During October, November, and December, Virginia and many surrounding states stock designated streams providing excellent fall trout fishing. These cool streams provide good habitat for the trout and excellent fishing until next spring.
Streamers which match the minnows the trout feed upon in the cold streams are always very productive. My five favorite streamers for the fall trout fishing are:
- Pearl Marauder size 8
- Olive Marauder size 8
- Murray’s Crayfish size 10
- Shenk’s White Streamer size 8
- Mr. Rapidan Streamer size 10
I fish these streamers on a Classic Hand Tied Knotted 9ft 4X Leader.
Nymphs which match the aquatic mayfly nymph, stonefly nymphs and caddis larva which the trout feed upon are dependable in these streams. My favorite five nymphs for the fall trout fishing are:
- Skunk Roadkill Nymph size 8
- Murray’s Caddis Larva size 14
- Murray’s Dark Stonefly Nymph size 12
- Olive Caddis Pupa size 12
- Mr. Rapidan Olive Soft Hackle Nymph size 12
I fish these nymphs on a Murray’s Trout Nymphing 9ft 4X Leader which has 2 Murray’s Fly Shop Indicators pre-installed to help you see the strike.
If you are fishing the stocked trout streams in Virginia, from October 1 through June 15 it is required to have the freshwater fishing license and the trout licence. Some of these streams are in the national forest requiring you to have the National Forest Permit in addition to the Freshwater Fishing License and Trout License. Licenses may be purchased online at gooutdoorsvirginia.com or in person from Murray’s Fly Shop.
You can find more information on these streams in my book Virginia Blue Ribbon Streams or stop by the fly shop in Edinburg, VA to look over the maps. For updated weekly stream reports on the stocked trout streams, smallmouth rivers, and native brook trout streams, visit www.murraysflyshop.com. Call the fly shop at 540-984-4212 for more information.