Trout Streams Fly Fishing Report - October 26, 2022
Let's start todays report with the stocked trout streams and delayed harvest areas. The VA DWR is continuing to stock trout streams throughout the state each day with rainbows, browns and in some cases brookies. To fish these streams, you DO need a freshwater fishing license and trout license and in some cases a National Forest Permit. There is also some confusion on what delayed harvest means. Delayed harvest areas are catch and release only. Using a Tungsten Bead Head Marauder size 10 (in olive or black) helps me get my fly down along the stream bottom.
Now let's talk about the native brook trout streams. Just the other day I read an article on the Shenandoah National Park. A fourth of the yearly visitors to the Park occurs in October simply because everyone wants to hike and fish while the views are so amazing. Yet this is the month that I do not go to the Park simply because the brook trout are spawning and I do not want to disturb them. Each spawning bed that is protected this fall produces more native brookies that we can catch in the spring. I do have some customers that fish these streams all fall. If you decide to fish the native brook trout streams at this time, a Murray's Flying Beetle size 16 will be your best fly to use.
If you are interested in learning more about the native brook trout streams in the Shenandoah National Park, I have several options to help.