South Branch Potomac River
Fishing and stocking
Rainbow trout and brook trout water; 5 stockings on the 2026 record, monthly March through May.
Highland County · Virginia · see it on the national map
The year here
stocked last 7 days announced ahead · tap a tick for details
What swims here
Rainbow trout
Brook trout
Stocking record 2026
Agency feed checked today.
| Date | Species | Size | Fish | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 11 | Rainbow trout | catchable | completed | |
| Mar 11 | Brook trout | catchable | completed | |
| Apr 14 | Rainbow trout | catchable | completed | |
| Apr 14 | Brook trout | catchable | completed | |
| May 12 | Rainbow trout | catchable | completed |
When to fish South Branch Potomac River
| Major periods (~2 h) | Minor periods (~1 h) | |
|---|---|---|
| Today | 9:52-11:52 am and 10:14 pm-12:14 am | 4:08-5:08 am and 4:24-5:24 pm |
| Tomorrow | 10:37 am-12:37 pm | 5:16-6:16 am and 4:49-5:49 pm |
Moon: waxing gibbous, 92% lit. These are solunar periods, the traditional feeding-time theory: majors around the moon's transit overhead and underfoot, minors around moonrise and moonset. Theory, not a measurement. Times are Eastern Time (EDT).
What the record actually says
- Last stocked May 12
Computed this evening, Oct 23 · Virginia fishing forecast
Gear for this water
It has been a while since the trucks came. The holdovers have spread out and wised up; downsize and fish natural.
For the trout (rainbow trout stocked 3 times here in 2026, moving water)
| Small jerkbaits | floating minnows in the 2 to 3 inch class for the deeper bends |
| Waders or wet-wading boots | stocked stream fish stack in the obvious pools; getting to the next one is the edge |
| Light spinning rod | 5 to 6.5 ft light or ultralight; short rods cast under branches |
Suggestions follow from what the state actually stocks here and what kind of water it is, nothing else. No sponsored placements.
Nearby stocked waters
The closest waters with stocking pages of their own, straight-line miles from this one.
| Water | Distance | Most recent |
|---|---|---|
| Town Creek MD | 2.4 mi | Apr 1 |
| Fort Ashby Reservoir WV | 9.7 mi | May 15 |
| Fort Ashby Lake WV | 9.7 mi | Jun 24 |
| Evitts Creek PA | 10 mi | Apr 6 |
| Evitts Creek MD | 10 mi | May 5 |
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