill level.