Category Archives: Fishing Report

Murray’s Fly Shop Fishing Report and stream conditions for the Shenandoah River and Shenandoah National Park in Virginia and the Shenandoah Valley.

North and South Fork Shenandoah River Fly Fishing Report

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North Fork Shenandoah River Muddy and High

The North Fork of the Shenandoah River is currently in great shape at Strasburg, VA but upstream from Edinburg, VA to Fulks Run, VA there is a lot of water. The USGS Streamflow Gauges show that the river has reached it’s crest on both the Mt. Jackson Streamflow Gauge and the Cootes Store Streamflow Gauge. This is what we call “quick water”. Quick water leaves the area quickly because it fell in a short time frame and was not able to soak in. This doesn’t help the water table, it is mostly just a speed bump in the Smallmouth Bass Fly Fishing. Fortunately you can usually get ahead of or behind the extra water as it moves through the Shenandoah Valley.

The South Fork of the Shenandoah River is currently in great shape from Luray, VA downstream to the Potomac River. The USGS Streamflow Gauges show the river has reached it’s crest on the Lynnwood, VA Streamflow Gauge. This water will move through quickly as well but there is a lot of it.

The North Fork of the Shenandoah River and the South Fork of the Shenandoah River will both have “fishable” areas through the weekend. Give us a call if you need help determining where the extra water is or track it on the USGS Streamflow Gauges.

Fly Fishing Special Report for the Shenandoah Valley

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High and muddy Big Stony Creek in Edinburg, VA1.98″ of rain in downtown Edinburg has the North Fork and South Fork of the Shenandoah River high, muddy and un-fishable as of right now.  Big Stony Creek, Mill Creek, Passage Creek and the rest of the Shenandoah Valley stocked trout streams are high and un-fishable right now. If you have to get on the water, your only option is likely kayaking, rafting or whitewater canoeing the North Fork or South Fork of the Shenandoah.  Floating over the low water bridges shouldn’t pose much of a problem as many are 3-4 feet underwater as I write this.  The good news is many streams and rivers have reached their crest and for you hoping to cast to a few trout, Passage Creek is dropping back quickly and will be fishable by Saturday (12-10-2011) afternoon unless we receive unpredicted rain.  Until then, stop by the fly shop at 10:00am Saturday for our Workshop: Fly Fishing for Trout.

 

River Conditions: High Muddy Water!!

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The North and South Fork of the Shenandoah River are both high and discolored from heavy rain which fell in the early morning hours of 6/20/2011. Both of these rivers will be dropping back soon if they have not already reached their crest. The upstream stretches of the North Fork of the Shenandoah will be one of the first areas to become fishable. The North Fork should be fishable upstream from Edinburg, VA by Thursday (6/23) and throughout the drainage by Saturday. The South Fork should be fishable upstream from Luray, VA by Friday (6/24) and downstream to Front Royal, VA by Sunday (6/26). These rough predictions are based on the premise that we receive no more heavy rain this week.

Trout Fly Fishing Outlook Podcast for Late Spring 2011

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Little Yellow Stonefly on a Shenandoah National Park Brook Trout Stream

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Stream Report March 4, 2011

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Smallmouth Bass Fishing Report
Smallmouth Bass Fishing North Fork Shenandoah RiverNo smallmouth yet but I did pick up some very large fall fish 2 days ago on a Murray’s Heavy Hellgrammite. Fish these deeply with a Sink Tip III Line. Other flies that can be productive early in the season are Murray’s Black Madtom 4 and Murray’s Magnum Hog Sucker 4.


Trout Fishing Report
Mr. Rapidan Bead Head Nymph for Trout Fly FishingThe streams are still cold but many large rainbows have been stocked in some of our best large streams. Two of my favorites are the Bullpasture upstream of Williamsville and Big Stoney Creek below the springs west of Edinburg. Be versitle in your fly selection to match the whims of the trout.

The trout in the mountain streams will start feeding shortly as the Epeorus pleuralis mayfly nymphs become active. You will find these in the lower parts of the riffles and just below the riffles. I designed the Mr. Rapidan Bead Head Nymph to match these so fish this in size 14 upstream dead drift on a 5X Classic Leader with two SA Indicators spaced along it. The lower reaches of the streams will give you the best fishing because there may still be some ice in the upper reaches. Other flies that are effective in these streams early in the season are the Murray’s Dark Stonefly Nymph 12 and the Murray’s Olive Caddis Pupa 12.