Smallmouth Bass Streams Fly Fishing Report - May 28, 2025

As I crossed the North Fork of the Shenandoah River this morning I couldn't help but think "this is big fish time". The rains have put just a little color in the river which works to our benefit. The Murray's Magnum Streamers work well in these conditions. By carrying every color variety in this series, I am covered for any condition. As a young adult I remember my father-in-law putting on a live hog sucker on his bait casting rod and going upstream to the end of a long shallow gravel bar. He cast the hog sucker across the gravel bar and fed line so the current pulled the hog sucker about 100 feet down the gravel bar. Then he would sit down on the bank and wait for the bass to come along and take his hog sucker. We can achieve the same thing by fishing the Murray's Magnum Hog Sucker size 4 across the shallow gravel bars at dusk...several days ago I saw a large smallmouth come up in 6-inch deep water to capture a hog sucker. 

11:30am 5/28/25 As of this report, both the North Fork and South Fork of the Shenandoah River are fishable. Water levels are good. I have been getting some great reports from customers that have been wading on the North Fork in the last week in the Edinburg and Woodstock areas. The South Fork is a great area to kayak so that you can get to many different sections of the river. Bixler Bridge (Inskeep) in Luray down stream to Fosters Landing provides some very nice water to explore.  If these conditions should change, we will post updates.

If you need help on access, stop by the fly shop or see my book Fly Fishing the Shenandoah River for Smallmouth Bass.

Fly Fishing Schools for Summer 2025

We have a few openings in the Full Day and Half Day for Summer 2025.  Click on the links for more information and to register.