The Rappahannock, one of the Old Dominion's great rivers, is home to a wide variety of fish, including shad, small and largemouth bass, bluegills, catfish, and even stripers. This historic water, which draws anglers from around the commonwealth, runs through the middle of Fredericksburg and yet has remained relatively unpolluted. The "Rap," as Virginians lovingly call it, boasts quite a long history as a successful fishery. George Washington's family had a farm along the banks of the Rappahannock, and it was here that Washington spent much of his youth. Perhaps Washington's famous tree-chopping and truth-telling incident-familiar to us all from grammar school-occurred on the banks of the majestic Rappahannock. My money's on it that Washington was hoping to fashion a fly rod from that hapless cherry tree.

Rappahannock is in fact an Algonquian Indian word meaning "rapidly rising and falling waters." And tidal fluctuations do indeed affect the river as a result of its proximity to the Chesapeake Bay. More than once, I have waded out to the middle of the Rap only to discover later that I had to find another way back to shore: The rocks I had used to pick my way across the river a few hours before had quietly slipped beneath the water's surface as a result of the tidal change.

Shad invade the Rappahannock by the tens of thousands beginning in late March and ending the first week of May. I have seen schools of shad so thick that the river itself took on a dark silvery hue. These shad range from two to five pounds, eagerly take flies, and fight hard; in fact, their dramatic jumps on the line have earned them the nickname "poor man's tarpon."

Stripers quickly follow the shad; they, too, are migrating up the river to spawn in the spring. The Rap's dedicated striper anglers seem to have a good relationship with the equally devout shad anglers, presumably because they are passing each other on the river. The striper guys usually come out at dusk-which is when the shad anglers are coming in off the river. The scene looks like a fly anglers' shift change, with the shad anglers telling the striper guys that they're chasing the wrong fish, and the striper guys telling the "shaddies" that they should be angling for real fish instead of fat minnows.

By June, the stripers and shad have long since departed, and warm water anglers turn their attention to bass and other sunfishes. The Rap's numerous little islands crisscrossing the river and midsize boulders provide tremendous structure for these species. Trees swept downstream result in log jams; eventually the logs catch on large boulders and snare even more downed trees and debris as they float by. Add a sand bar and presto-you've got yourself a baby island forming before your very eyes. Bass and bluegill haunt these tiny islands, turning the fallen structure into perfect fish condominiums.

Appropriate gear for the Rap depends on what you plan to pursue. For shad in shallow water, think #5 and #6 weights with weight-forward floating lines. Because shad hang near the bottom of the water column, you may want to add some split shot to your line. Another option is a sinking Polyleader, which is tapered, added directly to your floating line, and acts as a sinking tip. Made by Airflo and distributed by Rajeff Sports, the Polyleader is available in 4- to 8-foot lengths in varying sink rates. I usually add one of Airflo's Super Fast Sinking Polyleaders to my floating line and then add a few feet of tippet along with a flashy little fly. This setup allows you to get to the fish without having to buy a sinking line in water less than five feet deep. Polyleaders are easier to cast than split shot, and can be used for other fishing situations.

When I'm fishing for shad or stripers in deeper water, I normally use Airflo's 200 or 300 grain Depth Finder. Of course, you may need to use a heavier grain weight if you're in deeper water or if a significant current exists. Needless to say, if you're casting heavier lines, heavier rods are in order. You can usually manage the river's stripers with #8 or #9 weights. These same rods with floating lines can also double as good bass rods when the season progresses and the stripers leave the river.

To outfit your fly box for the Rap, you'll need a wide range of patterns. For shad, keep in mind that flies need to be small and bright. One pattern I recommend is Tommy's Torpedo, developed by saltwater guide Tommy Mattioli and available in sizes #4-#6. The fly comes in chartreuse, orange, red, and pink, and sports a bright gold tail. Another good shad pattern is the Buggit, which comes in a variety of bright colors in sizes #6-#8 and is also used for trout and bass. Striper flies run the gamut from #4 all the way to 2/0 and come in a variety of colors. Blue and white, chartreuse and white, and all-white Clouser Minnows seem to be particularly effective for stripers. As the season progresses, surface flies like Hickey's Condor, Mr. Bob's Poppers, and Walt's Poppers are great for smallies and other assorted pan fish. Effective subsurface patterns include Woolly Buggers, Big Nasties, Jail Baits, sculpins, and dragonfly nymphs.

The Rap is easy to reach by car and can be waded as long as you are careful and use felt-soled shoes. The best walk up access is by Falmouth Beach, which also has a parking area available. From Northern Virginia, take Interstate 95 South to Rt. 17 South (about 5 miles north of Fredericksburg). Take Rt. 17 South for about 6 miles until it joins Route 1 South, and turn right. After about 100 yards, bear right and go under the Route 1 Bridge. Falmouth Beach is on the right. If you go into the city of Fredericksburg by way of the Route 1 Bridge, you've gone too far. Turn around on Route 1, and make an immediate left once you cross over the river.