Website Review – Mossy Creek Fly Fishing

Even before I got back into the sport after a long break, I knew there were many states that offered great fishing. If someone wants world class muskie fishing, they head to Wisconsin and Minnesota. If smallmouth bass is your target, then Ohio and Lake Erie would be the place to go. Want to fish for trout, then Montana, Pennsylvania, and many other eastern and western states would be on most fishermen’s list. What I didn’t realize until after I started fishing again was Virginia has all these species and more.

The state of Virginia is blessed with great river systems, and they hold excellent quantities of largemouth and smallmouth bass, muskie, carp, and trout. The Potomac, James, and Shenandoah are the main rivers, with many other smaller rivers and spring creeks throughout the state, but the real gem for Virginia is the Shenandoah Valley. It is loaded with exceptional fishing opportunities.

Located in the heart of the valley is Mossy Creek Fly Fishing. Named for the spring creek that flows through the valley, this full-service fly shop is the gateway to any species you want to target. Owned by twin brothers, Colby and Brian Trow, Mossy Creek has a stable of guides ready to work hard, to give you a memorable day on the water. The great thing is the guides will work with the inexperienced as well as the experienced fisherman. I can attest from personal experience, as my learning curve accelerated when I spent a day on the water with Brian.

After a year of flailing away with a fly rod, being unsuccessful, my brother-in-law, Art, suggested a guided trip with Brian. He had fished with him on several occasions, and believed Brian could be helpful to my progress. Within about an hour on the creek Brian had me casting better, and more importantly, I began to learn how to catch fish.

The Mossy Creek website is consistently updated with fishing reports covering the rivers and spring creeks in Virginia. In addition, they also cover small streams located in Shenandoah National Park and the George Washington National Forest. Small streams in these areas have excellent brook trout fishing.

So, if you are looking for a starting point to discover the fishing in Virginia, Mossy Creek Fly Fishing is it. They have the experience to make your trip successful. You will quickly realize that Virginia is for lovers………of fishing.

To visit their website click on the link provided below.

Go out and fool a fish!

Mossy Creek Fly Fishing

The Wind Won

Several of the fishermen who battled the wind in search of steel.

(Click on image for larger view.)

 

Northeast Ohio has enjoyed a relatively warm and dry November. The normal, November high temperature for the area is around 57° (F). Many days, the temperature reached the mid-to-upper 60’s (F), with a few days above 70° (F). While there have been a couple of cool fronts, the temps didn’t stay low for long. This has allowed fishermen a chance to chase steelhead without worrying about how many layers of clothes are needed. That’s about to change, with a major cold front due the end of this week. This “slap in the face” will take the temperatures below freezing, and according to the weather forecast, keep them there for 3-4 days. In addition, the area is supposed to receive its first measurable snowfall, meaning we’ll have to get the shovel out and move some snow. So, if I was going to get a day on the water it had to be today, or I could be sidelined for more than a week, if and when the rivers blow out.

The only downside to these warm days this time of the year is that the wind is usually a little stronger than normal. Up until this week the wind has been very manageable, not affecting the ability to cast a streamer or nymph. That certainly changed yesterday, as the winds were gusting to 20 mph, and only got stronger last night. When I woke up at 1:00AM I thought I heard the sound of a train. It took me about five seconds to realize that roar was the wind. After hearing that sound I had a restless night, knowing that my day on the river just got tougher.

I consider myself an OK fly caster, but my fear is an OK caster may not cut it battling gusty winds up to 40 mph. I have fished on days when the wind was up, but not close to the speed that was going on today. After all, 40 mph is about the minimum speed for a tropical storm.

I made my way to the river, and the stretch of water I started fishing flows south to north. The water had white caps whenever a stronger gust blew through. The wind was out of the south, so it was into my right arm, which is my casting arm. If I wasn’t careful the risk of the fly being blown into my neck or ear was high. In addition, I had to move downstream, so the wind would always be off my casting arm.

Well, using a variety of casts including sidearm, roll, and turning my back to the river, I made it through the session without any scars, but I found out that the only thing worse than fighting a strong wind, is fighting a strong wind, and not having the fish cooperate. After fishing over a half mile of river without a take, I had enough. The wind won. Even worse, I had to walk/wade back upstream to the car……against the wind!

I guess misery loves company. There were about a dozen fishermen on the river using a variety of fly rods, spinning gear, and spey rods, and all of them looked to be struggling with the wind as well.

With all this moaning you’d think I had a bad day. Not me. Any day on the water is a good day.

Go out and fool a fish!

Website Review – Ohio Game Fishing

Ohio Game Fishing (OGF) is a website that mirrors the opportunities that the state of Ohio offers fishermen. Like many online communities, OGF is full of forums to post and discuss just about any species of fish found in Ohio waters. Do you want to know how the walleye are biting, and what bait or lure is being used? You can find out quickly. Looking for crappie in one of the many inland lakes? You can find it. Smallmouth bass? No problem. Catfish and stripers from the Ohio River? Oh yeah, OGF has it. I could go on and on, but I’ll quit there. You get the idea.

One of the unique features of the site is that there are different forums for different parts of the state. If you’re looking for information about Alum Creek, visit the Central Ohio forum. Smallmouth bass in the Little Miami River, visit the Southwest Ohio forum. This makes finding information easier, and brings users closer together. Many of the fishermen in the OGF community often fish together.

Besides visiting the site for information on fly fishing, steelhead, and smallies, I like the site because it is monitored, and any discussions that involve name calling or profanity are eliminated, and the people involved will be banned from posting for a period of time. I believe there’s been more than one person who’s been banned for 30 days. Of course, this behavior is not limited to OGF, many sites on the internet have to closely monitor the activity.

While you can find information about how your favorite lake or river has been fishing, the forums do have the look of a brag board, where fishermen post their latest catches. In fact, I think knowing how to take a selfie while holding a fish is a prerequisite for OGF. I give the selfie artists a lot of credit. I couldn’t hold a fish in one hand with a cellphone in the other, while balancing myself in a kayak.

If you are a fishermen in Ohio, or plan on making a trip to Ohio, the OGF site is for you. Just be sure to practice taking selfies. It will come in handy. There are some trophy fish in our waters.

Here’s a link to the site. Enjoy.

http://www.ohiogamefishing.com/