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.

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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.

Time To Shelve The 8wt, For Now

After using the 8wt outfit since September it’s time to downsize for the spring and summer. The steelhead are all but gone, and after months of throwing big streamers and weighted nymph rigs it’s time for the lighter rods. I’ll be hunting smallmouth in the Lake Erie tribs, and trout in the Shenandoah Valley using a 4wt and 6wt. Since those outfits are much lighter, I need a practice session to regain the feel of a lighter setup after fishing for chrome. Last year, on a trip Virginia I wasted the first hour on the water trying to get some feel for the lighter rod. I guess my skill set isn’t good enough to just pick up a light rod and cast correctly.

To work out the kinks I make a short drive to a great little pond at Lake Metroparks Veteran’s Park. There’s something about getting there early just when the sun is rising. Catch a windless morning and the water gets that mirror look. Add in honking geese and pileated woodpeckers, and you’d think you were in a wilderness area.

Water with a mirror like appearance makes an early morning worth it.

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Catching a fish during these practice sessions is a bonus, so I have no expectations of landing many. But, as the day warmed up the fish started to become active. I couldn’t get anything to show interest in a woolly bugger so I switched to a small, yellow popper. That did the trick, as I was able to land a few small sunfish, and make a new friend at the same time.

A small sunfish fooled by a  popper.

The pond is probably 60 acres, and dotted along the banks are herons, always looking for a meal. I landed a sunfish, and all of a sudden a heron glides in and lands about 5 feet from me. He knew I had a fish, and he wanted it bad. If he was going to get it, he was going to work for it. I placed the fish back in the water and the heron, in a blink of an eye, scooped it up. I didn’t think they could move that fast. He stood a few feet away from me for the next 20 minutes. Unfortunately, he and I were both shut out.

My new friend. He was hoping for seconds.

Go out and fool a fish!

The Lowly Sucker Gets No Respect

It seems like no matter where you fish there is one species that gets no respect. It is a fish that will get in the way of catching a targeted fish, like trout or steelhead. In the western United States, there’s the whitefish. It will grab a fly intended for a brown or rainbow trout. In the eastern United States, the fallfish will also grab a fly that the fishermen would rather have a trout sip it in. I’ve spoken with a few fishermen, and they almost feel cheated when a whitefish or fallfish are on the line. For me, I just like to catch fish.

In Steelhead Alley, many of the tributaries have a run of suckers during April and May. White Suckers are the most common. Redhorse Suckers are not as common, but are larger than the white. These bottom feeders just love to stage downstream from spawning steelhead picking off eggs. I’ve managed to catch a few over the years, and never felt cheated. The ones I’ve caught put up a strong fight which is a good thing, am I right? Sure, it wasn’t a steelhead, but it beats a skunking.

A few days ago I hit the Grand River for one last shot at some steelhead. I stood in a riffle nymphing with a pink egg pattern. On about the fifth or sixth drift the indicator went under and I set the hook. The initial bend in the rod made me think steel, but after a few head shakes it wasn’t fighting like steel. Finally, bringing it close, it was clear it was a sucker. It turned out to be the first of four suckers I would land that day, all between 16” and 18” in length. The reddish tail and large scales made these suckers members of the Redhorse family. What’s important is the Redhorse is intolerant of poor water quality, so finding them in the Ohio tribs is excellent.

Suckers are suckers for egg patterns. This was one of four caught, all about 16"-18" in length.

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So, give these bottom feeders their due. From someone who knows, it beats a skunking.

Go out and fool a fish!

Steelhead Season Is Coming To A Close

Time is running out on the 2015-2016 steelhead season. With the help of El Nino, fishermen had seven months of relatively nice weather this past Fall, Winter, and early Spring. Spawning activity is continuing, with the late arrivals going through the process now. Those steelhead who have been in the river, and completed their spawning, are dropping back to Lake Erie. There have been many reports of steelhead being caught that look beat up from all the spawning. Unfortunately, I witnessed one of those beat up fish today.

I fished the Grand River early this morning to hit some of the deeper pools, hoping to pick up a dropback. I was swinging a black wooly bugger when a chromer hit it. It put up a good fight, but in the end the fish came to hand. Looking at the fish closely, there were scars on its sides, and the tail and mouth were raw. It certainly paid the price.

This 23" hen was beat up from the spawning process. Princess Warrior.

(Click on image for larger view.)

 

I have never felt sorry for any fish I’ve caught. Everyone I’ve caught was revived and released to live another day. But, I actually felt sorry for this one. When I landed it, I kept it in the water and grabbed by camera for a quick shot. Still feisty, the fish flopped a few times and landed on some rocks. I gathered the fish in my hands and placed it back in the water. It took about a minute or so for the fish to revive and swim off. I hope it makes its way back to the lake. Let’s hope this fish, and all the others make it back to the lake, put their feedbags on, grow strong, and come back next fall.

With May right around the corner, it’s time to target smallmouth bass. The lake run smallies have begun to show up in the rivers. This run usually lasts until late May, and there are some trophies pushing 5 lbs. to be had. If you like wading rivers looking for smallies, May is your month.

Get your share of the lake run smallies.

Go out and fool a fish!

Getting Caught Up On Some Sleep

I had a dream….that my dad was still alive, and he fished the rivers with me for steelhead and smallies.

I had a dream….every morning started out at 65°, and smallies were hitting topwater flies.

I had a dream….that the Shenandoah Valley was in my backyard.

I had a dream….that a picture my wife took of a local stream made the cover of fishing magazine.

Early morning on the Clear Fork in Mohican State Park.

(Click on image for larger view.)

I had a dream….and one of the manufacturers of tippet material finally produced a spool with a 3” long, colored coded section to visually let you know the spool is running out soon.

I had a dream….that I was 100’ downstream from a centerpinner and he kept hooking fish right in front of me.

I had a dream….that I caught a fish on every cast.

I had a dream….of wet wading for steelhead in July.

I had a dream….that Ohio had as many great trout streams as Pennsylvania.

I had a dream….that I was fishing without a wading staff, and not falling down.

I had a dream….that the Rocky River flowed east-west through Cuyahoga and Lake Counties.

I had a dream….that Asian Carp were only found in Asia.

I had a nightmare….that I never got back into fishing.



Go out and fool a fish!

An Essential Tremor Will Not Stop Me From Fishing

About ten years ago I was diagnosed with an Essential Tremor in my right hand. An Essential Tremor is a neurological condition that causes trembling in the hands, head, legs, voice, or trunk. This condition makes simple tasks difficult to complete. It was especially noticeable when eating. Holding a fork and spoon steady became a challenge. In those ten years the tremor has progressed, and now my left hand also has a tremor, although, at this time, not as bad as my right hand. There are medications for a tremor. The most popular seem to be beta blockers. But, because of an already slow heart rate, I cannot take a beta blocker, as it may kill me. Medications for the treatment of seizures can also be used to treat tremors but there are some nasty side effects to those drugs. So, I’ve opted to go without any medication as long as I can still function, which brings me to the fishing part of this story.

When I got back into fishing six years ago after a long hiatus I realized the tremor was causing me some frustration, especially when tying knots and using split shot. It seems the smaller the item I use, the more difficulty I have. I didn’t want the frustration to affect the fun of fishing, so I had to adapt, and do things differently. Some of the things I do I’ve seen other people use the same techniques and tools. I’m going to list and explain the steps I take to minimize frustration and maximize fun. Hopefully, others can use some of these steps, whether they are afflicted with a tremor, or not.


Rig your rod the day or night before

I learned this from my wife. Her passion is photography, so she would go along with me when I hit the rivers. She saw first hand how frustrated I was getting trying to rig up in the back of car. The first couple of years fishing I would show up at the parking lot, begin to assemble the rod and attach the flies. Wanting to hit the water fast I would try to hurry, and that’s where the frustration started. It seems that with a tremor, the more excited and uptight I got, the tremor got worse. Fumbling with knots that often had to be retied several times was aggravating to say the least. My wife suggested rigging up the day before at home. I tried it, and it was like night and day. I am able to spread all the supplies on the table and take my time. So, by rigging at home I eliminated that initial frustration and am able to hit the water quickly.

For steelhead season I only rig one rod, my 8 wt. During smallmouth season I will rig two rods, a 4 wt and a 6 wt. One will have a topwater popper or slider. The other will have a streamer. This will save me from retying on the water. I can switch back and forth between the streamer and the popper. I will change flies on the water, but having a second rod eliminates one or two changes. And for me, that’s big.

 Rigging up the day before allows me to take my time. Good lighting also helps.

 (Click on image for larger view.)

Use forceps to hold the hook when tying a knot

Holding a small fly and trying to tie a knot is normally a relatively easy task for most people. For me, it’s like going to the dentist. When I have a small fly in one hand and a 4X tippet in the other hand it makes me want a root canal instead of trying to tie a knot. It wasn’t until I thought about using something to assist me that I felt comfortable tying a knot. Now, I use forceps to clamp on the hook. In essence, a small fly becomes a large one, and more manageable for me. After threading the tippet through the eye, I then turn the forceps to wrap the tag end around the tippet.

Using forceps to hold the fly gives me a little better control when tying a knot.

Use big loops and long tag ends when tying knots

I’ve seen some fishermen use very short tag ends and small loops when making a knot. I have found that just the opposite works for me. I need long tag ends and large loops. I end up using more tippet material, but that is a small tradeoff for a good, clean knot, without any frustration. The extra length tag end and large loops make it much easier for me to complete and secure the knot.

Having large loops in which to pass through the tag end is the only way for me to secure a good knot.

Use split shot with small wings that are used to open and close the shot

Trying to attach small split shot to the tippet has always been the most frustrating part of fishing. I began using the oval shape shot, and found it difficult to hold while attempting to place the tippet in the small opening. So, one day I was spending time at a fly shop and saw a round split shot with small wings. I bought some, and liked how much easier it was to attach and remove. To make them even easier to use, I open up the shot further when I first buy them. That way, on the water, it’s actually much easier to use.

One downside to using this style of shot is it seems to make a little more noise when it hits the water. To adjust for that I will cast the line further upstream, to dissipate any disturbance before the drift gets to where the fish hopefully lie.

Split shot with small wings are easier to use than the oval style. I open the slot wider when I buy them..

Review leaders and add tippet the day before

This goes hand-in-hand with rigging the rods. By reviewing the leaders, I can add tippet using a tool with minimal frustration. Blood knots are out for me. I have practiced making blood knots and have a 1 in 8 success rate. That doesn’t cut it. So, I use a double overhand knot using a tool. Two wraps and one pass through seems to work best for me.

I use a knot tying tool to add tippet to the leader.

Two wraps and one pass through works for me.

For more information on Essential Tremors, click on the link below.
Essential Tremors


Go out and fool a fish!

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!