Let’s talk a little bit about the fly fishing options available in December. I have some friends who insist on fishing for smallmouth bass even though the water temperature is low. They know the river very well and float from one deep pool to the next. Some of these holes are larger than a tennis court and run from 6-7 feet deep. They use fast sinking tip fly lines with 6ft 2X Murray’s Fluorocarbon leaders. They swim their big streamers and nymphs slowly right along the stream bottom. The smallmouth strikes are usually very subtle, so I strike firmly with both a line hand strike and an uplifting rod motion. Some of my favorite flies are the Murray’s Heavy Black Hellgrammite size 4, Murray’s Magnum Hog Sucker size 4, and Murray’s Olive Marauder size 6.



Fly Fishing for Stocked Trout



Take advantage of the fly fishing in the stocked trout streams this winter. The stocked rainbows move downstream from these stocked locations. Start at these locations and fish a 2-fly tandem rig such as a Betsy Streamer size 10 on a Murray’s Classic 7.5ft 3X leader. Then attach 2-ft of 3X mono to the bend of the hook and attach a Mr. Rapidan Streamer size 10. Cast across stream and strip these very slowly across the stream bottom. Listen to my podcast for more information.