Spring is here, creating great fly fishing opportunities! Well, almost. The forecast calls for a warm up over the next 10 days. Discover how to fish the Quill Gordon and Blue Quill hatches in the Blue Ridge Mountains. From mountain brookies to river smallmouth bass, we cover the lifecycle stages you need to mimic now. Stream our March podcast for the latest Murray’s Fly Shop stream report.
As the snow melts in the Blue Ridge and Appalachian Mountains, the rivers undergo a dramatic transformation. For the trout angler, March isn’t just the beginning of the season. It’s the start of rewarding dry fly and nymph fishing of the year.
In this week’s podcast, we dive deep into the transition from winter dormancy to the first major hatches of spring. Whether you are targeting mountain brook trout in the headwaters, stocked trout in the valley, or even early-season smallmouth bass, success right now depends entirely on one thing: understanding the nymph lifecycle.
The Big Two: Quill Gordons and Blue Quills
Right now, the stream bottom is alive with Epeorus pleuralis (Quill Gordons) and Paraleptophlebia (Blue Quills). These are the “canaries in the coal mine” for spring fishing.
- The Lifecycle Strategy: Before these insects reach the surface as duns, they are active, clambering nymphs. We discuss why fishing a Quill Gordon Nymph or a Mr. Rapidan Bead Head deep in the mid- pools is your most productive move during the chilly mornings.
- The Emergence: As the water hits that magic 45°F to 50°F mark, these nymphs move toward the surface. This is when the trout begin to look up. Fishing this emergence works quite well with a Mr. Rapidan Parachute #14 and a Mr. Rapidan Emerger #14 and a 6′ 5x Mountain Leader
Late Winter Smallmouth Bass
The Winter Holes: Warming water temperatures and fluctuating water levels leave the Smallmouth Bass in the Shenandoah River, Susquehanna River, James River, New River, Potomac River and Rappahannock River in a constant state of change. As their metabolism increases with the water temperatures warming, their appetite increases quickly. Slowly swinging large streamers such as Brigs Rippin’ Rooster in Black or Olive on Sink Tip III or Intermediate fly line with a 6′ 0x Fluorocarbon Leader often result in enticing some of our largest Smallmouth Bass to feed.
Listen to the full episode below to get our latest stream reports, fly pattern recommendations, and specific GPS-style advice on where the hatch is strongest this week.
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