Recent Conditions Updates 03/19/12:
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 many miles of wild trout water to keep you busy for some time!
I was just in the Park a couple of days ago fly-fishing for native brookies with my 2 weight. A great day with lots of activity and no other fly fishermen in sight! Fish caught on every dry fly pattern tied on, i.e., Mr. Rapidan, Parachute Adams, etc.
Mossy Creek Fly Fishing Shop –
James and Shenandoah River
We are stacked up with trout trips again this week and won’t be back out chasing musky until the weekend. The nice weather brought out the first signs of anglers on the river this weekend. We pretty much had the entire South Fork to ourselves this winter as we didn’t see any other guides or anglers as usual. We did see a few local anglers out Saturday enjoying the nice weather looking to catch a few bass. We have caught a few healthy smallmouth bass but they are still stacked up in their winter holes. We expect they will move towards their spawning grounds in about 2-3 weeks! Check out the details of our OPEN HOUSE BY CLICKING HERE!
Mountain Brook Trout Streams
Our early spring fly order is in. We have over 70 parachute style dries and over 140 traditional Catskill style dries as well. Many patterns such as Adams parachutes are now also being offered with a high visibility post. With over 900 trout patterns and over 20,000 flies in stock, you will find exactly what you need with 1 stop. Enjoy this warm spell up in the mountains and get your brook trout fix in soon. Everyone knows how quickly water levels will retreat if we do not continue to get rain. Read this wonderful article on Tenkara Fishing in Blue Ridge Outdoors Magazine by CLICKING HERE! \
Spring Creeks
Light pressure, perfect water flow, excellent temperatures, and hungry fish…..this is what winter fishing is all about. This has been our busiest winter and for good reason- the weather couldn’t be much better. The streamer fishing on Mossy and the nymph fishing on Beaver Creek couldn’t get much better. Anglers are enjoying their mild winter days fishing Susie Q Farm with streamers, nymphs, and midges. We hope to have some photos and videos up after the weekend of the great fishing. If we continue to have such great water conditions, the springtime fishing will be epic! We look forward to seeing everyone on the water this week!
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 3/9/12) –
Fishing Reports and Conditions
Posted on March 9, 2012 by Kevin Little
South River Delayed Harvest Section- Plenty of big trout being caught on the DH section. For the big ones, think meat. Big streamers are best for large fish. Nymphing will put more trout to hand though. Caddis and craneflies are starting to hatch and water temps are in the mid-40′s, but getting warmer each nice day we have. This section will really fire up in the next week. Best patterns: Mudd Bugger, Golden Retrievers, Sculpins, Nymph Head Prince and Copper Johns, and soft hackles.
South River Special Regs Area- BWO’s are still hatching, along with midges and some early caddis. Like the DH section, big streamers are your best bet for large fish. Water temps are in the high 40′s and the levels are perfect. Best patterns: BWO dun and caomparadun, BWO Foamback Emerger, BH Micro Mayfly in olive, Olive soft hackle, black EHC #18.
Mountain streams- SNP and Nat’l Forest- Water levels are perfect. Water temps will vary depending on the exposure of the streams, but they are warming up nicely. Early Black Stoneflies and Early Caddis are hatching and these streams should be on fire in a week or two. Best patterns: BH stonefly nymph, standard stonefly nymph, early black stonefly dry, elk hair caddis brown 14 and 16.
