Road Trip To The Shenandoah Valley

This past week my wife and I made a quick two day trip to fish Mossy Creek in the Shenandoah Valley. Mossy is a beautiful spring creek in the valley with a good population of wild brown and rainbow trout. We’ve fished it only a couple of times in the past, usually in the springtime when we could be fishing anything from streamers to dry flies. But, being mid-August we knew the weather and flows were ideal for dries and terrestrials. Being from northeast Ohio I do not get to fish for wild trout so making trips like this ramps up my excitement.

Weed beds make for interesting fishing. Keeping a fish out of there-a challenge.

(Click on image for larger view.)

A beautiful spring creek in the heart of the Shenandoah Valley.

It seems that when I take a road trip the fishing starts at 2:00AM. After getting four hours of sleep I inevitably wake up and begin anticipating the day, often envisioning holding a nice rainbow or brown caught on a dry fly. Then questions will begin to crowd my brain. What’s the water going to be like? Are the fish going to be feeding? Will there be some risers? This lasts until I nod off around 4:00AM and get in another hour of sleep.

We met my sister-in-law and her husband Art, the man responsible for my fly fishing addiction. Shortly thereafter Brian Trow, from Mossy Creek Fly Fishing arrived and it was off to the creek. Gearing up we received some bad news. Brian mentioned that the hex hatch arrived on the creek a week or two early, and the fish had been gorging on them at night, so the fishing may be tough early on. That was an understatement.

A landing pad for damsel flies.

We saw some fish feeding but they were very selective. Brian and I were watching a brown feeding under a tree while Art drifted fly after fly at him. The fish would follow his fly, turn away, then snack on something else seconds later. Later in the day, Brian and Art change flies multiple times at another brown. The fifth one did the trick but the fish quickly broke off the 6X tippet.

About mid-morning Brian noticed a few hex’s hatching so he tied on matching pattern and I made my way up a pool. Right at a shade line we saw a riser. On the third or fourth drift a rainbow came straight up and sucked in the fly. This was the moment I was waiting for. Fishing with 6X probably for the first time, I set the hook just like Brian instructed me to earlier in the day, quick but not forceful. Seeing the fish take the fly, then watching it run downstream about 20 yards, was a great feeling. The rainbow jumped, the splash sounding like a belly flop off a diving board. That fish was thick. Then it came straight at me and stopped dead. Brian said the fish went into the weed bed trying to shake the hook. For almost a minute there was no movement. I kept steady pressure on the line but couldn’t tell if the fish was still on. Finally the fish made a move, splashed on the surface, and went back to the weeds. At this point, Brian went into the water and with the stealth of a heron got the net under the rainbow, and in one movement scooped it up. That was fun, and thanks to my wife, most of it captured on video.See the end of the post for the link.

Casting a hex pattern to the shade produced a nice, spring creek rainbow.

Brian midstream with a rainbow and five pounds of moss in the net.

The fruits of our labor.

Unfortunately, that was all the action we would see. We just caught the creek on a tough day. Still, I won’t complain. I learned a lot (practice casting), and did manage to land a nice rainbow.

A final shout out to my wife and her sister. They endured an extremely hot day so Art and I can feed our passion.

The day started with blue skies and fair weather clouds.

It ended with storm clouds.

Enjoy the pictures and the video.

Go out and fool a fish!

From A Guide’s Point Of View

With the start of a new year many fishermen set goals for themselves. Some want to fish more often, others want to catch a personal best fish, and some want to fish new waters. I believe the underlying theme of all these goals is fishermen want to learn and improve. From personal experience I know of no better way to learn and improve than by hiring a guide. A half-day or full day on the water is the fastest way to improve.

When I got back into fishing after a 40 year hiatus, using a fly rod, I had no idea how to read water, what to look for, or what flies to use. The internet helped but I couldn’t take what I read or saw and translate that to success on the water. It wasn’t until I spent a day on the water with my brother-in-law and Brian Trow from Mossy Creek Fly Fishing that I started to understand the sport.

Brian knew I was green to fly fishing so there were many teachable moments that day, but what stood out that day was Brian asking me first thing in the morning what I wanted to get out of the day. Now, even after five years, and having improved a little, Brian still asks what I want to accomplish when we get together each spring.

 Working with a guide will speed up your learning process. Brian is helping me land my first rainbow.

 (Click on image for larger view.)

I believe it goes to managing expectations, which is what all guides do. They want you to have an enjoyable day. They want you to catch fish. They want you to learn. But don’t take my word for it. Let’s hear from several guides and outfitters who are experienced, and good at what they do. I asked them what clients can do to prepare for a day on the water, and they supplied excellent information. It doesn’t matter what species of fish you are targeting, this information is extremely valuable.


Patrick Campbell, Fisher of Men Outfitters


Let your guide know what your expectations are for the day. We do a lot of stuff, and fish many different ways. We're educators at heart, but we love to catch fish after fish just like the next guy. So, what do you want from your day? Do you just want to put fish on the line? Do you want to work on your casting? Do you want to try two handed casting? Do you want to learn more about reading water? When we know exactly what you are looking for, we can exceed your expectations by tailoring the trip to your needs. We have so many options across Steelhead Alley, it's usually possible to put you in the situation you are looking for.

Be honest with your guide about your skill set. Trust me, we've seen it all. We're not here to judge you, but to guide you. When you are honest with us about your skills, we can be prepared with the proper gear, and put you on the water where you can be most successful with your goals for the day.

Based on the first two tips, allow us to guide you on the front end of your trip by helping you manage your expectations for the time you want to get on the water and the skills you are coming into the day with.


Dan Pribancic, Chagrin River Outfitters


Have a clear plan with guide on what you would like to accomplish. Catching fish is nice, and that’s the idea, but most clients also want to learn. How to read the water, how to rig, getting the proper drift, learn a new river, new technique, etc. Let your guide know what your goals are for the day.

Fish hard, have fun, enjoy the day for what it is. Everyone wants to go catch a bunch of fish, but we are fly fishing for steelhead. A couple of fish is a good day. Enjoy time with guide, learning, scenery, time on the water, enjoy all aspects of a day on the water. Catching fish is a part of the experience, and no one wants you to catch them more than your guide for the day, but it’s not the whole enchilada. 

Let your guide be your guide! You are paying for their expertise and knowledge, this is their job, and why you hired them. Let them do their thing.


Matt Zudweg, Z Fly Fishing


If possible, ask your guide ahead of time if you will need to bring anything on your trip. Most guides in my area supply everything needed for a day on the water including properly rigged rods, lines, reels, flies, etc. Once in a while clients load my boat with 200 lbs of gear that they won't need and it just adds unnecessary clutter and weight to the boat for the day. I rarely have the heart when picking them up in the morning to tell them they won't need any of it. If you have equipment of your own that you’re dying to use, try to find out from your guide ahead of time if it’s the proper rod, reel, and line for the fishing you'll be doing.

If you’re booking a guide you've never used before, research their method of fishing. They should describe the style of fishing to expect on their marketing material but if not, contact them to ask. You don't want to show up for a day of swinging streamers for Steelhead and your guide specializes in nymphing... or vise versa.

Come into a guide trip with the understanding that your guide wants you to do well as much as you do (maybe more so) but sometimes the fishing is tough. Your guide is there to give you the best opportunity possible for a great day. Trust his/her decisions (including fly selection). Remember, they're out there every day.

Don't bad mouth other guides you've used to your guide, it will only make them wonder if you'll bad mouth them to your next guide. If you end up not liking your guide, simply don't book another trip with them.


Pete Tyjas, Devon School of Fly Fishing


One of the most important things when first booking your guide is to speak to them. You’ll be spending a day with them and you want to be sure they’ll be the sort of person you’ll get on with. It could be a long day if you don’t!

Probe them a little about where they guide, it will give you a good idea if they have their finger on the pulse of their stream.

Be honest about your angling ability, tell them a little about the sort of fishing you do. This will make it easier for them to tailor the day so that you get the most from it.

Do you want to just be put on fish or would you like help with watercraft or casting? If you do, be sure to let them know.

If you tie flies and want to tie some for the trip ask them what hatches you’ll be encountering.

In the UK we do not have float trips, so we wade. If you have difficulties with walking or wading be sure to let the guide know.

Let them know what sort of fishing you like to do, and is there a chance there will be something similar you can experience? We love nothing more than taking our clients to some of our favourite small streams, fishing dry flies with 2wts for small brown trout when we hear that is what they love to do.

Do you want to fish just dry flies? If you do letting your guide know will let them select the right water for you to fish.

Is your guide up to date with the latest fishing methods that you might have read about? Perhaps you’d read about Euro nymphing and wanted to learn about it. A good guide will enjoy nothing more than showing a new technique to a client.

As a guide I never take a rod and fish. The only time I’d hold a rod is to demonstrate a technique or cast. If your guide strings a rod up for his/herself and tells you to “go fish over there” while they head for a honey hole, are you sure you are happy to pay for them to go fishing too?

If you book a bonefish trip be sure you know what is required cast wise. Can you double haul and hit a target at a realistic distance?

The most important tip is to tell the guide what YOU want from the day when you start. Do you want lots of fish, big fish, tricky fish, dry fly?

I like to sit down at the start of the day with my clients with a coffee, get to know them a little, and ask them what they like to do. It lets me know how best to plan the day and where to take them.

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Go out and fool a fish….with a guide’s help!

Waking Up Early Creates A Blog

First time fishing for trout. Beavercreek, Virginia with Brian Trow, Mossy Creek Fly Fishing

Having retired eight months ago and now sleeping soundly again it surprised me when I was awake looking at the ceiling at 3:00AM. The quiet only made that voice in my head louder. Over and over it said “Start a blog”.

Me: “Start a blog.”
Me: “What?”
Me: “Start a blog.”
Me: “About what?”
Me: “Something you like.”
Me: “Money?”
Me: “No, something interesting that other people may relate too. Maybe write about a hobby.”
Me: “Well that boils it down to golf or fishing.”
Me: “OK, good. But pick one. After all if you start a blog on golf and one on fishing you won’t have time to enjoy either sport.”
Me: “But I don’t know how to start a blog.”
Me: “Hey dummy, your wife has five successful blogs. Maybe she can help.”
Me: "That might work.”

By that time it was 3:02AM and then my mind went into overdrive. With a balky back and diminishing skills I never know how much golf I’ll be playing. And ever since I started fishing again after about a 40 year layoff I much prefer wading a stream casting for anything I can fool. So, fishing it is.

After deciding on fishing the memories of my youth started pouring out of what is left of my brain. In future posts I’ll be sharing these memories with you in hopes they stir similar memories for you. Thanks for listening, stay tuned, and get out and fool a fish!