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The large trout in these streams are feeding well on the natural nymphs below the riffles and in the deep pools. An effective tactic in the deep pools is to use a sinking tip fly line with a Murray's Fluorocarbon 6 foot 3X Leader to get your nymphs down deeply. Cast across stream and swim these across the streambottom by stripping them six inches every ten seconds. Good nymphs now are the Murray's Adams Nymph size 14, Murray's Olive Magic Caddis Pupa size 14 and Murray's Dark Miracle Stonefly Nymph size 14. Excellent streams now are the Hidden Valley of...

The green caddis sedge hatch on our mountain trout streams is prompting heavy trout feeding. A great tactic is to attach a Mr. Rapidan Olive Delta Wing Caddis Dry size 16 or a Shenandoah Olive Caddis size 14 to a Murray's Classic 7.5 foot 5X Leader. Then tie a Murray's Olive Magic Caddis Pupa size 14 to a two foot 5X dropper below the dry fly. Fish this rig upstream dead drift on the edge of the fast runs coming into the heads of the pool. This is very effective in both the Appalachian and Blue Ridge Mountains.

The brown drake mayflies I covered last week produce some outstanding dry fly fishing at dusk when the spinners mate and fall spent on the surface of the river. Frequently I have had a dozen smallmouth bass rising within casting distance to feed on these spinner. Effective flies are the Murray's Brown Drake size 14, Humpy Red Dry size 12 and Irresistible Dry size 12. Good tactics are to cast a foot out in front of the cruising bass as he takes the spinners. Also cast a dry fly right on his riseform when he comes up. Upstream from access...

The hatches are sparse on these streams now so the trout are feeding on a variety of small nymphs below the riffles. Good flies are the Murray's Adams Nymph size 14, Murray's Caddis Larva size 14 and Murray's Dark Miracle Stonefly Nymph size 14. Wade carefully and fish these upstream dead drift on Murray's Trout Nymphing 9 foot 2X Leader.Good streams include the lower section of Big Wilson and Big Stoney Creek West of Edinburg.

There are exciting brown drake mayfly hatches on some smallmouth bass rivers now that are giving us good dry fly fishing when the duns emerge in mid afternoon. Excellent flies are the Murray's Brown Drake size 14, Irresistible Dry size 12 and Humpy Red Dry size 12. Fish these along the banks and around boulders where you see rising bass and to just cover the water. The North Fork of the Shenandoah River is good downstream from access point #4 (Near Dr. Truban's Vet Clinic). The South Fork of the Shenandoah River is in good shape at access point #11...