Smallmouth Bass Streams Fly Fishing Report - May 23, 2019

Smallmouth Bass Streams Fly Fishing Report - May 23, 2019

Recommended Flies:  Many smallmouth rivers have very large populations of sculpin minnows living under the cobblestones on the stream bottom in the riffles and just downstream of them. The Murray's Sculpin Marauder size 4 and the Murray's Black Madtom Sculpin size 4 help me catch many bass that feed on these minnows. Starting just below these riffles I cast across the current and swim my fly right along the stream bottom by stripping it 4 inches every 10 seconds. I take many bass with this tactic in the 100 feet below these riffles. 

Stream Conditions:  The North Fork of the Shenandoah River is clear and in beautiful shape. Any of the public access places from Strasburg upstream through Mount Jackson would be great to fish at this time. The water is still cool so bring your waders. The South Fork of the Shenandoah River is clear and fishable.  The water level is full but fishable if you wade carefully.  You will have better fishing by floating the South Fork.

 Mount Jackson 3.26ft  
CFS 338

Strasburg 2.72ft.  
CFS 603

Luray 3.09ft  
CFS 1300

 

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