Stonesthrow on Jackson
Flyfish the beautiful Jackson River with an experienced Anglers Lane guide. Utilizing our five properties spread along the Jackson River, our experienced guides work to put you on fish and ensure that you enjoy Virginia's most scenic floatable river for wild rainbow and brown trout. For overnight or multi-day trips use our private lodge, a short cast or "Stonesthrow" from the river. Only 30 minutes from The Omni Homestead or The Greenbrier resorts. We have fished the river since 1992, have guided it since 2005, and logged more trips than any other guide service on it. Anglers Lane operates on landings managed by the US Forest Service under special use permit from the USDA Forest Service, George Washington & Jefferson National Forests; Anglers Lane is an equal opportunity service provider and employer.
+Book Now
You have several booking options:
Give or book "Best of the Jackson" Guided Float day(s) plus overnight(s) as a Gift and select combinations you like. If a gift, when you get to the option for dates just select "Gift-TBD." We will promptly mail you a gift certificate. If you are booking for yourself then we will confirm date(s) next business day.
or Book Guided Float Day(s) Here contingent on availability--this option gives you priority on dates over the CONTACT US choice....
or Book Cabin Overnight(s) DIY contingent on availability--this option gives you priority on dates over the CONTACT US choice....
or CONTACT US in which case we will call you next business day to confirm and obtain your card info.
orcall 434-385-0200 to book/discuss your guided trip on the Jackson and/or overnights at Stonesthrow on Jackson.
If you have already confirmed dates with Anglers Lane and just wish to make your deposit, you can and make deposit with card or PayPal.
+Guided Rates
Full Day Float Trip on Jackson River
Raft for 2-Person float $575 total daily
Raft for 1-Person $525 total daily
+ Included
Guide, private access on our properties, lunch, equipment use (fly rods & reels and waders if you need them).
+Not included
Va state fishing license, guide tip at client discretion, lost flies.
Full Day Walk & Wade on Jackson River
1-Person $4752-Person $525
3-person $675
+ Included
Guide, private access on our properties, lunch, equipment use (fly rods & reels and waders if you need them).
+ Not included
Va state fishing license, guide tip at client discretion, lost flies.
CONTACT US or call 434-385-0200 to book your trip on the Jackson.
+Stonesthrow Rates
Overnight at Stonesthrow
1-Person $195
2-Person $295
3-Person $395
4-Person $495
Add $100 for each additional person. Max 9 persons.
Includes lodge rental and sales tax, plus fishing rights at Stonesthrow.
+Book now - Contact us or call 434-385-0200 to book your trip with us on the Jackson.
+Unguided Day Passes
$140 per person for 2 or more persons. $150 for 1-person. Includes fishing rights to two of our properties on Jackson: at 4.5 miles, 6.8 miles, 8.4 miles, 12 miles and 13 miles below Gathright dam, pending availability.
+Stonesthrow Cabin-location & rates
Situated 50' from the river, our Stonesthrow cabin offers 3 bedrooms, 2 baths, and comfortable living room connected to a convenient kitchen & dining room with a close-up view of the Jackson. The main cabin includes five beds plus an inflatable for a sixth. The adjacent but separate guides cabin can be rented separately and has two beds plus a sleep sofa. Rental works like house at beach--towels and linens are included. Cabin has cooking facilities (gas stove, oven and outdoor grill). Restaurants and grocery stores 10 minutes away in Covington. Located less than 15 minutes from Interstate-64 exit #18, within 25 minutes of Hot Springs, Virginia and 30 minutes from Warm Springs, West Virginia.
DIY float fishermen - Our five landings offer an opportunity to float the river on your own. If you plan to use the landings, notify our shop so we can coordinate and keep space between our guides and your party.
Stonesthrow Rates
Overnight at Stonesthrow
1-Person $195
2-Person $295
3-Person $395
4-Person $495
Add $100 for each additional person. Max 9 persons.
Includes lodge rental and sales tax, plus fishing rights at Stonesthrow.
+Stonesthrow Cabin-Interior Pics / capacity
3 bedrooms include Master with Queen and private bath/shower, two room with twin beds sharing a bath with shower
+Fish Species / River History / Access
Jackson River tailwater was created from construction of Gathright Dam in the late 1980's. Coldwater fishery was created and stocked by VDGIF in 1989 and the rainbow and brown trout immediately "took" and reproduced to create an excellent wild trout fishery. VDGIF ceased stocking in the late 1990's. Since around 2005, all rainbow and brown trout in Jackson are wild (the rare exceptions are fish washed down from private stockings on Cedar Creek). Below Covington and Clifton Forge, the Jackson merges with Cowpasture to form the James. While the average trout ranges from 10" - 14" we catch larger fish on many trips including occasional trout over 20".
We know the areas covered by the perplexing kings grant laws, respect the rights of respective landowners, and keep abreast of the legal issues involving river land rights. We know where we can fish and where we truly cannot as our owners also own land along the river, and try to communicate with the Corps of Engineers regarding water flows. It is important to closely watch their schedule of pulse releases which can mess up a day's fishing (and cause you to drown). Be sure to check the Corps website for daily flows before accessing the river.
+FAQs Cabin and Guided Trips
Most Frequently Asked Questions
1. What are arrival and departure times for Stonesthrow overnight stays?
All overnight bookings are for 24-hour periods with two choices:
9am-9 am or 6 pm to 6 pm
The first client to book the lodge for available date(s) may choose which check-in time they prefer.
2. What type of licenses do we need?Virginia residents 16 and over need a valid Va freshwater fishing license. Non-Virginia residents 12 and over need a valid Virginia freshwater fishing license. If you are over the age of 65 you need a Va fishing license.
3. Can we keep fish? Can we spin fish?No to both questions, Stonesthrow is fly fishing only, catch and release! We do not like to kill our business associates. While we have nothing against spin fishermen personally, we are a fly shop and agree with the owners that fly fishing is the most sporting way to fish for trout.
4. Which fishing properties are included when we stay at Stonesthrow?Stonesthrow property overnight rental includes a day of walk and wade fishing on the cabin property, plus one other property designated by the shop. If you have a larger party we may include a third property as well.
5. Will we see anyone else on the property?Of course you may see a Stonesthrow owner or Angler's Lane associate doing maintenance there or traversing the land on the property; in such case please ask who they are. If you see anybody fishing on the river in front of our property who does not have written permission, or cannot prove they are part of Anglers Lane, nor an adjacent landowner, then please contact us immediately: 434-385-0200. The Jackson River access is of course a fluid issue so we can tell you specifics when you call. Adjacent landowners can fish, and floating parties can fish but should extend common courtesy to landowners wishing to fish.
6. How clean can we expect the lodge to be upon arrival? In the spectrum between the Ritz and a fishing shack where is Stonesthrow?Stonesthrow is cabin on the river in a friendly neihborhood of half full-time residents, half vacation residents. We clean the lodge the day before your arrival but by its nature you may encounter a rare bug. Toilets can run so we have a sign to turn toilet faucet on when you arrive and off when you leave cabin for trip or at end of trip. This precautionary step guards against toilet running the well dry and having to wait 30 minutes to take your shower.
7. How should we leave the lodge? What about linens, towels etc?Leave beds unmade or lay sheets on washer/dryer ground floor near inside air handler. Please take trash to cans inside garage using same key. Cleaning crew will remake beds and vacuum etc for next guests.
8. In counting group size do you distinguish between fishing and non-fishing clients?No. (Most clients find it impossible to resist the urge to fish.)
9. What are the best times of year to fish?One can fish Stonesthrow from late February - late November so long as the water level is sufficient.
10. Billing - what is deposit & cancellation policy?At time of booking we require a 50% deposit with balance due a day or two before the trip. Once you make deposit your room is reserved. (Store is located away from lodge and is not open Sundays.) If you have to reschedule we work with you with sufficient notice to reschedule. As a policy we do not provide outright refunds because, like airline flights, we cannot resell these days as we get closer to the event without taking a bath.
11. How do we get into the lodge?A day before your stay ask Angler's Lane for (a) combo to gates and (b) location of house key. See pic below for correct method of locking gate and for inserting combo in correct row. Make every lock a relevant link in the chain of locks. Set correct combo numbers onto the TOP ROW where 0000 is shown below--not middle row.
While Cleaning service will handle it within 24 hours of your departure, if you wish to help then place trash in cans in garage, especially helpful if you have smelly stuff.
13. What type of trout can we expect to catch?Wild rainbow and wild brown trout are standard on the Jackson. You may also encounter fall fish (from chub family) or the occasional but rare smallmouth bass or chain pickeral.
Guided clients
14. What is the program for flies, especially if we are taking a guided trip with you? If guided, then basic flies are included but not lost flies, as these vary from client to client based on proficiency. Guides will be taking flies out of their box as they really are working hard for you to catch fish. Most clients buy some flies from the shop ahead of time and keep those remaining flies at end of trip; so we dont' tend to worry about their lost flies. The rare clients who don't go with this program settle up with guides on lost flies at end of trip. 15. What is a typical tip for our guide? A good question, albeit an awkward one to answer. Our guides will be working hard to ensure you have a fun trip and Lord willing catch fish. Each appreciates your recognition at the end of the day. Percentages are similar to a restaurant. Does guide use Veemo? Typically not. Call shop if you are in a jam.Water Flows Jackson River per USACE+
Gathright Dam Projected Releases Today & Tomorrow
Graph-Lake Moomaw Inflows, Releases per US Army Corps of Engineers
GRID-Inflows to Momaw and Tailwater flows Jackson/James River Basin per USGS and USACE
Temperatures Jackson Tailwater below Gathright Dam per USGS
Temperatures Virginia Rivers including Jackson Tailwater flows & James River Basin per USGS
Calendar below shows only cabin occupancy. We or clients could be on properties most any day.