Fishing Report

The five nymphs I discussed last week for the delayed harvest and large stocked trout streams is still working this week.  At this time of year these seldom let me down. I normally fish these across stream on a floating line unless the streams get high or discolored then I switch to a sinking tip III line. Murray's Dark Stonefly Nymph size 12 Murray's Road Kill Nymph, Olive size 8 Casual Dress Nymph size 10 Mr. Rapidan Soft Hackle Olive size 8 Caddis Pupa Olive size 12 All of the local stocked trout streams are clear and fishable at this...

The North Fork of the Shenandoah River is clear and fishable.  I have friends that like to take a kayak or canoe and find the areas of the rivers (normally upstream of the dams) that hold deep pools that are 12 to 15 feet deep. With the cooler water temperature the bass are holding in these areas. Fish as slowly and as deeply as you can with a Magnum Hog Sucker, Magnum Darter or Magnum Bluegill in a size 4.  Chapman's Landing north of Edinburg is one of the areas that you can put in and float down to the...

The rains this week actually helped the stream levels on the local stocked trout streams. All of the local trout streams are clear and fishable. My favorite flies to use at this time of year are: Murray's Dark Stonefly Nymph size 12, Casual Dress Nymph size 10, Caddis Pupa size 12 and Mr. Rapidan Soft Hackle, Olive Nymph size 8. Fish these on a 4X leader.   Use caution when wading and sneak, sneak, sneak so you do not spook the fish.

The rains this week caused the South Fork of the Shenandoah River to be muddy and high. I expect it will take at least a week for the South Fork to clear.  The North Fork has some high and discolored water coming from upstream of Edinburg that will be working its way downstream today. I expect the North Fork to be back to normal levels by Sunday.  Using a Murray's Magnum Darter size 4, Magnum Hog Sucker size 4, or Magnum Creek Chub on a 2X Fluorocarbon leader will help you.  Fish them as deeply and as slowly as you...

Here are the basic ways I fish my five favorite winter flies. I strip the Magnum Hog Sucker from the deep gravel bars into the deep pools. I crawl the Madtom/Sculpin (black) across the bottom of the river in the deep pools below the heavy riffles. I strip the Magnum Darter across the cobblestone rocks at the lower end of the deep pools. I swim the Murray's Heavy Black Hellgrammite across the deep pockets in the deep riffles. I fish the Tungsten Cone Head Marauder, Olive where the mouths of feeder streams cut deep pools into the rivers. The close...