By Mossy Creek Oiutfitters
The peak brook trout season is basically here. Water levels are still under average flow but hopefully this snowfall and rain later in the week will help. Keep an eye out for nasty wind through Thursday. We are hopeful warm weather will return by the end of the weekend and the brook trout fishing will fire back up again. Keep your fingers crossed for more wet weather as we will need it leading into April. Our favorite flies have been jigged caddis, jigged hare’s ear, ck nymphs, killer bugs, jigged retrievers, and of course size 14 prince and pheasant tail nymphs. Size 10 buggers have been moving and getting the attention of the large brook trout. As water temps continue to rise, the fishing quality should continue to improve. Keep eyes out for good caddis hatches over the next few weeks and we are less than a month away from spotting Quill Gordons!
Spring Creeks
Water levels are getting low but fishing remains solid on Beaver Creek, Mossy Creek, Spring Run, Buffalo Creek, Smith Creek at Susie Q Farm, and the upper South River. We were able to enjoy a cool but successful day of sight fishing midges to big trout on the spring creeks this past Sunday. The bright sun kept the fish wary and gave anglers a challenge getting the perfect drift with small bugs. Anglers out at Spring Run have been crushing giant fish on midges and small nymphs and scud patterns. We are hopeful the extended forecast will bring us some of the rain that is anticipated. Area creeks will fish much better in April and early May with heavy water flow. Keep an eye out for caddis hatches on Mossy Creek and Beaver Creek over the next few weeks. Fish have been chasing down emergers. Skating and twitching caddis across the surface is a great tactic this time of year. BWO and midges are still coming off most days. Fish have been active on the surface at first light until around 11AM and then again after 3pm on overcast days.
Cdc olive emergers, rainbow warriors, zebra midges, and peacock soft hackles in size 18 and 20 have been great for picky fish. We have also done well with black caddis in size 16 with tungsten size 18-20 nymphs fished about 20″ off the back of the dry. Streamer fishing has been good with flies like the sparkle minnow, slump buster, clawdad, crittermite, and near-nuff sculpin fished deep. Golden retrievers are working well fished with a split shot under an indicator dead drifted and then swung through runs and holes. Target any overcast days as the fishing is much better in low light. Bwo hatches are best on the darker days with no wind. Be on the look out for rainy days in the future as the streamer fishing can turn on immediately. Some of the largest trout have been caught on rainy days when warm fronts have approached.
James and Shenandoah Rivers
BRRR! March has certainly come in like a lion and we have our hopes it will go out like a lamb! We have experienced winter, spring, summer, and fall since the last part of February. The wind has been the most challenging part of the equation as even the warm days have been challenging on the water with winds in excess of 40mph some days. It will be at least a week before we are back out in the big rivers as we will have some snowmelt and then temps that will not breach the freezing mark for a few days. Wind will be in the forecast again until the end of the week. We will be tying up flies and filling our boxes for the approaching spring season. Our bass and musky fishing will be on hold at least until the end of the weekend. Pre spawn bass fishing will resume once the winds die back and allow us to float the rivers comfortably again.
Potomac River
Different This Week
By Capt. Steve Chaconas
Last week was fun. Spinnerbaits ruled as the water got into to upper 50s
Expect water temps to drop down to the mid-40s. If you get out, be careful. Wear a PFD and leave a float plan.
There are two ways to get fish to bite when the temperatures drop like this. One is a feeding response. The other is a reaction bite. Find fish closer to drops, holding in grass or wood.
Reaction bites can be lipless cranks presented with pops and pulls, erratically triggering bites. Lucky Craft LV RTO 150 will dig down and pop free on 10-pound test GAMMA Edge Fluorocarbon line. Small crankbaits like Lucky Craft 1.5 around wood or popped out of grass also trigger bites.
In clear water, Pointer 78 suspending jerkbaits can be worked for reaction bites or for feeding bites. Try different presentations on 10-pound test Edge line.
A feeding bite is best achieved with shaky heads. Mizmo Barbwire shaky heads hold the bait and come with 4/0 hooks. Finesse Mizmo Doodle worms in green pumpkin to June bug patterns will work. Use 10-pound GAMMA Torque braid with 6-pound test Edge Fluorocarbon leader. A soaking in garlic Jack’s Juice Bait Spray. Punisher 1/4-ounce hair jigs are perfect with small plastic chunks on the same line set up. These jigs come in great colors and the hair activates with little movements. Also try Mann’s 3″ avocado Stingray Grubs on 1/4-ounce ball head jigs. With all feeding presentations, shaking is best.
Lake Anna
Despite frigid conditions, anglers are scoring with nice bass at Anna in advance of the spawn. Tom Harris weighed an 8-pounder at Anna Point. Mike Harper had a 1-12 crappie.
Chickahominy Lake
Capt. Art Conway of Conway’s River Rat Guide Service reported that Chickahominy Lake mid-day water temperatures were in the mid 40’s in the main lake and low 40’s in the major creeks. Crappie fishing continues to be excellent.
Fishing with Capt. Conway, Peder, Dane, and Toren Pedersen had 17 crappie and 5 bass.