A Quick Trip And 1-1/2 Fish Caught

It was time to get out of Dodge. For various reasons my wife and I haven’t had a chance for a road trip, no matter how short, for over two years. So, we made plans to meet up with my wife’s sister and her husband to spend a day fishing Mossy Creek in the Shenandoah Valley. Then we had planned to drive to the eastern part of Virginia and spend a couple days just relaxing. But with Hurricane Dorian moving up the east coast we decided to just fish. So, getting caught up with the relatives would be condensed into a few hours. In the end, only the fishing was quiet. But that’s not unexpected as fishing a spring creek like Mossy will humble many a fly fisherman, as I found out by the end of the day.

Rays of sun highlight the grasses that are a characteristic of spring creeks.

Wary trout will use the grass as cover.

(Click on the image for a larger view.)

We’ve made this trip about a half a dozen times and know what to expect. The problem I run into is most of my fishing is done in the Lake Erie tributaries targeting steelhead and smallmouth bass. Whether I’m throwing a streamer or popper I don’t worry about accuracy. It doesn’t mean I’m not trying to be accurate but If I aim for a spot a foot from a downed tree and get it two feet from the tree I'm satisfied. Besides, I’ve caught fish when making a bad cast, and not caught fish after putting the fly exactly where I wanted it to land. So why worry? But every time I fish Mossy I find out the hard way that without accuracy and a good presentation I’m not going to catch many fish on a spring creek. OK, call me a slow learner.

Trying to place a hopper a few inches away from the opposite bank.

As you can see there are some prime lies on the opposite bank for the trout to sit.

If only they were hungry.

Early September is usually prime terrestrial season. Ants, beetles, hoppers and crickets were all over the vegetation, and the trout should be looking up for a good protein meal. In addition, tricos were swarming above the water and a spinner fall was a couple of hours away. With all that protein available the trout should feel like we do after a Christmas dinner. And I think their bellies were full, as it was a very slow day on the water. We had to work hard for every one of our hookups.

Brian Trow, our guide for the day, and I were fishing a stretch of the creek and noticed a few rises upstream against the far bank. We made our way upstream and I began throwing a hopper against the bank. After a couple of good drifts right over the trout without any movement to inspect the offering we switched to an ant pattern. Again, after a couple of drifts with no movement we made another switch, this time to a small trico. Again, no reaction from the trout. At about this time Brian noticed another rise about 25’ upstream. So, we left this fish and moved upstream figuring if we left it alone for awhile it might start feeding again.

Needless to say moving upstream and casting to the rise was a repeat of what we just left. A couple of fly changes with no activity. In my mind I’m thinking that I am putting the fish down by some sloppy casting. Brian, ever the optimist, disagrees and believes we just haven’t found the right meal. Another change that included a nymph dropper still did nothing to move a fish. So very frustrating.

After a short break we made our way downstream and began to fish a stretch of water with some overhanging vegetation on the opposite bank. Remember that accuracy thing I mentioned earlier. This is when I had to bring it. Finally, after a few casts I dropped a cricket pattern under the branches. Good drift, nothing. Another cast and I get hung up on the branch. I wasn’t having any luck freeing the fly so Brian took the rod made a few moves and the fly dropped off the branch. He then made a short cast to straighten out the leader and handed the rod back to me. Just as I’m about to make a backcast a trout hits it. After a short battle we bring to hand a nice, 10” brown trout. Brian and I both shared a laugh over this as it took a snagged fly and a short cast to straighten out the leader to land our first fish of the day. Laughingly, we both took ½ credit for the catch, and with that the skunk was off.

We moved to another spot and noticed a fish feeding right off the bank on our side of the stream. This presented a problem. I was now going to try and land the fly by the bank using a reach cast. I’m a right-handed caster so casting upstream against the bank brought the vegetation into play. To get a good drift I had to make the forward cast and then reach toward the water so the line would land there. First attempt worked fine but the fly landed too far from the bank. The second attempt put the fly right by the bank. A brief drift was interrupted by a rainbow inhaling the cricket. After a brief run and an aerial display the rainbow made it to the bottom of the net.

A lot of hard work went into catching this rainbow.

It was fooled by a cricket.

That flurry of activity capped off an interesting, challenging and frustrating day. But it was still fun, and I’d do it again tomorrow. It may make me a better fisherman.

Another day comes to an end in the Shenandoah Valley.

This image was captured by my wife from the top floor of our hotel.

Go out and fool a fish!

A Wet Fishing Trip In The Shenandoah Valley

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.

Go out and fool a fish!

Best. Smallmouth. Day. Ever.

The weather everyone in northeast Ohio has been waiting for has finally arrived. A string of hot days was missing until this weekend. A lot of people ran for the beaches and parks. I ran for one of the rivers because the hot weather brings warming water temperatures, which makes the smallmouth bass more active. What I didn’t expect was almost non-stop action on the water.

Wanting to hit the river early before the sun starts to bake everything, I set the alarm for 4:30 AM. After downing a quick breakfast I made the half hour drive to one of the prettiest stretches of the Chagrin River. Early arrival guaranteed access to any pool I wanted. Settling in, I carefully waded to a spot that has always been productive. At this point I slipped on a rock, and thrashed around trying to keep my balance. While I didn’t get soaked I did think the pool was toast, but decided to try it anyhow. That was the first correct decision I made on the water. Fortunately, it wasn’t the last.

Nice smallie fooled by the Root Beer Golden Retriever. The fish couldn't resist it today.

The second correct decision was on fly selection. During the summer I rig up two rods. One rod is for a streamer, and a second rod for a topwater popper. For the streamer, I tied on a Root Beer Golden Retriever. This is a streamer I have only found in one fly shop in Virginia, Mossy Creek Fly Fishing. Tied with a No. 10 hook, it is basically a brown color with some crystal flash. Today it was deadly. Within the first 15 minutes I hooked into five smallies. Maybe I’ll thrash around the water more often.

Only 1-1/2" in length but it's an ideal baitfish imitation.

Moving down the pool I switched to the topwater popper. It’s actually a Sneaky Pete, which has rounded head. It displaces the water by sliding instead of popping, and creates enough disturbance on the water to attract fish. It was like a magnet today. I made a cast to the opposite bank and gave it a strip. On the pause a smallie came to the surface and sucked it in. A nice fight took place but in the end the bass found the net. Topwater strikes are the best part of fishing for smallies. I found they don’t sip in the popper, they attack it.

The rest of the day I alternated between the streamer and the Sneaky Pete as I made my way through the park. When my day ended I was into double digits in smallies. But the highlight was catching a creek chub on the Sneaky Pete. I always thought chubs were bottom feeders but one of them couldn’t resist attacking the Sneaky Pete.

This is an above average size creek chub. It couldn't resist the Sneaky Pete.

Now for the downside of the day. You may wonder how could there be a downside when the action was constant. Well, I missed another six strikes, mostly by not paying attention. And, the biggest smallie got off at the net. I stretched to get the net under him but missed. I must have put some slack in the line as the smallie spit the fly and quickly swam off. Oh well, I guess you can’t have everything.

Go out and fool a fish!

The Chagrin Pays Off Again

I was able to get out before the rain, and hit one of my favorite spots on the Chagrin River. The water was clear, cold, and flowing at a perfect speed for swinging a streamer. After covering most of the pools that usually produce (but didn’t today) I ended up walking further downstream and tried a new spot. I noticed this pool the last time I fished the park but there were two fishermen already working it. I’m glad I remembered it.

Using my go-to streamer, a tan, golden retriever, which is a cousin of a woolly bugger, it didn’t take but five drifts before I felt that tug. A five minute battle ensued. This chromer did not want to give up. I’d get it close and it would make a run. It flopped round the surface a few times and then would head for the bottom. I was finally able to net it and was amazed how thick it was. This female was loaded with eggs. After a quick picture the fish was revived, and took off for the bottom. I believe it was the best fight a steelhead put up for me.

This female put up a good fight. A tan, golden retriever fooled it. One of the best baitfish imitations.

Go out and fool a fish!

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!

Spring Fly Fishing In The Shenandoah Valley

Family…Trout…Springtime. It’s turning into a nice tradition. For the past five years my wife and I have been fortunate to mix family and fly fishing with annual spring visits to the Shenandoah Valley. We spend a couple days with my wife’s sister and her husband. There’s nothing better than a day fishing some of the best trout streams in the valley with family, followed by a day or two getting caught up on our “busy” lives. Since this is a blog about fishing I’ll leave most of the family stuff for another time or place.

Any fishermen who makes plans for a trip well in advance knows that weather is the one key element that is out of their control. Plans made in December for a May fishing trip are subject to short term weather patterns. To overcome a weather issue we usually make two or three dates a week apart in case the streams are blown out. As the day of the trip approaches I’m continually looking at forecasts and radar as well as trading emails with Art, my brother-in-law, to determine if the streams will be fishable. This year tested all of us at some point.

Beginning in late April it rained in the Shenandoah Valley almost every day. From what I’ve learned, the trout streams seem to handle the rain well but the method of trying to fool the fish changes. Higher water will bring a stain to even the clearest streams, and streamer fishing may be the only option, as hatches may get interrupted. Sure enough it was raining the three days before our scheduled date. The last report I received was the streams will be fishable. So, we packed the car and drove from Cleveland to Harrisonburg, Virginia. Now, that is a big first step because there’s no turning back. It’s like saying “we’re fishing come hell or high water”. Driving into Pennsylvania it started raining, and didn’t stop until we got to the hotel. One last email exchange with my brother-in-law updated us on the weather. He said the forecast changed, and the low pressure was going to hang over the area, bringing more rain during the night. He and my sister-in-law were going to make the trip early the next morning from Williamsburg but the thought was we would have to be very lucky to fish.

Clouds hung around for most of the morning, but at least it was dry.

(Click on image for larger view.)

We met at Mossy Creek Fly Shop the next morning, and Brian Trow, our guide, and owner of the shop (along with his brother, Colby), checked the USGS site for the latest flow report. After reviewing the site it was decided that we would drive to the stream, get an up-close look and determine whether to fish it or not. Brian knows Smith Creek like no one else, having fished and guided there for a number of years. Smith is a classic limestoner, and handles higher flows well. Looking at the water Brian said it’s a go. We would fish a few holes to see how the action was. If it wasn’t producing we would make the trip to Mossy Creek. I’ve fished Smith about four times and each time the water was low and clear. This time it was up about a foot with a little stain, so, it was going to fish differently. It was going to be a streamer and nymph game. There were a few tricos in the air, and later some sulphurs showed up, but the topwater feed never materialized.

Smith Creek was elevated with a slight stain. 

Brian's trying to get me to cast to the opposite bank and let the current swing the streamer through the pool.

With overcast skies to start, fishing on Smith was tough. I managed one strike in the first pool we tried but missed the hookup. Moving to another pool didn’t produce any fish. Finally, moving further downstream I managed to land about a 10” rainbow. We were all hoping the fish were turning on.

The skunk is off as a small rainbow came to hand.

Mid-morning turned into late morning when I swung a black crystal bugger off a ledge. Midstream, another rainbow hit the streamer, and after several swipes with the net, landed it. Two casts later, swinging the streamer through the pool, I felt the tug again. This time I knew it was a stronger, larger fish. The fish took several runs up and downstream before a nice, 17” rainbow came to hand. A couple more takes and misses closed out my morning session.

This 17" ranibow put up a good fight.

Art worked several pools, also swinging a streamer. He did manage to hook into a nice rainbow but it ended up being a long distance release. Overall, the stream wasn’t as good as we know it can be. When Smith is on, you can get into double digits very easily.

Over lunch we had a discussion about what the afternoon will look like. Brian received a call from one of his guides saying that Mossy Creek was in great shape despite the recent rains. So, we decided to drive to Mossy.

Mossy Creek is a true spring creek. Brown trout thrive there. The stream is maybe 15’ to 20’ in width. Like many spring creeks, the vegetation creates channels. So, the casts need to target the edges and clean water. The browns will lay along the edges and ambush any food that drifts by. Also, like many spring creeks, Mossy is very technical. Clear water necessitates stealth, with upstream casts a must. The first year I started fly fishing we fished Mossy and I was overwhelmed. Truthfully, my casting sucked and I got blanked. Now, five years later I was fishing it again, so it was going to be another test.

 A beautiful stretch of Mossy Creek.

It was overcast with a little drizzle when we stated to fish Mossy, but it didn’t last long. The clouds parted, and it was full sunshine the rest of the afternoon. Not what we needed at this point. The fishing was slow. We were using size 18 and 20 nymphs under a PMX dry with no activity. I moved downstream, and Brian switched my flies out for a black crystal bugger. I began to dead drift it down a channel when a brown trout came out from the bank and nailed it. After a nice little fight I landed my first wild brown trout. That made my day.

My first wild brown.

There was very little action the rest of the afternoon. I think the trout were playing with us. I had one bump my strike indicator, and had a couple trout investigate my offering but none committed to it. Art was drifting a streamer behind a small boulder and a brown kept following it but it also never committed to it. That was it for the day.

Even this turtle had a tough day.

Overall, the fishing was tough but I learned a little more, and hopefully will be a better fisherman because of it. Can’t wait for a return visit.

Go out and fool a fish!

Here's a short video of the day on the water my wife put together. Enjoy.

Support Your Local Retail Fishing Shops

In trying to keep up with the fishing industry I will spend some time surfing the internet and will often visit a few fishing forums. One topic that seems to be discussed on almost all the sites is the local fishing shop vs the big boxes. In fact, this topic is only second behind the never ending discussion of stocking fish over wild ones.

My father owned a retail auto parts store, and I spent many hours working there, so I have some insight to how important local support is. For the most part, small, local retail stores catering to the fishing trade, whether it is a fly shop or a bait shop, are run by the owners who grew up in the area. They love what they are doing. It’s not just a job, it’s a career fueled by passion.

The owners I have met are happy to see you. They are very knowledgeable, and are willing to share that knowledge. Ask them a question and you’ll get the right answer. What flies are working? They know. Which rivers are producing? They’ll tell you that also. It’s never an intrusion.

Did you ever ask a clerk in a big chain to explain the differences between two products and get a blank stare? I’m sure we all have at one time. It’s not necessarily the clerks fault. If big chains don’t provide proper training then the clerk will have a hard time servicing the customer. To me, part of training is using the products. There’s a faster learning curve when someone uses the product as opposed to being told about the product. In a big chain I’m sure the clerks don’t use all the products. But, ask a local shop owner the difference between two brands of waders and you’ll receive enough information to make a decision.

I also believe the local fishing shops can help make you a more successful fisherman. I’ve learned a lot from the shops I deal with. Whether it’s help with casting, how to read water, or setting up a steelhead rig, they can help. The best part of dealing with the local shops is you are forming a long term relationship with someone just as passionate about fishing as you are.

Brian Trow (left), and his brother, Colby (not pictured), from Mossy Creek Fly Fishing, have made me (right) a better fishermen.

So, if you’re going through your gear in anticipation of getting on the water, make a visit to your local fishing shop. You’ll be glad you did.

In ending, I want to give a shout out to the shops I deal with. You have made me a better fisherman.

Mad River Outfitters, Columbus, OH
Contact Mad River Outfitters


Mossy Creek Fly Fishing, Harrisonburg, VA
Contact Mossy Creek Fly Fishing


Rodmakers Shop, Strongsville, OH
Contact Rodmakers Shop


Chagrin River Outfitters, Chagrin Falls, OH
Contact CRO


George Anderson’s Yellowstone Angler, Livingston, MT
Contact Yellowstone Angler


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!

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

Smith Creek Outing

Since I began fly fishing my wife and I meet Art and Ginny for a day on the stream. Chris’s sister, Ginny, loves to fish but on the trip she steps aside and I fish with Art while she and my wife get caught up. Art loves to fish spring creeks, and in the Shenandoah Valley there are several great streams. The ones we have fished are Mossy Creek, Beaver Creek, and Smith Creek. Each creek has a good population of brown, rainbow, and in some locations, brook trout. For the last couple of years we’ve settled in on Smith Creek and have never been disappointed with the choice. This year would be no different.

As with many fishermen who make plans months ahead, you never know what the weather will be when the day comes. Back in January we decided on a late April date, with an alternate date a week later in case of a weather problem. Needless to say the weather did become a problem as a storm dumped about 2” of rain on the area and the creeks were blown out. Fingers were crossed that the alternate date would be fishable. If not, we wouldn’t be able to fish together until September. After the storm the area was blessed with a week of dry weather, so the alternate day was on. Road trip!

On the day of the outing we all met at the Mossy Creek Fly Shop in Harrisonburg, Virginia. Brian Trow would be our guide. We have fished with Brian before and he is knowledgeable, patient, and enthusiastic. Brian explained that since the rain the previous week, Smith Creek only starting fishing again a couple days ago. If today was to follow the last couple of days, the fishing would be slow during the morning and pickup after lunch. The rain had not only raised the levels of the creeks it also brought unusually cool temperatures, which kept the fish down until the sun could warm the water. How right he was.

Both Art and I fished hard in the morning, and earned everything we caught. Brian had me fishing a streamer with a dropper nymph. After no action we switched to a Clawdad and fished along the bottom. Finally we got to fool some fish, landing a couple of fall fish and hooking (and losing) a couple of rainbows. At least we found out what was working….until it didn’t. We all limped into lunch with only a couple of nice rainbows landed by Art. Listening to Brian at lunch talk about the rising temperatures and how he thought the fishing would pick up was a song we longed to hear. Boy, was he right.

Nice thick rainbow

After lunch Brian put me in a long pool and rigged my rod with a Golden Retriever and a pheasant tail dropper, all floated under an indicator. The streamer was used as an attractor with the nymph following. That was the ticket. For the next hour I moved through the pool landing a bunch of bows and missing a few more. Brian was indeed correct. Things really picked up not only for me but for Art as well. He settled in at a nice riffle upstream and had some good action. Brian, being the net man, got a good workout running between the both of us.

This was the scrappiest rainbow of the day.

The rest of the afternoon we both hit a few more pools and riffles picking up some rainbows and a few fall fish. In fact, I landed a stoneroller, which in Virginia is called a horny head because of the spikes and bumps on their head. That was a strange one.

All in all, it was a good day. We landed some good fish and missed many more. I don’t know what it was but we missed about as many fish as we caught. It was one of those days when I was a little late with a lot of strikes. Glad we learn from our mistakes.

One thing I learned is that using an 8wt the last six months fishing for steelhead doesn’t help when you pick up a 4wt and fish a smaller stream unless you practice. My timing was way off and it took about an hour or so to forget the feel of the 8wt. I don’t know if I would have caught more fish but I would not have struggled trying to make a cast.

Enjoy the photos and video. (click on photo for a larger view)


Go out and fool a fish!

 Smith Creek. Great fishing and scenery.

Susie Q Farm.

Working a pool. There are hundreds of fish in this pool.

Spring has arrived in the Shenandoah Valley.

Team T - W - Z

These hands have held thousands of trout.