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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Crayfish
In our fly fishing schools and guide trips a crayfish pattern is always recommended. My guides are seeing more crayfish scooting along the
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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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Trico
Many years ago I fished the trico hatch on Falling Springs often. There were about a dozen of us who fished it regularly
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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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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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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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Mr. Rapidan Skater
The Mr. Rapidan Skater is very effective in two entirely different situations. First it is a great match for the Hexagenia mayflies. When
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Scott Wave Fly Rods
Scott Fly Rod has introduced a new series of mid-priced fly rods for a broad variety of saltwater and freshwater uses. Scott Wave
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Fly Fishing Report- September 2022
The brown autumn sedge can provide some wonderful fly fishing in September. This is a caddis hatch in the fall with the emergence
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Fly Fishing with a Murray’s Chartreuse Marauder
The Murray’s Marauder has always been a favorite of mine, not only for the smallmouth bass but also trout in the West. Even
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Murray’s Blue Dragon Deer Hair Bugs
I have great success with these deer hair bugs for smallmouth when the streams get low. Mainly in part because with these surface
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Fishing to Rising Bass
Standing in the middle of the North Fork of the Shenandoah River, I heard a commotion downstream. Looking downstream, I discovered that there
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Fishing with Deer Hair Bass Bugs
H.G. Tapply was one of the most accomplished anglers in the country. His deer hair bass bugs, I believe, is a perfect example
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Fly Fishing with a Crayfish
While fishing in the Shenandoah River for smallmouth bass, I am amazed at how many crayfish there are. Fly fishing with a crayfish
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Fly Fishing in August
I try to do as much fly fishing on the native brook trout streams throughout the summer as I can. By this time
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Fly Fishing in July
Many people like to hike, camp, and do a little fly fishing in the Shenandoah National Park during the summer. The little yellow
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Smallmouth Bass Minnow Matching Tactics
By matching the minnows the smallmouth bass feed upon, you can get some excellent fly fishing. For many years serious trout anglers have
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Murray’s Euro Nymph Leaders with Ring
We have designed two Euro Nymphing Leaders to cover the type of fishing most often encountered in our region. Both leaders come with
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Fly Fishing with Ants and Beetles
When I am fly fishing for trout in the summer months on the native brook trout there are two fly patterns I have
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