BirdTrout

Upper James River Watershed, Virginia

5,454 miles of mapped stream across 2,212 square miles of drainage in Bath, Botetourt, Alleghany, Highland, Craig, Rockbridge, Roanoke, Montgomery counties, in 319 named streams. Virginia designates 349 of those miles as trout water, on 139 streams. The 6 mainstem gauges with a July record read between 63.9 and 75.4°F in July.

Open in BirdTrout
Map key
Public land — where the bank is open to walk and fish
USGS gauge — live water temperature
Water temperature — the colour of every stream in the basin

50°F and colder is cold, through cold-transitional and cool, to warm above 70°F — the same four bands the app paints. On this map the colour is Virginia DWR's own classification of the stream, not a measurement, except at the gauge dots, which read live. Grey is water Virginia DWR has not typed.

The watershed in numbers

HUC8 02080201 in the USGS Watershed Boundary Dataset. Every figure below adds up the river pages in this basin — same records, one basin at a time.

5,454 mi
of mapped stream
12,806 NHD reaches
2,212 sq mi
drainage area
1,415,600 acres
63.9–75.4°F
July water temperature at the gauges
6 mainstem gauges, mean 70.4°F
628,864 ac
public land
44.4% of the basin · 15 units

Cold, cool and warm water

Virginia publishes stockability classes and a wild-or-stocked tier for its trout water, and no thermal class this page can read. It covers 0% of this basin's stream miles (0.0 of 5,454); the rest is untyped and is drawn grey on the map above.

Virginia publishes no thermal classification of its streams that we could read, so this page has no cold/cool/warm breakdown. The live map colours Virginia water from an air-temperature model at the moment you open it; the designations below are VDWR's own and are the harder fact.

What makes this watershed distinctive

The Upper James is the largest trout basin in Virginia by almost every measure on this page: 2,212 square miles across Bath, Botetourt, Alleghany and Highland counties, 1,709 mapped stream miles, 319 named streams, and 349 miles of VDWR-designated trout water on 139 of them. It is also the most public: 628,864 acres, of which 365,984 are George Washington National Forest and 231,410 Jefferson, with the Highland and Gathright wildlife management areas adding some 27,000 more. The Jackson River runs 99.7 miles and carries Class II, V and VI water along its length; the Cowpasture runs 86.3 miles, Craig Creek 63.9, Back Creek 55.2 and Potts Creek 48.2. Mill Creek is designated Class I, II and III over 45 miles. Six gauges hold a July record and read between 63.9 and 75.4°F — the coldest low end of any Virginia basin here.

Every named stream in the basin

All 319 of them, longest first. 112 have a page of their own and are linked; the rest are in the app. The class column is Virginia DWR's designation of that stream. "Now" is the live USGS reading where a gauge stands in that stream.

Stream Miles Class Now Designation
Jackson River 99.7 untyped — Class II, Class V, Class VI
Cowpasture River 86.3 untyped — Class VI
Craig Creek 63.9 untyped — Class VI
Back Creek 55.2 untyped — Class II, Class V, Class VI
Potts Creek 48.2 untyped — Class V
Mill Creek 45.0 untyped — Class I, Class II, Class III
Catawba Creek 44.3 untyped — Class V
Johns Creek 39.7 untyped — Class II
Dry Run 34.3 untyped — Class II, Class IV
James River 30.3 untyped — —
Bullpasture River 26.4 untyped — Class V
Stuart Run 18.4 untyped — —
Wilson Creek 18.2 untyped — Class II
Barbours Creek 18.1 untyped — Class II, Class VI
Sinking Creek 16.9 untyped — Class II
Cedar Creek 16.4 untyped — Class II, Class III
Little Back Creek 15.6 untyped — Class II
Dry Branch 14.8 untyped — —
Crab Run 13.9 untyped — Class II
Shaws Fork 13.3 untyped — Class VI
Cove Creek 11.9 untyped — —
Jennings Creek 10.9 untyped — Class II
Dunlap Creek 10.7 untyped — Class V
Simpson Creek 10.4 untyped — Class II
Sweet Spring Creek 10.3 untyped — Class V
Smith Creek 10.3 untyped — Class II, Class V
Pads Creek 10.1 untyped — Class VIII
Lick Run 9.5 untyped — Class II
Blue Spring Run 9.3 untyped — Class II
Laurel Branch 9.2 untyped — —
Jerrys Run 9.1 untyped — Class IV, Class VIII
Purgatory Creek 9.0 untyped — Class II
Stony Run 8.8 untyped — Class II, Class III
Meadow Creek 8.7 untyped — Class II
Mill Branch 8.2 untyped — Class II
Bolar Run 7.7 untyped — Class II
Falling Spring Creek 7.6 untyped — Class II
North Fork Catawba Creek 7.6 untyped — —
Hot Springs Run 7.5 untyped — Class III
Hughes Creek 7.4 untyped — —
Middle Creek 7.4 untyped — Class II
Cast Steel Run 7.2 untyped — Class II
Hays Creek 7.1 untyped — Class III
Karnes Creek 7.1 untyped — Class II
Guys Run 7.1 untyped — —
North Creek 7.1 untyped — Class II
Mare Run 7.0 untyped — Class II
Long Run 6.9 untyped — —
Big Branch 6.9 untyped — —
Sharvers Run 6.6 untyped — —
East Back Creek 6.5 untyped — —
Elk Creek 6.5 untyped — Class VI
Mud Run 6.4 untyped — —
Crush Run 6.4 untyped — Class VI
Cascades Creek 6.2 untyped — Class II
Roaring Run 6.2 untyped — Class V
Ponding Mill Creek 6.1 untyped — Class II
Little Catawba Creek 6.1 untyped — —
Back Run 6.1 untyped — Class VI
Muddy Run 6.0 untyped — Class II
Warm Springs Run 6.0 untyped — —
Snake Run 6.0 untyped — Class II
Cove Branch 6.0 untyped — Class II
Davis Run 5.9 untyped — Class II
Pig Run 5.9 untyped — —
Little Wilson Creek 5.9 untyped — Class II
Rocky Branch 5.9 untyped — Class II
Benson Run 5.8 untyped — Class IV
Chimney Run 5.7 untyped — —
Jordan Run 5.6 untyped — Class II
Trout Creek 5.6 untyped — Class III
Tygers Creek 5.5 untyped — Class VII
South Fork Pads Creek 5.5 untyped — Class VI
Harmon Run 5.4 untyped — —
East Fork Elk Creek 5.4 untyped — Class II
Still Run 5.3 untyped — —
Big Lick Creek 5.3 untyped — —
Wilson Branch 5.3 untyped — —
Borden Creek 5.3 untyped — Class VI
Dicks Creek 5.2 untyped — Other trout water
Town Branch 5.2 untyped — —
Hickory Hollow Branch 5.2 untyped — —
Laurel Run 5.1 untyped — Class II
Spreading Spring Branch 5.0 untyped — Class VI
Mill Run 4.9 untyped — Class II
Indiandraft Creek 4.9 untyped — Class III
Bolshers Run 4.8 untyped — —
Smith Branch 4.8 untyped — Class II
David Run 4.8 untyped — —
Johns Run 4.7 untyped — —
McFalls Creek 4.7 untyped — Class VI
Ewin Run 4.6 untyped — Class II
Paint Bank Branch 4.6 untyped — Class II
Spring Run 4.5 untyped — Class II
Paxton Branch 4.5 untyped — Class II
Campbell Run 4.4 untyped — —
Beckner Branch 4.4 untyped — —
Shawvers Run 4.3 untyped — Class II
Cold Spring Branch 4.3 untyped — —
Jim Dave Run 4.2 untyped — Class IV
Christleys Run 4.2 untyped — Class III
Tub Run 4.2 untyped — —
Lees Creek 4.2 untyped — Class VI
Ellis Run 4.1 untyped — Class VI
Bearwallow Creek 4.1 untyped — —
Crow Run 4.0 untyped — Class II
Bens Run 4.0 untyped — —
North Branch Simpson Creek 4.0 untyped — Class II
Rowan Run 3.9 untyped — Class II
Hoover Creek 3.9 untyped — —
Left Prong Wilson Creek 3.9 untyped — Class II
White Rock Creek 3.8 untyped — —
Fortney Branch 3.7 untyped — —
Little Oregon Creek 3.7 untyped — —
South Prong Barbours Creek 3.7 untyped — Class II
Stony Battle Creek 3.7 untyped — —
Jerry Run 3.6 untyped — —
Blue Suck Branch 3.6 untyped — Class III
West Branch Grannys Creek 3.6 untyped — Class II
Hipes Branch 3.6 untyped — Class II
Curry Creek 3.6 untyped — —
Meadow Branch 3.5 untyped — —
Stone Coal Creek 3.5 untyped — —
Brushy Run 3.5 untyped — —
Little Valley Run 3.4 untyped — Class III
Warwick Run 3.4 untyped — —
Kempers Run 3.4 untyped — Class III
Brushy Fork 3.4 untyped — —
Cowardin Run 3.3 untyped — Class II
Porters Mill Creek 3.3 untyped — Class III
Taylor Branch 3.3 untyped — —
Beaverdam Creek 3.3 untyped — —
Trout Branch 3.2 untyped — —
Spring Branch 3.2 untyped — Class II
Little Patterson Creek 3.2 untyped — —
Valley Branch 3.1 untyped — Class II
Thompson Creek 3.1 untyped — Class III
Furnace Branch 3.1 untyped — Class III
Slate Branch 3.1 untyped — —
War Spur Branch 3.0 untyped — Class II
Grannys Creek 3.0 untyped — Class II
Snodgrass Branch 3.0 untyped — —
Rabbit Creek 3.0 untyped — —
Stillhouse Run 2.9 untyped — —
Rocky Creek 2.9 untyped — Class II
Corner Branch 2.9 untyped — Class II
Limekiln Run 2.8 untyped — —
Hulit Draft 2.8 untyped — —
Piney Mountain Branch 2.8 untyped — Class VI
Jones Branch 2.8 untyped — —
Lemons Branch 2.8 untyped — —
Looney Creek 2.8 untyped — —
Big Hellgate Creek 2.8 untyped — —
Millstone Run 2.7 untyped — —
Board Tree Run 2.7 untyped — —
White Sulphur Spring Branch 2.7 untyped — —
Porterfield Branch 2.7 untyped — —
Cornelius Creek 2.7 untyped — Class II
Fallingwater Creek 2.7 untyped — Class II
East Branch Jackson River 2.6 untyped — —
Dry Creek 2.6 untyped — —
Eliber Springs Branch 2.6 untyped — Class II
Penn Branch 2.6 untyped — —
Hopper Creek 2.6 untyped — —
Morris Run 2.5 untyped — —
Downy Branch 2.5 untyped — Class III
Trout Run 2.5 untyped — Class II
Crawford Creek 2.5 untyped — —
Rocky Run 2.4 untyped — Class II
Kelly Run 2.4 untyped — Class II
Big Lick Run 2.4 untyped — Class II
Piney Branch 2.4 untyped — Class II
Pheasanty Run 2.4 untyped — Class II
Turnpike Creek 2.4 untyped — —
Mudlick Branch 2.4 untyped — —
Biggs Run 2.4 untyped — Class III
Sukey Johnson Branch 2.4 untyped — —
Peak Run 2.3 untyped — —
Toms Branch 2.3 untyped — —
Right Prong Benson Run 2.3 untyped — Class IV
Left Prong Benson Run 2.3 untyped — Class IV
Saltpeter Branch 2.3 untyped — Class II
Spec Mines Branch 2.3 untyped — —
Barnetts Run 2.2 untyped — —
Castle Run 2.2 untyped — Class II
Bogan Run 2.2 untyped — Class VIII
Big Run 2.2 untyped — Class III
Hickory Lick 2.2 untyped — —
Fall Hollow Branch 2.2 untyped — —
Robinson Branch 2.2 untyped — —
Wylies Run 2.2 untyped — —
Panther Run 2.2 untyped — Class II
Schoolhouse Branch 2.2 untyped — —
Dutchman Branch 2.2 untyped — —
Crooked Run 2.2 untyped — —
Spring Gap Creek 2.2 untyped — —
Little Hellgate Creek 2.2 untyped — —
Scaffold Run 2.1 untyped — —
Hamilton Branch 2.1 untyped — —
Bennett Branch 2.1 untyped — —
Bennets Run 2.1 untyped — —
Big Laurel Branch 2.1 untyped — Class II
Yellowstone Branch 2.1 untyped — —
Cave Run 2.0 untyped — Class II
Neal Run 2.0 untyped — —
Ford Run 2.0 untyped — Class II
Port Lock Run 2.0 untyped — —
Pond Lick Branch 2.0 untyped — —
Lick Block Run 2.0 untyped — Class II
Bear Hole Run 2.0 untyped — Class II
Black Branch 2.0 untyped — Class II
Broad Run 1.9 untyped — —
Page Run 1.9 untyped — —
Gap Run 1.9 untyped — —
Paddy Lick 1.9 untyped — —
Brushy Lick 1.9 untyped — —
Robins Run 1.9 untyped — —
Nelse Branch 1.9 untyped — Class II
Sampson Branch 1.9 untyped — —
Cub Run 1.9 untyped — Class II
Roses Run 1.9 untyped — —
Adaline Branch 1.9 untyped — —
Negro Branch 1.9 untyped — Class II
Double Branch 1.9 untyped — —
Lipes Branch 1.9 untyped — Class II
Crawford Branch 1.9 untyped — —
Finley Branch 1.9 untyped — —
Siebert Run 1.8 untyped — —
Springhouse Run 1.8 untyped — —
Sawmill Run 1.8 untyped — Class II
Little Crow Run 1.8 untyped — Class II
Solomons Run 1.8 untyped — —
Simpson Branch 1.8 untyped — —
Wright Branch 1.8 untyped — —
Hoover Run 1.7 untyped — —
Pole Run 1.7 untyped — —
Eowyns Run 1.7 untyped — —
Mud Lick Run 1.7 untyped — —
Big Turn Run 1.7 untyped — —
Long Spring Run 1.7 untyped — Class IV
Kyles Branch 1.7 untyped — —
Spice Run 1.7 untyped — —
Gillam Run 1.7 untyped — —
Claylick Run 1.7 untyped — —
Jerry Branch 1.7 untyped — —
Sloan Branch 1.7 untyped — —
Cabin Branch 1.7 untyped — —
Sartain Branch 1.7 untyped — Class II
Saville Branch 1.7 untyped — —
Schoolhouse Run 1.6 untyped — —
Hacken Run 1.6 untyped — —
Beaver Run 1.6 untyped — Class II
Big Lick 1.6 untyped — —
Bee Branch 1.6 untyped — —
Champ Branch 1.6 untyped — —
Deisher Branch 1.6 untyped — —
Swanson Branch 1.6 untyped — —
Chestnut Run 1.6 untyped — Class II
Belfast Creek 1.6 untyped — Class II
Locust Fork 1.5 untyped — Class II
Muddy Branch 1.5 untyped — —
Bell Branch 1.5 untyped — —
Carters Creek 1.5 untyped — —
Healing Branch 1.5 untyped — Class II
Buchanan Branch 1.5 untyped — —
Cowbone Branch 1.4 untyped — —
Bear Loop Branch 1.4 untyped — Class II
Lower Mountain Lick 1.4 untyped — —
Barney Run 1.4 untyped — Class II
Stouts Creek 1.4 untyped — —
Slim Ridge Branch 1.4 untyped — —
Sandy Branch 1.4 untyped — —
Dickey Farm Branch 1.4 untyped — —
Carr Branch 1.4 untyped — —
Little Double Branch 1.4 untyped — —
Mud Lick Branch 1.4 untyped — —
Mud Lick 1.4 untyped — —
Haymaker Branch 1.4 untyped — —
Birch Run 1.3 untyped — —
Green Swamp Branch 1.3 untyped — —
Swamp Branch 1.3 untyped — —
Carroll Draft 1.3 untyped — —
Buck Lick Run 1.3 untyped — —
Pickles Branch 1.3 untyped — Class II
Alec Branch 1.3 untyped — —
Hannah Branch 1.3 untyped — —
Georges Swamp Branch 1.3 untyped — Class II
Middle Branch 1.3 untyped — —
Hombarck Branch 1.3 untyped — —
Vinegar Run 1.2 untyped — Class II
Lightner Run 1.2 untyped — —
Golf Course Branch 1.2 untyped — —
Hook Branch 1.2 untyped — —
Little Cove Creek 1.2 untyped — —
Gulley Run 1.1 untyped — —
Hevener Run 1.1 untyped — —
Ryder Run 1.1 untyped — —
Upper Mountain Lick 1.0 untyped — —
Red Springs Branch 1.0 untyped — —
Kale Branch 1.0 untyped — Class II
Wolf Branch 1.0 untyped — —
McCoglin Branch 1.0 untyped — —
Jones Run 0.9 untyped — —
Givens Run 0.9 untyped — —
White Oak Run 0.9 untyped — —
Sugar Run 0.9 untyped — Class II
Graveyard Run 0.8 untyped — —
Alex Run 0.8 untyped — —
Shop Run 0.8 untyped — —
Sales Branch 0.8 untyped — —
Fridleys Branch 0.7 untyped — —
Paddy Bee Tree Run 0.7 untyped — —
White Branch 0.7 untyped — —
Muddy Fork Branch 0.7 untyped — —
Hog Rock Branch 0.7 untyped — —
Rich Branch 0.7 untyped — —
Red Swamp 0.6 untyped — —
Lapsley Run 0.4 untyped — —
Patterson Creek 0.0 untyped — —

Public land in the watershed

628,864 acres in 15 units, which is 44.4% of the 1,415,600 acres the basin covers. Private inholdings carried in the same source file are excluded, here and on the map.

Managing agency Acres Share Units
US Forest Service 597,661 95% 10
Virginia DWR 31,203 5% 4
Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation 0 0% 1

The biggest named blocks of it, each with its own page — the streams on that ground, what is open to hunt on it, and where the access sites are.

Species present

Recorded by VDWR on the reaches it has classified, per stream. The temperature ranges are our own species table and are the same numbers the app's picker uses.

Species Best water Tolerates Evidence
Brook Trout
Salvelinus fontinalis
 50–60°F 42–65°F surveyed
Brown Trout
Salmo trutta
 55–63°F 45–70°F surveyed
Rainbow Trout
Oncorhynchus mykiss
 55–64°F 44–70°F surveyed

Best time to fish

The hatch calendar for the Virginia mountains, which is the region this basin's centre falls in — the same regions the app's hatch panel uses. It is a regional record, not a survey of this watershed: nobody has counted insects basin by basin. Year-round records (midges, scuds, sculpins) are left out; they are true every month and they are not what a calendar is for.

January

February

March

April

May

June

July

August

September

October

November

December

Nothing seasonal on the water.

56 insects are recorded from the Virginia mountains. Each links to its own page, with the flies that imitate it.

Neighbouring watersheds

The subbasins that share a boundary with this one and carry coldwater streams.