The North Fork of the Shenandoah River is full but fishable. It is slightly discolored in some areas but sometimes that can work to our advantage. Just be extra careful wading. The South Fork of the Shenandoah River is still too high for good fishing. The warm weather this week has prompted more bass to start feeding. A few customers have landed some nice size bass this week. Now that might slow down again next week as the colder temperatures move in.
In addition to the smallmouths that feed heavily on the shallow gravel bars, there are many that cruise along the edge of the gravel bars in water which is 4-5 feet deep to feed on any shiner minnows which come off the edge of the gravel bar. I fish this deeper water with Murray's Heavy Shiner Streamer size 6 by casting it out toward the middle of the river and stripping it back toward the gravel bar.
The two-fly rig that I mentioned in the trout report for rainbows is also one of my favorite to use on the river for bass at this time of year. The Bass Stonefly Nymph size 4 with a Bass Caddis Nymph size 6 as a dropper provides a big mouthful for any large smallmouth. Fish all of these on a Bright Butt 9ft 2X leader.
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