From Mossy Creek
The Rivers
It is hard to believe that it is December already. This is the time of year when we can sometimes have the best musky bite of the year. We say sometimes because weather can be a big factor in just being able to get the boat in the water. If the weather plays nice enough and the rivers don’t ice over completely, the fishing can be awesome. The big winter temperature dip can turn on the biggest fish in the river as they begin to maximize caloric intake. Fish react to the biggest flies you can throw. Big rods in 10-12 weights and full sink lines are in play. The weather this week might bring icy conditions, so be sure to double check the weather and road conditions before heading to the river. Ice and sleet are possible in early mornings and late afternoons. Our musky guide trips will continue through February as long as the weather permits. Contact us soon to book a musky trip on the Shenandoah or James Rivers.
Big largemouth and the occasional smallmouth will likely pop up as we dredge the big winter holes. Spring smallmouth fishing will be here before you know it. Our peak spring bass season starts mid April and runs into mid May. Summer bass fishing is peak from June through September. Now is a great time to reload your boxes for next season and book your trips. The 2017 season is already filling up faster than normal.
Brook Trout
Winter is here and the brook trout spawn is over. Eggs are incubating on the streambeds of all of Virginia’s mountain streams. These eggs will be vulnerable until February when they hatch. Please wade and fish responsibly over the next few months. Our guide crew will be back out on the mountain streams towards the end of winter.
Spring Creeks
Fishing was tougher than normal October through November due to the low water flow in most of our creeks. The low flow and clear conditions did provide some technical and fun dry fly fishing. Blue winged olive hatches have been good most afternoons. We have had success fishing size 18 BWO and midge patterns on 6X or 7X tippet. Size 16 caddis with BWO or midge emerger patterns or subsurface flies like zebra midges and buzzers have also been working well. The recent rainfall last week turned on the streamer bite again. The brown trout are through spawning and are beginning to feed again. Rainfall, snow, or wintry weather is expected again this week so be cautious if you head out.
Mossy Creek, Beaver Creek, and Spring Run have been fishing best and reports have been great. Thin mints, golden retrievers, crystal buggers, slump busters, Kreelex, sparkle minnows, conehead sculpins, and near-nuff sculpins have been solid choices for streamers. Psycho prince, jigged caddis, jigged pheasant tails, guides choice hare’s ears, zebra midges, killer bugs, and CK’s are the nymphs du jour. Pheasant tails in size 18-20 under small 16 BWO dry flies have been effective. Keep an eye on the weather this week and prepare for some streamer fishing on the overcast rainy days.
Stocked Streams
Water levels are improving from recent rains. We expect reports to improve on the larger stocked rivers now that we have some water flowing once again. Keep an eye out for slick roads, especially up in the GW Forest in high elevations and on shady sides of the mountains. VDGIF has been busy over the past month stocking your favorite freestone streams and lakes. Sugar Hollow Reservoir, Mint Springs, Pedlar River, Elkhorn Lake, Braley Pond, Sherando Lake, North River DH, South River DH, Spring Run, South River SRA, Douthat, Jackson River at Hidden Valley and Poor Farm, Back Creek DH, Bullpasture, Cowpasture, Hardware River DH, Rose River, Hughes River, Robinson River, Tye River, Hawksbill Creek, Maury River, Silver Lake, Hone Quarry, Briery Branch, Stony Creek, Mill Creek, and Passage Creek DH should keep you busy if you are in our area! Stock up on crystal buggers, golden retrievers, Kreelex, slump busters, and a variety of attractor nymph patterns in size 12-16 for these VA managed streams. Don’t forget your strike indicators and split shot! Enjoy the fall fishing season!!!