Trout Streams Fly Fishing Report - September 4, 2024

Since the natural food is sparse, rather than watch for riseforms, I strive to spot the trout in the stream or at least one of his features that helps me locate him. The trouts movement as he relocates on his feeding station quickly relays his presence. On sunny days, a trouts shadow is much easier to spot than the trout. The color contrast between a trout and the stream bottom is a quick give away. For example, the ivory edges of a brookies fins as he holds over a dark stream bottom quickly shows you where to cast your fly. The trout are very wary so be sure to hide while looking for these features. I feel like I am being redundant by recommending ants and beetles each week but that is what is working well.  Murray's Flying Beetle size 16, Mr. Rapidan Ant size 16, 18, Parachute Black Ant size 16, 18 are great patterns. Some of our guides have been playing around with the Stubby Chubby in size 18 with success. Try it and see what you think!

All of the Shenandoah National Park is open for fishing. (Some trails are closed for cleanup/repairs.)  Some streams were hit harder than others with the drought so take precaution to help preserve the brookies. Use barbless hooks or mash the barbs down on flies and return the trout to the stream as quickly as possible. I was in the Park earlier this week and for the most part the water levels are holding at normal levels. 

For more information on the streams in the Park including access, see my book Trout Fishing in the Shenandoah National Park.

Little Stoney Creek west of Edinburg is fishable.  I would recommend coming into the bottom from Millertown Road. Walk around the reservoir and fish the lower section of Little Stoney Creek. The water levels are low and clear, so the trout are wary. The fly patterns listed above are working on this stream as well.

Our fly shop in Edinburg will be closed September 7-16, 2024 for vacation. Any online orders placed after 3pm on Friday, September 6  will not be shipped until our return on September 17.