While most anglers don’t like fly fishing for bass in the winter, I know a few anglers that don’t give up. Realizing the bass seek the deep water at this time of the year, concentrate on the deepest pools. The locals usually choose a five mile stretch of the river that has many pools from 5-7 feet deep. Using a canoe or a drift boat they drift from one deep pool to the next. Anchoring 30 feet upstream of each pool, then fan their casts over all of the water they can reach. Next step is to raise the anchor and drift downstream, stopping at 30 foot intervals until they have successively fished all of the deep water.



The fly line to use depends on the depth of the water and the speed of the current. A Sink Tip III line is effective in most pools but if the current is fast I use a fast sinking head fly line. A Murray’s Tungsten Cone Head Marauder size 4 is excellent here. Listen to the rest of the podcast.



Fly Fishing for Trout



I’m always amazed as I walk beside a small mountain trout stream in the winter to see Little Black Stonefly adults sitting on the snow banks along the trail. Observing the stream closely you can spot several delicate dimple rise forms created in the slow eddy close to the bank as the trout take the naturals. Watch the slow eddies and small brush piles for other rising trout. I have great success with a Murray’s Dark Stonefly Dry size 16 fished on a 7X leader.



You might have heard the Shenandoah National Park is open to fishing after being closed for several months. The biologist did issue a statement that I want to pass along.



“Be gentle with the fish and the fragile environment they inhabit. The dry conditions likely reduced spawning success. Brook trout eggs spend the winter incubating in gravel in the streams, so it’s important to avoid walking through those areas to prevent trampling of eggs.” Anglers are also encouraged to minimize handling and time out of the water to reduce stress on the fish.



Another new thing for 2024. Beginning January 11, 2024 at 10:00 a.m. visitors who wish to overnight in Shenandoah National Parks backcountry must purchase a permit through Recreation.gov. The previous system of obtaining a paper permit through the park’s website or at designated locations in the park will be eliminated effective January 10, 2024. It is my understanding that the fee is $6 plus a $9 fee per person.



Learn To Fly Fish



Spring 2024 we are offering Mountain Trout Schools in the George Washington National Forest. These meet at Murray’s Fly Shop in Edinburg VA for a classroom presentation then off the stream for hands-on instruction. A full day of learning about the native brook trout fishing. Fly Rod and Reels are provided for the day.