An anglers sitting in the front of a blue raft holding a large smallmouth bass with fall leaves on the trees in the background.

Smallmouth Bass Streams Fly Fishing Report - October 23, 2026

Both the North Fork of the Shenandoah and South Fork of the Shenandoah River are cooling off quickly.  We have had two nights of frost this week.  Water levels continue to be in good shape on both the North and South Fork.  Mid afternoon until dark has been the most active time of the day.  The smallmouth bass are definitely willing to feed and are in their fall feeding frenzy though the cool water temperatures (mid 50's) have limited the time of day they are feeding.  Topwater fishing has slowed significantly though we are still finding a few fish late in the afternoon on the warmest days.  Next week there are some 70's in the forecast which will help keep the water temperatures up. 

Streamer fishing continues to be our most productive technique for large bass.  Put in the time and experiment with different weight flies and stripping speed.  We are using a Scientific Anglers Sonar Leaders Intermediate or Sink 3 with 2 - 3 feet of 0x or 1x Fluorocarbon or a Scientific Anglers Sonar Titan Sink Tip Fly Line in Intermediate or Sink 3 with a 6' 0x or 2x FLuorocarbon Leader.

Nymph fishing continues to be our most productive technique for numbers of fish with the water temperatures cooling. Focus on dead drifting a hellgrammite or crayfish between the ledges and at the edges of the fast and slow water of cobblestone riffles.

Recommended Flies and Leaders:

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