I do not fish ponds very often. I like moving water and the challenges it offers. But, about once a year I like to take the 4 wt. to the local park and kill an hour. This allows me to practice my casting, which I need, and maybe hook a bluegill or small bass. With the rivers not fishable due to summertime storms today was a perfect day to hit the pond. By 6:30 in the morning the sun was already heating things up, and coupled with calm winds made for an ideal early morning topwater bite. Woolly buggers stay home!
A perfect spot, a perfect day. The reeds on the right produced a personal best largemouth.
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The first half hour went as expected. Throwing a panfish popper I was catching a few sunfish. In fact, just about every cast brought a curious sunfish to the surface. I finally had enough with the small fish. I wanted to feel the tug of something bigger. I changed to a larger topwater slider in hopes of enticing a largemouth bass. I like it when a plan comes together.
I worked my way over to a pier that had some reeds growing along the edge of the pond. Using this time on the water to improve my casting accuracy was going to be put to the test. There was a small break in the reeds that screamed “fish here”. I made the cast and hit the middle of the opening. At that point I was satisfied to have made a good, accurate cast. I let the slider sit for a few seconds and then stripped in some line to get it moving. It was at that point the water boiled and a largemouth bass inhaled the slider. The bass tried to take me into the reeds but with 8lb. tippet I didn’t have to baby the fish. Bringing him in, the fish went deep and briefly got hung up, but keeping pressure on the fish I brought him out of it. After a couple of jumps a nice, thick, 16” largemouth came to hand. Because I river fish for smallies I catch very few largemouth bass, and the ones I have caught were on the small side. This fish was a personal best.
My wife and I finally had a chance to meet up with her sister, Ginny, and her husband, Art, to fish the Shenandoah Valley. We try to make the trip at least once a year, and our original date was in early June. Bad weather in the valley forced us to cancel that date, and tight schedules prevented us from traveling until the first week in August. The weather forecast for the day we were going to be on the creek was light rain, followed by heavy rain. But, it was now or never. We couldn’t reschedule again, so off we went and hoped for the best. I will never complain about time on the water, but best never showed up. You’ll soon see why.
When fishing the Shenandoah Valley there are several options for the type of water to fish. Mountain streams are close by so you can fish for brook trout. If someone is after smallmouth and largemouth bass there are several warm water rivers that hold some large fish. But if you want to challenge your skills, fish in beautiful surroundings with the opportunity to catch brown or rainbow trout, then you want to fish a spring creek. In the valley, Mossy Creek is the premier spring creek. Usually in early August you can have a lot of fun fishing terrestrials. Hoppers, beetles, and ants are the meal ticket to some great topwater action. However, our day on the water was anything but usual.
This a stretch of Mossy Creek that shows the channeling that will test your presentation skills.
(Click on image for a larger view.)
The day before we were to fish we arrived in Harrisonburg, VA late afternoon, and drove out to the public stretch of Mossy Creek. The creek is only eight miles long, and runs through pastureland. As you can see from the photos, in some spots Mossy is not very wide. Based on the sections I’ve fished, a cast directly across the creek will be no longer than 20’, give or take a few feet. Hero casts are not required, but bring your accuracy. I was able to fish about a hundred yard stretch, and I was tested on every cast. Truth be told, I’m used to the rivers of northeast Ohio, wide with a lot of room to make a backcast. Put me on small water with streamside vegetation taller than I am and I fold like a bad poker hand.
Not very wide at this point. The thick vegetation helps keep the creek cool and clear.
Mossy Creek’s water maintains an even temperature even through the hottest summers, as the spring continually supplies refreshingly cool and clear water. The thick riparian zone helps to protect the creek. The landowners have to be recognized for working with local groups and Trout Unlimited to maintain the streamside vegetation, and of course, allow access.
Another thing visible from the pictures is the vegetation in the water. Spring creeks are so nutrient-rich that vegetation grows quickly. It’s one of the characteristics that give spring creeks their charm, and forces a fly fisherman to bring their “A” game. The trout will sit in the channels or at the edge of the vegetation waiting for food to drift their way. But, the vegetation and current make it difficult to get a good drift. Attempting a cast that has to hit a target area about a foot wide with tall vegetation behind you will test your skills.
Finally, spring creeks are very clear. Trout will spook easily. Sudden movements, noises, or a false cast will put the trout down. The channels visible in the photos look cloudy but that is the creek bottom. Most spring creeks can fish well even after a rain event. But, at some point even a spring creek can become chocolate if the rain is unrelenting. Yesterday was beyond unrelenting.
Fishing the same spot a year apart. Shortly after the picture on the left was taken I had my only hookup of the day.
A sunny Sunday turned into a rainy Monday. We awoke to a gentle rain. My first thought was “this is doable”. Heading down to breakfast I passed the lobby and looked outside. It was raining a little harder. I still thought we would be OK. Packing the car required us to be in full rain gear. It was now raining a little harder. It was then that I thought we’re in trouble. A quick glance at the radar app showed a large area of yellow and red coming our way. We considered calling it off but decided to listen to what our guide, Brian Trow had to say. Brian is co-owner of Mossy Creek Fly Fishing with his brother Colby, and guides us on our trips. We have fished with Brian for seven years, and he is considered a good friend. He understands the weather patterns of the valley. We’d listen to what he had to say and then make a decision.
Brian met us and began to tell us that often the storms coming from the west hit the mountains and lose a lot of their punch. Brian mentioned that the steady rain we were experiencing could possibly let up by mid-morning. What really caught my ear is when he said these are the conditions that will bring out the biggest fish in the creek. Because the water will be stained, and cloud cover will keep the light muted, the big trout will become more aggressive. At this point I didn’t even feel the rain. We looked at each other and all of sudden the thought of calling it off went away. I guess we were all wondering which one of us will make the decision to go or not. I’m not that guy. I stand in 30° water dodging snowflakes, fishing streamers for steelhead. A little warm rain is nothing. So, we made the decision to try it. Unfortunately, little didn’t hang around long.
Fast forward to the parking lot and gearing up. Brian put on some of the biggest and darkest streamers he had in the fly box. Art, my fly fishing mentor, is a traditionalist. He is always looking to fish dry flies and terrestrials. Our time on the water was going to rough on him as he doesn’t like streamer fishing. I’m sure he went along because this was going to be my only chance of getting on Mossy Creek this year.
As we walked from the lot to the creek the rain began to pick up. Our first look at the creek showed a few inches of visibility. Maybe a few inches are all we need. Those few inches didn’t last very long.
After about an hour of swinging the streamers and hitting the banks I had a take. The fish immediately started violent head shakes and came to the surface. I had hooked a rainbow that was every bit as big as a grown steelhead. Unfortunately, I made a mistake with line control and the fish tossed the streamer. Just like that, the fight was over. Then it started to pour.
We eventually called it quits after about three hours. At the end Mossy Creek had turned to chocolate. We found out later in the day that during our time on the water 3” of rain fell in the valley. We tried our best but it was not to be. For me, our fishing excursions have been a series of memories that I wouldn’t trade for anything. Being with family and friends on the water cannot be beat.
Enjoy the photos and short videos. One video will give you a good idea of how hard it was raining. The other video shows the flowing vegetation that makes Mossy Creek a very technical creek to fish.
The covered bridge makes for a great photo any time of the year.
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What is turning out to be an annual event, my wife and I made a day trip to Mohican State Park in Loudonville, Ohio. If we time it right, the fishing and fall colors make for a great day. This year the colors were at, or close to peak. The fishing…not so much. The water was low and crystal clear. The first part of the day the water was void of leaves, but then we had a major leaf hatch, and by the time we called it quits around noon the surface of the water was covered with leaves.
As for the fishing, I moved up and downstream to find some deeper pools. There were a few spots but the fish didn’t want to play. I did manage to hook into a small largemouth bass, but that was it. In the past few years the Ohio Department of Natural Resources stocks the lower Clear Fork River that flows through the park with brown trout. I didn’t see any trout, so the stocking may not yet have occurred.
Look close. The only hookup of the day.
Before calling it a day, we took one last walk upstream and as if out of nowhere I spotted some bass, bluegills, and suckers hanging out in the middle of a few downed trees. Unfortunately the only way I could get a fly to them was to dap a woolly bugger. I spent about 10 minutes trying to entice a strike, but they didn’t want to play. Just a tough day.
Here's nice shot of a few bluegill hanging around some cover.
I want to share some of the sights captured by my wife. The colors were spectacular. There is also a video to view. Remember, the fishing was tough, so what you will see will be the fall colors, and some casting to fish that weren't there. Enjoy.
A cold front came through and finally got rid of the heat and humidity that’s choked us for over a month. To celebrate, the wife and I took a hike around the Walter C. Best Wildlife Preserve. The preserve includes a 30-acre lake that has a good population of bluegills and largemouth bass. It’s best suited for spinning gear as most of the lake has high banks. There are only a couple of spots where a fly fisherman can get comfortable.
As we were walking around the lake we noticed a snake making its way across the path. The closer we got to it we noticed it was dragging something. With an even closer look we saw it had a largemouth bass firmly in its grasp. It struggled to swallow the bass but could only get the lower lip in its mouth. As we were taking pictures a runner went by and spooked the snake. It let go of the fish and slithered into the weeds. The snake survived to live and hunt another day….the bass did not.
This water snake tried to make a meal of a largemouth bass. A runner went by and spooked the fish. It dropped the bass and slithered away.
It’s been hot and dry for the last two months, and the rivers around northeast Ohio have been low and clear. Fishing was good early in the summer but lately you’ve had to work hard for any action. If you are not out before the sun gets on the water, or around sunset, you are going to have a tough time. Even going out early the action has been slow. I’ve had enough success to keep me interested, but nothing spectacular.
Early morning on the Chagrin with a little fog.
(Click on image for larger view.)
What’s interesting is the topwater bite has been nonexistent for me the last month. I can’t buy a topwater hit no matter what I throw. Early in June topwater was hot, but lately the only fish I’ve been catching have been on streamers, fishing faster water.
During these slow days I’ve had the luck to catch two new species on the fly rod. While targeting smallmouth bass on a popular section of the Chagrin River, I managed to hook a channel catfish on a woolly bugger. And, just last week, again fishing the Chagrin River, I hooked a largemouth bass fishing a tan color, golden retriever. Hooking the largemouth surprised me more than the catfish. I knew there were catfish spread out in the river, but largemouth bass aren’t as common in the northeast Ohio rivers as their smallmouth cousins. Fishermen do catch largemouth around the mouths of the rivers, and will occasionally catch them further upstream, but the rivers seem to be able to support smallmouth populations better than largemouth.
Channel catfish caught on a woolly bugger. It put up a good fight.
Surprise largemouth bass hooked on a golden retriever. Caught in a faster stretch of water.
Not wanting to shortchange the summer as I’ve enjoyed having stretches of water all to myself, but in another six weeks the steelhead will start to poke their noses in the rivers. Last year I was on the water with a 4wt in mid-September after a big rain event. Throwing a small streamer for smallies, I hooked a fresh steelhead, and was overmatched with that light rod. So, I’ll switch to an 8 wt after the first big rain event.
Steelhead will soon start their journey upstream. Need a big rain event mid-to-late September to get them going.
One morning on the Grand River the fishing was slow so I looked up and saw this. Now that's an office view.
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.
When we made our first trip to Canada we always wanted an early start. Every morning we woke up before 6:00AM. Most of the time the winds would be calm which gave a mirror-like surface to the water. That was our go signal. If the winds were up, we just took a little more time before hitting the water. If we were out by 6:00AM we would fish for about three hours and then head in for breakfast.
Early morning trolling. Almost perfect water.
My mother, who liked to fish, was not an early riser. Usually in the middle of the afternoon we would take her out for a couple of hours, anchor at a cove, and just relax. The area we fished at that time of the day was very quiet. We’d catch a few fish dropping a worm over the side and she would be happy. Then one day, lightning struck, and we were not ready.
Anchored at a cove, my mother hooked into a big fish. She was using the old rod my grandfather made. That fish, whatever it was, put a big bend in it. My father looked at me with his eyes wide open. We sat in the boat giving her all kinds of instruction as she reeled the fish in. My father just kept saying “don’t horse it in”. Unfortunately we didn’t realize that the net we had, with a collapsible handle, wasn’t ready. When the fish came to the surface it was a big largemouth bass. I truly believe a bowling ball would have fit comfortably in its mouth. Seeing the fish, my mother began to panic, as she didn’t want to lose it. My father reached for the net but because the handle wasn’t engaged it started to spin and he couldn’t put it under the fish. My mother, forgetting all the instructions just given her, saw that and tried to lift the fish in the boat. Her fate was sealed at that point. The fish broke the line, and all three of us sat in stunned silence that felt like hours. What happened next is something I will never forget.
The quiet of that afternoon was broken as my mother yelled “YOU IDIOTS!”, in a decibel level that no human before or since has ever come close to matching. I’m sure people in Quebec, 300 miles away, heard those words. Dogs hid in fear. Birds flew to the safety of their nests. No words could be spoken to calm her down. If she knew how to swim I believe she would have jumped out of the boat and swam to shore.
Not funny at the time, but 55 years later, hilarious.
