Late-Summer & Early-Fall Fly Fishing: Shenandoah and Appalachian Brook Trout & Shenandoah River Smallmouth Bass
September is one of the most rewarding and dynamic months of the year for fly anglers. As summer heat gives way to cooler mountain breezes and crisp water temperatures, both native brook trout and river smallmouth bass enter key seasonal transitions.
In this episode of our Murray’s Fly Shop Podcast for September, we break down everything you need to know to make the most of your time on the water this month:
- Mountain Brook Trout: How cooler autumn nights jumpstart pre-spawn activity, fishing in low late-summer water conditions, and the top dry flies and terrestrial patterns to bring to the mountain streams.
- River Smallmouth Bass: Capitalizing on aggressive late-summer feeding opportunities at the end of September, targeting key pocket water and riffles, and choosing the right streamers, topwater poppers, and nymph/hellgrammite patterns as bass bulk up before cooler weather sets in.
- Tackle & Rigging Tips: Simple adjustments in leader setup, line control, and fly selection that can make all the difference in low, clear fall waters.
Whether you’re hiking into the Shenandoah National Park or George Washington National Forest blue lines for colorful native brook trout or floating the river for hard-fighting smallmouth bass, press play to gear up for your next September outing!
Registration is now live for our 2026–2027 Fly Fishing Schools & Winter Workshops! Class sizes are kept small to ensure hands-on instruction, so early sign-ups are highly recommended. Book Your Spot Today
Listen to our last podcast with special guest Virginia DWR Conservation Officer Jackson Dierberg.
Keep up to date on the local river and fly fishing conditions with our Shenandoah Valley Fishing Report.
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