I am so proud of my youngest daughter, Laura. She took up fly fishing on her own just a couple years ago and has since become a capable fly tyer and an excellent fisherman. This past week, she went to the Hallowed Grounds of Mossy Creek in Augusta County and enticed a huge Brown Trout to eat her fly.
This is not an easy task because, first, Mossy Creek is a tough place to fish. It is hammered by visiting anglers, which puts all the trout on notice, and it is a spring creek where fish have many options of food choices. Second, she caught a Brown Trout, easily the wariest freshwater fish that swims, and she caught a wise, old trout, over 20-inches. Browns don’t get that big by being stupid.
But Laura gracefully swept her fly beneath a string of elodea, where Mr. Brown was hiding, and she brought the big fella to net. It was quite a feat.
A permit from the DWR is required to fish Mossy, but if you like to do battle with big brown trout, give it a shot.
Freshwater Report
The shad ruin is underway now in Richmond and on the Rapp in Fredericksburg. So far, gold spoons are the hot baits. The white perch are also making runs upriver and the catfish and largemouth are paying attention. The major lakes are all giving up nice catches of bass, stripers and crappie. Shallow water stumps are holding fish. Excellent catches of stripers caught on live bait are coming from Anna in the 208 area.
Trout fishing is excellent now, though water levels are dropping and the water is very clear.