Smallmouth Bass Streams Fly Fishing Report- May 16, 2017

Singer's Crayfish and Murray's Crayfish

Smallmouth Bass Streams: One of my guides was showing a student in our class the correct way to fish the Murray's Crayfish when he hooked a smallmouth bass that was 5 1/2 pounds. An effective technique is "swing nymphing" where the Crayfish is cast up and across stream and allowed to sink deeply. Then it is allowed to swim along the streambottom in the deepest runs. Charlie Brooks taught me this method in the seventies and it is extremely effective now. An effective area is upstream from access point #19 (Covered Bridge) on the North Fork of the Shenandoah River. An effective area is upstream from access point #13 (Foster's Landing) on the South Fork of the Shenandoah River. The South Fork of the Shenandoah River is in good shape by floating, not wading. My favorite crayfish are Murray's Crayfish size 6 and Singer's Crayfish size 6.