Guided Fly Fishing Trips in Virginia's Shenandoah Valley

Book a guided fly fishing trip in Virginia's Shenandoah Valley with Murray's Fly Shop and learn from local guides who have fished these waters since 1962. We offer instructional trips for trout, smallmouth bass, and seasonal American shad, with trips designed for first-time fly anglers as well as experienced anglers looking to improve their skills. And because we're just two hours from Washington, DC, a full day on the water makes an easy weekday or weekend getaway.

Call 540-984-4212 to book your trip, or use the guide below to find the trip that's right for you.

Choose Your Guided Fly Fishing Trip

Add $50 per additional angler on any trip. A $200 deposit reserves your date. See the cancellation policy below for details.

Guided Trout Fly Fishing Trips

Our Virginia trout trips take place on mountain streams throughout the Shenandoah Valley and Blue Ridge Mountains. These walk-and-wade streams hold wild and native brook trout and are especially well suited to anglers who want to learn small-stream techniques such as tight casts, short drifts, and reading pocket water.

A good fit for:

• Beginners who want hands-on casting and presentation instruction
• Intermediate anglers sharpening their mountain trout fishing skills
• Anyone new to small-stream fly fishing
• DC-area visitors looking for an easy day trip into Virginia mountain streams
• Experienced anglers exploring new Shenandoah Valley water

Full-Day Walk & Wade Trout Trip: $600 for 1–2 people, plus $50 for each additional angler. Available April through mid-Summer.

Half-Day Walk & Wade Trout Trip: $400 for 1–2 people, plus $50 for each additional angler. Available April through mid-Summer.  Lunch is not included.

Shenandoah River Smallmouth Bass Trips

The Shenandoah River is one of our primary smallmouth bass fisheries, and our guides spend much of the spring, summer and fall fishing the North Fork and South Fork. Depending on the season and conditions, we use streamers, surface bugs, and nymphs to target smallmouth around banks, structure, and current.

We offer both walk-and-wade and float trips, depending on water levels and your preference:

• Walk & wade: Work banks, riffles, and structure on foot while learning how to read and fish the river.
• Float trips: Cover more water by boat and reach runs and current seams that are difficult to access while wading.

Full-Day Walk & Wade or Float: $600 for 1–2 people, plus $50 for each additional angler.

Half-Day Walk & Wade or Float: $400 for 1–2 people, plus $50 for each additional angler.

Let us know your preference when booking, or we'll recommend the best format for current water conditions.

Rapidan & Rappahannock River Trips

We also guide half day walk-and-wade trips on the Rapidan and Rappahannock Rivers. These trips offer a different type of water while giving you an opportunity to work on the same core skills we emphasize on all of our guided trips—casting, presentation, and reading the current.

Half-Day Walk & Wade: $400 for 1–2 people, plus $50 for each additional angler.

Guided Shad Trips on the Rappahannock River

Each spring, from late March through early May, American shad run up Virginia's rivers to spawn. These powerful fish fight hard in current, and our guides will help you learn how to find the right current seams and use the tackle and presentation needed to catch them on a fly.

A shad trip is a great option if you've fished trout or bass with us before and want to try something different, or if you're visiting Virginia during the spring run and want to make the most of your time on the water.

Half-Day Shad Walk & Wade: $400 for 1–2 anglers, plus $50 for each additional angler.

What You'll Learn on Every Trip

Every Murray's guide trip is instruction-focused. We want you to catch fish, but we also want you to leave the river a better fly angler than when you started. Depending on the trip and current conditions, instruction may include:

• Fly casting fundamentals and refining your existing cast
• Line control and fly presentation
• Fly selection based on water conditions and season
• Reading currents, seams, structure, and holding water
• Species-specific techniques for mountain trout, Shenandoah River smallmouth, and Rappahannock River shad

What's Included

Best Time for a Guided Fly Fishing Trip

• Spring: Prime brook trout fishing, spring hatches, pre-spawn smallmouth bass and the American shad run
• Summer: Peak smallmouth bass season on the Shenandoah River, along with mountain trout when water conditions allow
• Fall: Strong smallmouth fishing as water temperatures cool and river conditions change
• Winter: More limited and dependent on weather and water conditions

Not sure what's fishing best right now? Call us at 540-984-4212 and we'll help you choose the right trip for current conditions.

Why Fish with Murray's Fly Shop?

• Guiding and teaching anglers in Virginia since 1962
• Local knowledge of the Shenandoah Valley, Shenandoah River, Blue Ridge mountain streams, Rapidan River, and Rappahannock River
• Instruction-focused trips designed to improve your fly fishing skills
• Trout, smallmouth bass, and seasonal shad trips
• Walk-and-wade and float trip options
• Just two hours from Washington, DC and the DMV area

Frequently Asked Questions

How far is Murray's Fly Shop from Washington, DC?
Murray's Fly Shop is about two hours from Washington, DC, making the Shenandoah Valley an easy destination for a day trip or weekend fly fishing getaway.

Do I need a Virginia fishing license?
Yes. A Virginia fishing license is required and is not included in the trip price. We can point you to where to get one before your trip.

Do I need my own fly fishing gear?
No. Rods, reels, leaders, tackle and flies are provided. You're welcome to bring your own equipment if you prefer to fish with it.

I've never fly fished before. Is that okay?
Absolutely. Our trips are instruction-focused and work well for first-time fly anglers as well as experienced anglers looking to improve their skills.

What if the weather or water conditions are bad?
Trips run in safe conditions. If your guide has to cancel due to unsafe weather, water levels, or closures, your full deposit is refunded.

Guide Trip Pricing & Cancellation Policy

A $200 deposit is due when you book your trip.

• More than 30 days before the trip: Full deposit refunded
• 15–30 days before the trip: Deposit issued as a Murray's Fly Shop gift certificate
• 14 days or less before the trip: No refund

Weather, water levels, or slow fishing conditions on their own are not grounds for cancellation or refund. If your guide cancels, or you and your guide mutually agree to cancel, because of unsafe conditions or closures beyond our control, your full deposit is refunded.

Book Your Shenandoah Valley Fly Fishing Trip

Whether you're learning to fly fish, chasing wild trout in the mountains, targeting smallmouth bass on the Shenandoah River, or timing the spring shad run, a guided trip with Murray's Fly Shop is a great way to spend a day on the water.

We're conveniently located for anglers traveling from Washington, DC and throughout Virginia's Shenandoah Valley.

Call 540-984-4212 to book your guided fly fishing trip.