Parking Lots Are Full In Steelhead Alley

And so are the rivers, filled with fishermen and steelhead. The spring run in northeast Ohio is peaking and fishermen are flocking from all over to get their share of chrome. In the last week there have been license plates from Virginia, North Carolina, Maryland, Wisconsin, Michigan, Pennsylvania and New York occupying spaces in various parks. All in the pursuit of steelhead. And, they have been rewarded.

There’s chrome everywhere. Fast, shallow water right now holds a good share of steelhead, as the spawning urge has taken over. Dropbacks, those fish that have completed spawning and are making their way back to Lake Erie, can be found in the deeper, slower pools. Steelheaders, either by themselves or with the help of a guide, have been enjoying multiple fish days, many in double digits. Get them while you can. In about a month it will be over.

Teamwork at its best. Two guide-client teams work a section of the Grand River.

Minutes after this photo was taken two other fishermen filled in the water between them.

Space is at a premium this time of the year. 

This hen put up a good fight but the rigors of spawning took a lot out of her.

The scars prove it.

One of the nice things about April is that smallmouth bass start to show up in the rivers. Fish for steelhead in the first full month of Spring and there’s a good chance you will hook into a big, lake run smallie. If you catch one this time of year you are in for a treat, as a lake run smallmouth bass will fight just as hard as a feisty steelhead.

Hard fighting, lake run. smallmouth bass can be caught this time of the year.

Right now, there’s no better time to catch your personal best metal, whether it is chrome or bronze.

Go out and fool a fish!

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