Smallmouth Bass Streams Fly Fishing Report - October 7, 2021

Several years ago in October a very large smallmouth chased a hog sucker up on a 2-inch deep gravel bar 30 feet from where I was fishing. The bass grabbed him quickly as he flopped back into the river. I put on a Murray's Magnum Hog Sucker and covered the water thoroughly and had great success. This time of year you want to fish as deeply and as slowly as you possibly can.  The Murray's Magnum Darter and Tungsten Cone Head Marauder (Olive) size 4 are also good streamers to have in your fly box. 

The North Fork of the Shenandoah River is in beautiful shape.  Meems Bottom in Mount Jackson, Chapman's Landing in Edinburg, and the Seven Bends State Park in Woodstock are some beautiful areas to fish. Bring your chest high waders, pack a lunch, and enjoy seeing some of the leaves starting to change colors on the trees. 

The South Fork of the Shenandoah River is murky from heavy rains received upstream of Luray and has too much water volume for wading.  It is still coming up as of this morning so I expect it to take a few days to clear.