Print it. Bag it. Bring it.Phones die, screens crack, and most of this water has no signal. Print this map, fold it into a zip-top bag or dry bag with your license, and you have a backup your electronics can’t give you. Every marker is numbered so you can say exactly where you are.
| # | Point | Type | Lat, Lon | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Port Republic Access VA DWR - Rockingham Co. - hand launch | Access / boat ramp | 38.29583, -78.80799 | Head of the South Fork, at the Middle and North River confluence. Hand launch. |
| 2 | Island Ford Access VA DWR - Rockingham Co. - hand launch | Access / boat ramp | 38.35482, -78.69565 | Hand launch below Port Republic, Rockingham County. |
| 3 | South Fork Shenandoah River near Lynnwood USGS 01628500 - real-time stage and flow | USGS gauge | 38.32263, -78.75475 | Roster gauge for this water. The Page County floats read off this one; it is the gauge to check. |
| 4 | Elkton Access VA DWR - Rockingham Co. - hand launch | Access / boat ramp | 38.40947, -78.63497 | Hand launch at Elkton, at the USGS Lynnwood gauge reach. |
| 5 | Shenandoah Riverside Access VA DWR - Page Co. - 1 ramp | Access / boat ramp | 38.48035, -78.62373 | Ramp at Shenandoah, Page County. |
| 6 | Grove Hill Access VA DWR - Page Co. - hand launch | Access / boat ramp | 38.52734, -78.59471 | Hand launch, Page County. |
| 7 | Newport Access VA DWR - Page Co. - hand launch | Access / boat ramp | 38.58317, -78.59435 | Hand launch above Alma. |
| 8 | Alma Access VA DWR - Page Co. - hand launch | Access / boat ramp | 38.58878, -78.56577 | Hand launch at Alma; short float to White House. |
| 9 | White House Access VA DWR - Page Co. - 1 ramp | Access / boat ramp | 38.64607, -78.53448 | Ramp at the White House bridge - the usual top of the Page County smallmouth float. |
| 10 | Massanutten Access VA DWR - Page Co. - 1 ramp | Access / boat ramp | 38.67239, -78.52913 | Ramp below White House. |
| 11 | Inskeep Access VA DWR - Page Co. - hand launch | Access / boat ramp | 38.70155, -78.49173 | Hand launch, Page County. |
| 12 | Fosters Access VA DWR - Page Co. - 1 ramp | Access / boat ramp | 38.77032, -78.42249 | Ramp at Fosters, below Luray. |
| 13 | Bentonville Access VA DWR - Warren Co. - hand launch | Access / boat ramp | 38.84009, -78.33042 | Hand launch at Bentonville, Warren County. |
| 14 | Karo Access VA DWR - Warren Co. - hand launch | Access / boat ramp | 38.87151, -78.25264 | Hand launch above the Front Royal confluence. |
| 15 | Simpson's Landing Access VA DWR - Warren Co. - hand launch | Access / boat ramp | 38.87874, -78.26198 | Lowest South Fork access, just above the Front Royal confluence. DWR labels the waterbody Shenandoah River (South). |
Gauge: USGS 01628500 — S F Shenandoah River near Lynnwood, VA. Live flow on the web page.
Species: Bluegill, Channel Catfish, Largemouth Bass, Muskellunge, Redbreast Sunfish, Rock Bass, Smallmouth Bass
Regulations: dwr.virginia.gov/fishing/regulations/
Emergency: call 911 and give the number of the nearest point on this map plus its coordinates.
Port Republic landing at the forks - the top of the South Fork and the uppermost public launch.
Lynnwood access near the gauge - convenient upper river put-in.
Shenandoah town landing - developed access with parking on the upper middle river.
Inskeep and Newport landings near Luray - the heart of the middle river float water.
Bixlers Ferry landing north of Luray - popular mid-river launch.
Bentonville landing - lower river access above the Front Royal reach.
Karo Landing and Front Royal town access - the bottom of the South Fork at the confluence.
Spring: high and stained from valley rain, with a strong smallmouth prespawn as the river settles in May.
Summer: the classic season, low clear water, long floats and excellent topwater fishing morning and evening.
Fall: cooling water, smallmouth feeding hard on the ledges and the start of the serious musky season.
Winter: cold and often high, mainly a slow deep game for smallmouth and the best mo