Fly Fishing in mid April Podcast

Harry
Fly Fishing in April

Fly Fishing in mid April Podcast by Harry Murray

Fly Fishing in April can be very rewarding if you plan ahead and pay attention to the aquatic hatches that are occurring.

Fly Fishing in April
A good tactic to use is to fish a Mr. Rapidan Delta Wing Caddis with a Murray’s Caddis Pupa as a dropper.

Caddisflies–Fly Fishing in April

The caddisfly hatch is on!  I have been seeing many caddisflies around my house which is close to Big Stoney Creek and in the mountain trout streams.  Many fisherman have a hard time deciding if the trout is rising to the top to take a dry caddis on the surface or is the trout feeding on a caddis pupa that is drifting 1/2 inch to 2 inches just below the surface. I like to fish a Mr. Rapidan Delta Wing Caddis, Olive size 14 (which matches the adult caddis) with an 18 inch dropper below with a Murray’s Magic Caddis Pupa, Olive size 12. This way I am doubling my chances of catching that trout.

Fishing Inchworms

There are two ways I like to fish an inchworm.  The first is to take a Murray’s Inchworm size 14 and deliver it with a slap on a forward presentation. This actually mimics an inchworm falling into the water from a tree limb.  The second way is to use a roll cast turnover to create a little splash but still mimicking an inchworm falling into the water.

We had a lot of rain recently causing the bass rivers to be high and muddy.  Therefore the bass have moved to the back eddies to feed on minnows, crayfish and anything else they can find.  As the rivers start to clear over the next week then I will fish what I like to call “falling water”–where the water is not discolored but carrying heavy volume.  If you use a minnow pattern or crayfish pattern in these back eddies which can range from 10 to 50 feet you will have success.

Fly Fishing in April
Frequently when the river is discolored we get excellent smallmouth action by fishing where a small clear feeder stream flows into the main river. The bass cruise this area in search of minnows.

Since we have extra water volume in our mountain trout streams right now, you will have better fishing and water levels by going into the heads of the streams off the Skyline Drive.

Poisonous Snakes

It is that time of year again.  We do have copperheads and rattlesnakes in the area but if you follow my three tips you can hopefully avoid a snake bite.

  • Do not wade through grass where you cannot see
  • Do not climb ledges and put your hands in places where you cannot see what is there
  • Do not step over downed trees without seeing what is on the other side
  • Carry a Sawyer Snake Bite Kit with you just in case

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