Blue lining Virginia’s Blue Ridge with Mark Taylor
Episode 163 of the Destination Angler Fly Fishing Podcast – January 29, 2026
Our destination is the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia with Mark Taylor, Eastern Communications Director for Trout Unlimited.
Our destination is the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia—steep, green, and loaded with incredible trout water if you know where to look. We’re blue-lining small mountain streams with Mark Taylor, Eastern Communications Director for Trout Unlimited and one of the most respected outdoor writers in the country.
Virginia might be the most underrated fly-fishing state in the East. Freestone brook trout streams high in the mountains, spring creeks in the valleys, and big rivers loaded with trout, smallmouth and muskies. Stick around—we’re breaking it all down.
With host Steve Haigh
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Recorded Dec 4, 2025
Does Virginia have it all?
From brook trout to muskies, Virginia offers an unmatched mix of water types and species.Meet Mark Taylor (Trout Unlimited)
Mark shares how his background in journalism, the military, and conservation shaped his fishing life.The myth of “fishing for a living”
Working in conservation doesn’t mean fishing every day—but it does mean knowing great water.The Upper Delaware: amazing and unforgiving
One of the East’s best wild trout rivers, but never an easy fishery.Why the Driftless is unskippable
Mark never visits the Driftless without fishing—it’s that good.A landscape shaped by missed glaciers
The Driftless’ spring creeks and rolling hills create endless trout water.2,500 trout per mile
Even average Driftless streams can be absolutely loaded with fish.Unmatched access in the Driftless
Bridge-to-bridge fishing and welcoming landowners make exploration easy.How stream restoration really works
Fixing streams improves trout populations and entire ecosystems.The Yellowstone ripple effect
Losing cutthroat trout changed predator behavior across the ecosystem.Fitness, endurance, and better fishing
Staying in shape makes tough fishing and hunting trips possible.The ultimate Virginia fishing week
Brook trout, smallmouth, stripers, muskies, spring creeks, and tailwaters in one trip.The Jackson River explained
Cold water, stunning scenery, and complicated access define this tailwater.The Smith River comeback
Stabilized flows and long-term monitoring helped revive a once-struggling fishery.How to find uncrowded trout streams
Matching elevation, watershed, and stream type beats chasing famous water.
