Trout Streams Fly Fishing Report - May 17, 2023

Part 1--Mountain Trout Streams-- As I was sitting in my office at the fly shop, I happened to look out the window and a Sulphur was sitting on the screen.  I have been seeing some march browns, sulphurs and little yellow stoneflies along the mountain streams within the last week.  If you can stay on the streams the last few hours of the day then you will also see the Green Drake.  We don't have many of these but we do have some.  Recommended flies for this week include: March Brown Dry size 14, Sulphur Dry size 16, Murray's Little Yellow Stonefly Dry size 16, Murray's Flying Beetle size 14 and for the Green Drake--Murray's Drake Dry in olive size 16.  Fish on Mountain Leader 6ft 6X or a Classic 7.5ft 6X leader.  If you want to fish a dry and a dropper then add a Mr. Rapidan Soft Hackle Nymph (olive) size 16 about 18 inches below your dry. Be sure to put dry fly floatant on your dry fly before starting. 

Some of the Shenandoah National Park streams are getting low so you will have better water levels by coming into the streams from the lower boundaries. Stay low and sneak, sneak so you are not scaring the fish. If you need more information on the Shenandoah National Park, stop by the fly shop or see my book Trout Fishing in the Shenandoah National Park.  

Part 2--Stocked Trout Streams--All of the local stocked trout streams are clear and fishable.  They are getting a little low and since they are so clear you will have to wade carefully so that you are not spooking the trout. The VA DWR will stop stocking streams within the next month and then resume in October.  The Murray's Flying Beetle size 14 and Sulphur Dry size 16 are good dry flies for these streams.  Other good flies include Murray's Crayfish Brown size 10, Murray's Marauder Pearl size 10 and Copper Johns size 16.