Short answer: a valid Virginia State fishing license. Licenses can be purchased online through the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources. Other than that, the only thing you will need is a fishy attitude. 

All gear such as rods, reels, lines, flies, and waders (when applicable) are included with each trip package.

All anglers are welcome to bring their own gear. For Native Trout Walk + Wade trips, we recommend a short 2-4wt rod. For Private Water Walk + Wade trips, a 4wt or 5wt rod is great. 

For Smallmouth Float Trips, a good streamer rod between 6-8wt is ideal. 

For Musky Float Trips, a 10-12wt rod ensures turnover of large musky flies. 

Yes, a valid Virginia Fishing License is required to fish within the state. All state fishing licenses can be purchased online through the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources Go Outdoors portal. 

For Native Trout Walk + Wade Trips, look for the "Trout Angler" license. This allows you to fish in National Forests and target freshwater fish.

For Private Water Walk + Wade Trips as well as for all Float Trips, look for the "Avid Angler" license. This allows you to target both freshwater fish and saltwater fish.

For the most updated fishing license information please refer to this article from the Virginia DWR. This is also a great resource for determining qualifications for Virginia resident vs non-resident status, military discounts, and senior discounts.

Layers are your friend! Conditions can change rapidly on the water so ensuring you have rain and sun protection is highly recommended. Make sure to check the local weather the day before your trip for the best reflection of the day's conditions while planning for fluctuations.

Sunglasses are very important in any fishing setting. These are your eye protection from the glare of the water, but most importantly, they shield you from an errant fly whipping by your head. 

If you are headed out on a Float Trip, please wear shoes that can get wet. All of our rafts are self-bailing meaning there will be some water at your feet. 

We recommend you choose breathable fabrics that allow you to move your arms freely. Wool and cotton not going to be your friend on your trip. Synthetics and blends have proven themselves.

Nope! Our guides are fully equipped with all of the fishing gear you need. This includes rods, reels, line, leader, tippet, flies, waders (when applicable), and intimate knowledge of localized waters.

That being said, if you are more comfortable using your own gear, clients are more than welcome to bring their own! Have a new setup that you want to get dialed? Our guides are ready to hone your cast and techniques to your new rod. Have a rod that feels like home? Bring it! 

If you are like us and love nerding out over your own ties, bring some to throw out there! We always love chatting about and testing out all sorts of ties in addition to the classics.

Absolutely. Our guides have years of experience in teaching fly fishing to those who have never heard of the sport and avid anglers looking to build on their skills. 

Your guide will structure the day to meet you  at your comfort level. This can mean a greater focus on casting, reading water, or choosing the right fly pattern. We love introducing folks to the wonderful world of fly fishing!

If you are not sure if you will love it, we recommend a Half-Day Walk + Wade Trip. This will give you time to get your cast down while not committing to a full 6-8 hours on the water. 

The only trip that we do not recommend for beginners is a Musky-focused Float Trip. These predatory fish are known as the fish of 10,000 casts for a reason. This makes fishing for them very technical. If you are new to the sport and are looking for a Float Trip, we recommend a  Jackson Tailwater Float Trip for trout or a Warm Water Float Trip for smallmouth. 

Your guide will reach out to you 48 hours in advance of your trip. At this time, they will let you know what section of water you will be fishing, where to meet, and when to meet. Generally speaking, we like to get on the water around 8am to 9am. 

Given the dynamic nature of our waterways, it is difficult to make a call on what fishery will have the best conditions when we are more than a few days out from the trip. We want you to have the best day possible so we lean on our guide's years of experience and daily on-water readings of conditions to determine the section of water. 

The short answer is that it depends on the time of year. Water temperatures determine what fish we target. Trout require water temperatures below 64 to be safely targeted. This is because trout are cold-water species. Colder water holds more dissolved oxygen and therefore allows trout to properly and safely recover from fighting. Seasonal fluctuations make determining the exact dates of our trout season impossible. We aim to open our Walk + Wade trips in early October and close them in May. 

In the summer, we offer Full-Day Float Trips for smallmouth bass and gar. These fish are abundant in our warm water rivers. We typically float the James River and the Shenandoah River. 

Our guides are the experts on current water conditions. They will make sure to choose the best section of water given the current conditions. 

We want nothing more to get you on the water! So you are free to reschedule your booking up to a year from your original booking date unless your request is within four days of your trip. If you need to cancel, you are able to get 90% of your payment back. This will be issued to the payment method of your original transaction. For the Albemarle Angler’s full refund policy, please see our Shop Policies page on our website. 

If you have schedule constraints, our guides will work with you. Please mention this to whoever is helping you book your trip.

When given prior notice, guides can get clients off the water around 3:00-4:00pm when a shorter float is chosen. But given the resources needed to get the boats out on the water, the price of a Full Day Float remains the same.