Fly fishing in December in the cold might deter you but the stocked trout are feeding. The DWR continues to stock streams throughout Virginia all month so take advantage of it. The stocked trout streams are low and clear and the trout are wary. I’m using a Murray’s Classic 9ft 4X or 5X leader with smaller flies.
Early morning and late evening go with nymphs. A Mr. Rapidan Soft Hackle Nymph is great for imitating an emerging caddis. Or you can go with heavier nymphs like Olsen’s Blowtorch or Perdigon Nymph.
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The brook trout are on the tail end of spawning so I recommend leaving them alone for another few weeks. Fly fishing on the native brook trout streams is best in April and May when the water levels and hatches are ideal. If you want to learn more about these streams before Spring, I recommend reading the book Trout Fishing in the Shenandoah National Park.
Fly Fishing Schools on the Mountain Trout Streams for Spring 2026! –Register your spot today.
Fly Fishing for Bass
The bass fishing has slowed way down but some anglers are still looking for that BIG BASS! If you want to try your hand and the smallmouth, switch to bigger flies like a Murray’s Crayfish, Olive size 4, Shenk’s White Streamer size 4, Murray’s Magnum Creek Chub size 4. If you want to provide a huge mouthful–go to a CJ Sluggo. You might need to use a sink tip III fly line or Sonar Sinking Leaders to get your flies down deep.
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