Let’s discuss the fly fishing in Virginia on the stocked trout streams and smallmouth bass rivers. The Virginia DWR has been stocking streams throughout the state with browns and rainbows. I have many customers that travel out of state to explore the streams in Maryland, West Virginia, and Pennsylvania. This is the time of year to take a long weekend and enjoy the sights before the cold weather sets in.
So you did your homework, planned your trip, used the right fly and have finally hooked a large trout. How do you land him? First you quickly recover all of the slack line and put him on the reel. (see the photo above). Next, get downstream of him so he has to fight the current and the pressure of your rod. Then work him into the shallow water where you can easily net him or beach him. Gently release him by facing him into a slow current in foot deep water. Listen to my podcast for more information>>>
Native Brook Trout
The native brook trout are still spawning so I do not fish these streams in the fall months.
Smallmouth Fly Fishing
In order to gain an edge on catching bass at this time of year, I like to use flies which match the main foods they feed upon. My favorite 5 flies for this time of year:
- Murray’s Magnum Hog Sucker size 4
- Murray’s Heavy Black Hellgrammite size 4
- Murray’s Madtom/Sculpin Olive size 4
- Murray’s Brown Crayfish size 6
- Shenk’s White Streamer size
I fish these slowly and deeply in order to swim them right along the stream bottom. With the water temperature cooling off, I am often asked, “When should I stop fishing for smallmouth bass?” I usually keep fishing until I get skunked three times in a row.
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