Recent Conditions Updates 02/07/12:
Within a 30-minute drive of The Speckled Trout B&B, you have a number of great streams, including Mossy Creek, St. Mary’s River (wilderness area), South River, and numerous brook trout streams within Shenandoah National Park (we are just a little over 3 miles to the Park entrance). Check out the Shenandoah Valley Chapter of Trout Unlimited website for a listing and directions to some of our great area streams. In the mountains surrounding the Shenandoah Valley you will find over 2,350 miles of wild trout water to keep you busy for some time!
Mossy Creek Fly Fishing Shop –
James and Shenandoah River
We will continue to book musky trips into March and April. Fishing this winter has been fairly good as the weather has cooperated. We are hoping to get out more in the next few weeks if the water temps allow. We are continuing to scout new water on the marginal days in search of a few new large friends to feed flies to. We will continue to report as we hit the water.
Mountain Brook Trout Streams
We had a few good reports during the warm spell last week. Be careful if you head up into the mountains over the next few days. We are expecting colder weather and some snow. Road conditions may be poor at higher elevations. We will be giving the brook trout fishing a rest for about a week until things warm back up.
Spring Creeks
The spring creeks were awesome this week. Our anglers from Baltimore came back for a second round and had just as good a day as before leaving with a 6lb grin on their faces. Black articulated Peanut Envy flies and Crystal Buggers were the flies of choice. We will be out every day this week enjoying the wonderful weather. See you out there!
Managed Trout Water
Golden Retrievers, Kreelex, CK Nymphs, Thin Mints, Psycho Prince, Kauffman’s, and Crystal Buggers fished under a Float Master indicator are hard to beat right now. Yes, you may find a few rising fish that will take a small BWO dry, emerger, or wet, but we are doing much better with the flies listed above. Keep an eye out for stocking updates. Remember, VDGIF only posts the 1st stocking of any DH or Special Regulation streams.
South River Fly Shop (dated 1/14/12) –
South River DH: The river is up through town due to recent rains, but that hasn’t stopped the fishing. The second stocking occurred this week and the fishing has been great! Rainbows over 15″ are an everyday catch at the moment, with nymphing or fishing big streamers being the most effective methods. Recommended flies include rubber legged Hare’s Ears and Pheasant Tails, CopperLoos, Princes, and Caddis Poopahs. Effective streamers are Zonkers, Sculpins, and our Labrador series.
South River SRA: This section continues to fish great. The upper 3/4 is above the Back Creek confluence and is less affected by recent rains than the lower portion and the DH section in town. BWO’s rule right now, with #18 and #20 being the go-to sizes. Midges are good in the mornings, #22 is your best bet right now. Recommended flies include the Firebug, BWO Splitback nymphs, olive BH Micro Mayflies, Foam CDC Emergers, and the Heavy Metal series of nymphs, tied with Nymph Head beads.
Mossy Creek: We’ve caught some big fish on Mossy in the past couple of weeks. Large streamers rule in the winter and give you a better chance at large trout. Recommended flies include Crystal Buggers, Golden Retrievers, Persuaders, Kreelex, Firebugs, The Super Bugger and Forage Fly with Fish Skulls, and Heavy Metal PT Flasbacks.
Mountain Streams: The key to the mountain brookies right now is finding 2-4 warm days strung together. Water levels the past year have been good and a lot of these mountain brookies have benefited from these conditions. Go to flies include the Heavy Metal nymphs, small stonefly patterns, Micro Buggers, Firebugs, and Caddis Poopah.
