Mountain Trout Streams Fly Fishing Report - August 28, 2025

Mountain Trout Streams Fly Fishing Report - August 28, 2025

The native brook trout streams in the Shenandoah National Park are getting low and the trout are very wary. I had some wonderful fishing earlier this week as the water temperature was just a few degrees cooler than it was in the previous three weeks. Right around 60 degrees. The key to fishing these streams is to stay low and sneak, sneak, sneak. Hide your approach and shadows. 

The fly shop is closed August 30 through September 8 for vacation!  No phone messages or emails will be answered during that time.  Online orders will be shipped periodically while we are closed for vacation.

I recommend coming into the streams in the Shenandoah National Park from the lower boundaries for the best water levels.  With the Labor Day weekend approaching these streams can get very crowded.  If you find that you are not catching as many fish as you think you should be, it could be that you got behind someone.  What they didn't catch--they have already spooked! For more information on access to the streams, see my book Trout Fishing in the Shenandoah National Park.

Recommended flies:

  • Murray's Flying Beetle size 16
  • Mr. Rapidan Ant size 16 or 18
  • Mr. Rapidan Midge size 18
  • Stubby Chubby (brown/lt gold) size 16 or 18
  • Shenk's Cricket size 14

Fish these on a Murray's Classic 7.5ft 6X leader.

Each year I have customers asking why we do not conduct guided fly fishing trips or schools on the native brook trout streams in the Fall months.  There are several reasons. 1)The brook trout spawn in October and November.  I do not fish for trout while they are spawning and I do not want to take a chance on stepping on a bed and destroying eggs.
2)Often the water levels are low in the Fall.  Ideal months to fish these streams are April and May when the water levels and hatches are ideal.

If you want to learn more about the small native brook trout streams and how to fly fish for wild brook trout, consider taking our On The Stream Schools for Spring 2026.  Registration is open!  

 

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