This is the time of the year I begin picking the pockets for smallmouth bass below the river crossing ledges. Many 4 foot deep pockets the size of a billiard table will often give me several large bass if I fish my flies slowly along the stream bottom.
Stream Conditions: The North Fork of the Shenandoah River is clear and fishable upstream of Mount Jackson. Keep in mind the river is still running at full water levels so be careful wading. The areas of #18 & #19 on our marked store map would give you better water levels at this time. Provided that we do not receive any more rain between today 3/27 and the weekend, then the Woodstock and Edinburg area of the North Fork should fishable by Saturday March 30. The South Fork is currently too high for good fishing.
| Mount Jackson 4.09ft CFS 747 |
Strasburg 3.66ft. CFS 1280 |
Luray 4.57ft CFS2860 |
Recommended Flies: Skunk Roadkill Nymph size 6, Olive Strymph size 4, and Heavy Hellgrammite, Black size 4
Recommended Gear: I am currently using either a floating fly line with a Bright Butt 9ft 2X Leader or a sink tip III fly line with a Fluorocarbon 6ft 2X Leader using a 9ft 7-weight bass rod.