This month I am going to discuss fly fishing in the smallmouth bass, stocked trout streams and brook trout streams. Let’s start with the smallmouth bass streams. Growing up in Edinburg in the 50’s one mile from the North Fork of the Shenandoah River, I was impressed with the large smallmouth bass the local bait fishermen recorded in the big fish contest. The winner was awarded the latest model of the Shakespeare casting reel.
The live baits they used included hog suckers and madtoms. When I came back from pharmacy school, I got interested in fly fishing and tying. After several attempts, I then designed streamers that matched the natural hog suckers and madtoms. Today the Murray’s Magnum Hog Sucker and Murray’s Madtom Sculpin are some of my best selling flies for autumn. Fish the hog sucker along the edges of the deep gravel bars. Fish the madtoms over cobblestones in the tails of the pools at dusk.
Fly Fishing for Stocked Trout
This month the VA DWR will start their stocking program which usually continues through early May. If you are after large rainbows, fish right below the heavy riffles with Bass Stonefly Nymph size 4, Bass Caddis Nymph size 6, and Olive Dragonfly Nymph size 6. I not only use these flies for smallmouth but they work well for the large rainbows. A slow line hand stripping action is very effective. Big Stoney Creek, Passage Creek, Bullpasture and Hidden Valley of the Jackson are some of my favorite streams for the stocked trout during the Fall and Winter months.
Tips for Fly Fishing for Brook Trout
The brook trout will start spawning this month. Listen to my podcast for tips on how to preserve the brook trout fly fishing which includes using a pop strike and mashing the barbs down. Interested in learning more about the Shenandoah National Park brook trout streams? Then read my book Trout Fishing in the Shenandoah National Park which includes stream access, hatch charts and information on reading the water. After reading the book, then register for an on the stream school for Spring 2025.
Up Coming Events at Murray’s Fly Shop
- Fly Tying 101 Class–October 26, 2024 at 10a.m.
- Minnow Changer Fly Tying Class–November 9, 2024 at 10a.m.
- Spring 2025 On The Stream Mountain Trout Fly Fishing Schools
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