Hog Sucker
The Murray’s Hog Sucker is one of our very best flies when we are seeking large bass. It is very effective in the
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Goggle Eye Are Back
Whether you call him a goggle eye, red eye, or rock bass, most fly fishermen are glad this fish is increasing in numbers.
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Hellgrammites
As a kid I seined hellgrammites in the riffles of the river to use for bait for smallmouth. After college I tried many
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Bass Fly Rod
I consider the smallmouth bass to be the gentleman of the warmwater species. As such fly fishing for them has picked up many
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Tippet Size
I am often asked, “What size tippet should I be using?” In our on the stream fly fishing schools this topic is discussed
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Hard Head Bugs
The action imparted to hard head bugs is governed by the shape of the bug and the cut of its face. I assign
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Fly Fishing in August
A good approach to fly fishing in August is to use a popper with a dropper. A good friend of mine caught a
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Terrestrials For Trout
Many trout couldn’t live without terrestrials! When the aquatic insect hatches are over for the season the trout live on the great profusion
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Bass Skaters
Ever used bass skaters while smallmouth fishing? One hot July afternoon on the South Fork of the Shenandoah River I decided to experiment.
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Deer Hair Bugs for Bass
I just enjoy fishing deer hair bugs for smallmouth bass. I feel I’m following the standards which Ray Bergman and H.G. Tapply developed
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Fly Fishing in Ponds
Recently I have had more customers asking about fly fishing in ponds and what flies to use. I lived on a farm west
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Crickets & Hoppers
Let’s talk about using crickets and hoppers for smallmouth bass fishing. Several years ago my son and I floated the James River. We
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Fishing With Dragonflies
There are great numbers of adult dragonflies flying above the surface of the river. These insects are powerful flyers. The bass catch very
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Bass Nymphs
For many years bass fishermen have relied on streamers, poppers, and deer hair surface bugs. However in the last several years I have
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Fly Fishing in July
Fly fishing on the smallmouth bass rivers can be excellent in July. This years young hog suckers are large enough to provide an
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Bass Flies for Low Water
Every year I have customers asking, “What bass flies should I be using in the low water conditions?” In early summer when the
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Three Fly Rig
My son and I have been playing around with a three fly rig for smallmouth bass. Some anglers are reluctant to fish a
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Fly Fishing in June
The month of June can provide some excellent fly fishing on both the smallmouth and native brook trout streams. Let’s discuss the smallmouth
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Damselflies for Smallmouth Bass
The delicate damselflies seen flying over the rivers from late May until October have appeal to the bass. They are 1-2 inches long
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Inchworm
When you spot trout rising to feed on the surface and there is no hatch, there is a good chance the trout are
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Little Yellow Stonefly
If you have been on the trout streams recently then you have probably been seeing the Little Yellow Stonefly hatch. The nymphs of
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Dry Flies for Bass
Many of my customers have asked for information on fishing dry flies for smallmouth bass. I could tell they were serious because they
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Fly Fishing in May
Fly fishing in May is wonderful because of all the different hatches occurring on the brookie streams. We just received some much needed
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Fly Fishing in April
The hatches of three important mayflies and one caddisfly make fly fishing in April a favorite for many anglers. The Mr. Rapidan Dry
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Strikes on Small Mountain Streams
Today I am going to cover two different strikes I experience on the small mountain trout streams. Pop Strike There were eight wild
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Casting On Small Mountain Streams
Let’s discuss some different casting techniques that I use on the small mountain trout streams. Slack Line Casting Expect to catch the largest
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Bass Nymph Fly Fishing
With the unusual warm weather, most of us are ready to do some bass nymph fly fishing on the Shenandoah River. As the
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Mountain Trout Fly Rod
If you want one fly rod to fish all smallmouth mountain trout streams, let’s consider the desirable features. I want accurate fly presentations,
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Fly Fishing in March
Fly fishing in March starts to pick up on the mountain trout streams. There are several things going on that will prompt the
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Solitude Trout Fishing
Trout Fishing in remote streams beyond the sight and sound of others is very rewarding. Often this includes visions of long hikes in
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Mountain Trout Fishing In March
By March, I am itching to do some mountain trout fishing. The nymphs are getting active and the trout will start actively feeding
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Early Season Nymphs for Trout
Many anglers get the urge to go trout fishing in February-March even though the streams are cold. Serious anglers realize they will get
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Winter Fly Fishing
Winter fly fishing for trout is tough but not impossible. I am talking about the brook trout fishing and not the stocked trout
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Waders
Often this is the time of year that I like to check my waders. A friend of mine used to say, “There are
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Monthly E-Newsletter
Subscribe to our Monthly Newsletter delivered to your inbox on or about the first of each month. We discuss timely fishing information on
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Fly Fishing Podcast – Winter Fishing
If you don’t mind the icy edges and cold temperatures then fly fishing in the winter can be productive. The VA DWR continues
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Mountain Trout Fly Fishing Guide
We created this video to give anglers, both experienced and aspiring, an overview of Fly Fishing for native Brook Trout in the small
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Fly Fishing in December
Since there is not much fly fishing going on in December except on the stocked trout streams and delayed harvest areas, let’s take
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November Fly Fishing Podcast
Fly fishing in November on the little olive mayflies can be exciting. One cold day while standing beside the Letort, Vince Marinaro, reminded
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Murray’s Olive Marauder
If I could choose only one fly to have in my fly box, what would it be? The Murray’s Olive Marauder. I have
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Fly Fishing in the Fall for Stocked Trout
In Virginia, fly fishing in the fall is always a favorite among the stocked trout fisherman. The Virginia DWR will start stocking rainbows
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Fly Fishing in October
Fly fishing in October can provide some excellent fishing on the delayed harvest streams. The VA DWR starts stocking again on October 1
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Murray’s Sculpin Marauder
I designed the Sculpin Marauder as a big fly to catch the large smallmouth bass that feed heavily on the sculpin minnows. Sculpin
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Fly Fishing in the Fall for Bass
Streamers are very effective for fly fishing in the fall. How late into the season this action will last depends upon
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Murray’s Stonecat Streamer
This stonecat streamer not only looks like the real minnow but when we swim it along the stream bottom it “acts” like the
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Deer Hair Bugs
The late H.G. Tapply, one of my angling heroes, got me into fishing deer hair bass bugs. When the rivers get low and
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