BirdTrout

Upper New River Watershed, Virginia

3,591 miles of mapped stream across 2,942 square miles of drainage in Wythe, Grayson, Carroll, Floyd, Pulaski, Montgomery, Smyth counties, in 247 named streams. Virginia designates 310 of those miles as trout water, on 121 streams.

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 05050001 in the USGS Watershed Boundary Dataset. Every figure below adds up the river pages in this basin — same records, one basin at a time.

3,591 mi
of mapped stream
8,832 NHD reaches
2,942 sq mi
drainage area
1,883,094 acres
135,177 ac
public land
7.2% of the basin · 10 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 3,591); 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 New drains 2,942 square miles of the Virginia plateau — Wythe, Grayson, Carroll and Floyd counties — and at 310 designated miles on 121 of its 247 named streams it is the second-largest body of designated trout water in Virginia, behind only the Upper James. Like the Dan it has no gauge holding a July record, so this page prints no measured temperature. The Little River runs 63.6 miles, Big Reed Island Creek 58.5 designated Class II, III and IV, and Little Reed Island Creek 35.2 at Class VII; Greasy Creek and Burks Fork run about 30 miles apiece at Class III, and Crooked Creek 28.1 at Class I and III. Public ground is 135,177 acres, almost all of it Jefferson National Forest at 125,789, with The Big Survey Wildlife Management Area adding 7,467 and Crooked Creek 1,737.

Every named stream in the basin

All 247 of them, longest first. 94 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
Little River 63.6 untyped — —
Big Reed Island Creek 58.5 untyped — Class II, Class III, Class IV
Little Reed Island Creek 35.2 untyped — Class VII
Greasy Creek 30.8 untyped — Class III
Burks Fork 28.2 untyped — Class III
Crooked Creek 28.1 untyped — Class I, Class III
Brush Creek 27.5 untyped — —
Chestnut Creek 24.5 untyped — Class III
Elk Creek 24.4 untyped — Class II, Class VI
Laurel Fork 22.7 untyped — Class II
Pine Creek 22.2 untyped — Class III
West Fork Little River 21.8 untyped — —
Big Horse Creek 19.0 untyped — Class III
Helton Creek 18.8 untyped — Class II
Fox Creek 18.8 untyped — Class II
Toms Creek 18.5 untyped — —
Cripple Creek 17.3 untyped — —
Beaverdam Creek 16.6 untyped — Class III
Peak Creek 15.9 untyped — Class IV
Mill Creek 15.1 untyped — Class II, Class III, Class VI
Wilson Creek 14.8 untyped — Class II, Class VI
Big Indian Creek 14.6 untyped — Class II
Tract Fork 13.3 untyped — Class IV
Laurel Creek 12.9 untyped — Class III
Reed Creek 12.9 untyped — —
Middle Fox Creek 11.7 untyped — Class III
Dodd Creek 11.7 untyped — —
Big Laurel Creek 11.3 untyped — Class II, Class III
East Fork Crooked Creek 11.2 untyped — Class III
Snake Creek 11.1 untyped — Class III
Big Macks Creek 10.1 untyped — Class IV
Oldfield Creek 10.0 untyped — Class II
Howell Creek 9.9 untyped — Class II
East Fork Little Reed Island Creek 9.8 untyped — Class III
Cranberry Creek 9.1 untyped — Class III
Rock Creek 9.1 untyped — Class IV
Little Indian Creek 9.0 untyped — Class III
Knob Fork 8.5 untyped — —
Panther Creek 8.4 untyped — Class VII
Blue Spring Creek 8.4 untyped — Class II
Poverty Creek 7.3 untyped — Class VI
Glade Creek 7.2 untyped — —
Mira Fork 7.2 untyped — Class III
Terrys Creek 7.2 untyped — —
Road Creek 7.1 untyped — Class III
West Fork Dodd Creek 7.1 untyped — Class III
Little Helton Creek 7.0 untyped — Class II
Little Wilson Creek 6.9 untyped — Class II
Pine Branch 6.9 untyped — —
Sugar Run 6.9 untyped — —
Beaver Creek 6.7 untyped — Class III
West Fork Little Reed Island Creek 6.6 untyped — Class III
Big Run 6.3 untyped — Class III
Burks Run 6.2 untyped — —
Turkey Fork 6.0 untyped — Class III
Coal Creek 6.0 untyped — —
Crigger Creek 6.0 untyped — Class IV
Middle Creek 6.0 untyped — Class II
Grassy Creek 6.0 untyped — Class III
Stone Creek 5.8 untyped — —
North Fork Greasy Creek 5.8 untyped — Class III
Glady Fork 5.6 untyped — —
White Rock Creek 5.6 untyped — Class IV
Stone Mountain Creek 5.5 untyped — Class III
East Fork Chestnut Creek 5.4 untyped — Class II
Thorn Creek 5.3 untyped — —
Island Creek 5.2 untyped — —
Little Snake Creek 5.2 untyped — Class II
Jones Branch 4.9 untyped — —
West Fork Chestnut Creek 4.9 untyped — Class III
Dry Creek 4.9 untyped — Class IV
Big Branch 4.9 untyped — Class II
Jerry Creek 4.8 untyped — Class II
Staunton Branch 4.8 untyped — Class III
Little Fox Creek 4.7 untyped — —
Camp Creek 4.7 untyped — Class VI
Little Laurel Creek 4.7 untyped — —
Trout Branch 4.6 untyped — Class II
Venrick Run 4.6 untyped — Class II
East Prong Furnace Creek 4.6 untyped — Class II
Guffey Creek 4.5 untyped — Class III
Meadow Run 4.5 untyped — —
Cabin Creek 4.4 untyped — Class I
Elkhorn Creek 4.4 untyped — Class II
Daniel Branch 4.4 untyped — Class III
Francis Mill Creek 4.4 untyped — Class III
Deepwater Creek 4.4 untyped — —
Middle Fork Helton Creek 4.3 untyped — Class I
South Branch Elk Creek 4.3 untyped — Class VI
Whitetop Creek 4.1 untyped — Class II
Hanks Branch 4.1 untyped — Class III
West Fork Big Indian Creek 4.0 untyped — —
North Branch Elk Creek 3.9 untyped — Class II
Huckleberry Creek 3.9 untyped — —
Rush Fork 3.9 untyped — Other trout water
Kinser Creek 3.8 untyped — Class III
East Dry Run Fork 3.8 untyped — Class II
Dobbins Creek 3.8 untyped — Class III
Little Cranberry Creek 3.7 untyped — Class III
Killinger Creek 3.7 untyped — Class II
Dry Run 3.7 untyped — Class III
Ripshin Creek 3.6 untyped — Class II
Bournes Branch 3.6 untyped — Class II
Spurlock Creek 3.6 untyped — Class III
Old Field Branch 3.5 untyped — —
Long Branch 3.5 untyped — —
Muskrat Branch 3.5 untyped — —
Tory Creek 3.5 untyped — Class III
Rans Creek 3.5 untyped — —
East Fork Indian Grave Creek 3.5 untyped — —
Payne Creek 3.5 untyped — Class III
Boothe Creek 3.5 untyped — Class II
Jumping Creek 3.4 untyped — —
Wards Mill Branch 3.4 untyped — —
Piney Fork 3.4 untyped — Class II
Maple Branch 3.4 untyped — —
Indian Grave Creek 3.4 untyped — —
Pondlick Branch 3.4 untyped — —
Kent Branch 3.4 untyped — —
Powdermill Creek 3.3 untyped — —
Dry Branch 3.3 untyped — —
Hogan Branch 3.3 untyped — —
Meadow Creek 3.3 untyped — Class III
Comers Rock Branch 3.2 untyped — Class III
Camp Branch 3.2 untyped — —
Big Windfall Branch 3.1 untyped — —
Bear Branch 3.1 untyped — —
Fall Branch 3.1 untyped — —
Little Brush Creek 3.1 untyped — —
Jones Creek 3.1 untyped — Class III
Mill Branch 3.1 untyped — —
Roads Creek 3.1 untyped — Class II
Bear Creek 3.1 untyped — Class II
Little Macks Creek 3.1 untyped — Class III
Ripshin Branch 3.0 untyped — —
Lick Creek 3.0 untyped — —
Pool Spring Branch 3.0 untyped — —
Long Mountain Creek 3.0 untyped — Class II
Chisholm Creek 2.9 untyped — Class II
Bobbitt Creek 2.9 untyped — —
Lewis Fork 2.8 untyped — Class I
Bowen Branch 2.8 untyped — —
Chaney Branch 2.8 untyped — —
West Dry Run Fork 2.8 untyped — Class III
Adams Branch 2.8 untyped — —
White Branch 2.8 untyped — —
Bentley Branch 2.8 untyped — —
Shippy Branch 2.7 untyped — —
Wallen Creek 2.7 untyped — —
Falls Branch 2.7 untyped — —
Mine Branch 2.7 untyped — Class III
Periwinkle Branch 2.7 untyped — —
South Prong Buckhorn Creek 2.7 untyped — —
Eckels Branch 2.7 untyped — —
Earls Branch 2.7 untyped — Class III
New River 2.6 untyped — —
Chimney Branch 2.6 untyped — —
White Oak Camp Branch 2.6 untyped — —
Easter Creek 2.6 untyped — —
Lick Run 2.6 untyped — —
Jerd Branch 2.5 untyped — —
Clems Branch 2.5 untyped — —
Flag Pond Branch 2.4 untyped — —
Shop Branch 2.4 untyped — —
Greens Creek 2.4 untyped — Class III
North Prong Buckhorn Creek 2.4 untyped — Class II
Fortnerfield Branch 2.4 untyped — —
Silverleaf Branch 2.4 untyped — Class III
West Prong Furnace Creek 2.4 untyped — Class III
Reeds Creek 2.4 untyped — —
Fees Branch 2.3 untyped — —
Vaughn Branch 2.3 untyped — —
Brannon Branch 2.3 untyped — Class III
Little Dry Run 2.2 untyped — —
Shady Branch 2.2 untyped — —
Simmons Creek 2.2 untyped — —
Baldwin Branch 2.1 untyped — Class II
Shupe Creek 2.1 untyped — —
Piney Creek 2.1 untyped — Class III
Gray Branch 2.1 untyped — —
Sulphur Spring Branch 2.1 untyped — Class II
Byars Creek 2.0 untyped — Class II
Opossum Creek 2.0 untyped — Class II
Solomon Branch 2.0 untyped — Class II
Buffalo Branch 2.0 untyped — Class II
Pine Fork 2.0 untyped — —
Granny Branch 1.9 untyped — —
Mud Creek 1.8 untyped — —
Linard Creek 1.8 untyped — Class III
Raccoon Branch 1.8 untyped — Class IV
Harvel Creek 1.8 untyped — —
Cherry Creek 1.8 untyped — Class II
Bark Camp Branch 1.8 untyped — Class IV
Puncheoncamp Branch 1.8 untyped — Class II
Harbison Branch 1.8 untyped — —
Wolf Spring Branch 1.8 untyped — —
Wilburn Branch 1.7 untyped — Class I
Middle Branch Elk Creek 1.7 untyped — —
Wolfpen Branch 1.7 untyped — —
Hines Branch 1.7 untyped — —
Miller Branch 1.7 untyped — —
Ward Branch 1.7 untyped — —
Ogle Branch 1.7 untyped — —
Altoona Branch 1.7 untyped — —
Big Shuffle Branch 1.7 untyped — —
Cherry Branch 1.7 untyped — —
Lost Branch 1.6 untyped — —
Big Wilson Creek 1.6 untyped — Class II
Laurel Branch 1.6 untyped — —
Furnace Creek 1.6 untyped — Class II
Young Branch 1.5 untyped — —
Goose Creek 1.5 untyped — —
Yellow Branch 1.5 untyped — —
Moccasin Branch 1.5 untyped — —
Buck Hollow Branch 1.5 untyped — —
Little Windfall Branch 1.4 untyped — —
Brier Run 1.4 untyped — Class II
Pipestem Branch 1.4 untyped — Class III
Eddys Branch 1.4 untyped — —
Burgess Creek 1.3 untyped — Class III
Lee Branch 1.3 untyped — —
Carico Branch 1.3 untyped — —
Farmers Branch 1.3 untyped — —
Straight Branch 1.3 untyped — Class III
Brannom Branch 1.3 untyped — —
Sugar Branch 1.2 untyped — —
Coon Branch 1.2 untyped — —
Bullins Branch 1.2 untyped — —
Jake Branch 1.2 untyped — —
Big Tan Trough Branch 1.2 untyped — —
Quebec Branch 1.1 untyped — Class I
Nettle Branch 1.1 untyped — —
Sugar Tree Branch 1.1 untyped — —
Buckhorn Creek 1.1 untyped — —
Rocky Branch 1.1 untyped — —
Bellow Branch 1.0 untyped — —
Buck Shoals Branch 1.0 untyped — —
Straley Branch 1.0 untyped — —
Weiss Branch 0.9 untyped — —
Stillhouse Branch 0.9 untyped — —
Macey Branch 0.9 untyped — —
Baker Branch 0.8 untyped — Class II
Quaker Branch 0.8 untyped — —
Cove Branch 0.7 untyped — —
Little Horse Creek 0.6 untyped — —
Potters Branch 0.5 untyped — —
Cove Creek 0.1 untyped — —

Public land in the watershed

135,177 acres in 10 units, which is 7.2% of the 1,883,094 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 125,973 93% 4
Virginia DWR 9,204 7% 2
Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation 0 0% 3
Virginia Department of Forestry 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.