Trout Streams Fly Fishing Report - December 4, 2024
The brown trout are located in the deepest pools in our larger stocked trout streams where they feed on minnows. The Tungsten Bead Marauder (olive or pearl) size 10 are very effective. Use a slow hand twist method to swim these right along the stream bottom. Below springs you will find many cress bugs that the trout feed heavily upon. In these areas I use a Cress Bug size 14 on a Murray's Trout Nymph Leader 9ft 5X. Other patterns to use this week include San Juan Worm size 8, Jigged Squirmy Wormie size 12 and Rubber Leg Nymph size 8.
All of the local stocked trout streams (Big Stoney, Passage Creek, Mill Creek, and Hawksbill) are clear and fishable. Wade carefully as the water is crystal clear and the trout are easily spooked. To see the latest streams stocked, visit the VA DWR website.
The water temperature in the native brook trout streams is below 40 degrees, therefore the brook trout are not actively feeding. In fact the Skyline Drive was closed for 1 day in the past week because of snow/ice conditions as the temperatures are normally 10 degrees cooler in the SNP than in our area. Check the Shenandoah National Park website for updates on road closures. The native brook trout fishing will pick up again around mid March when the temperatures start to rise.
Prime time to fish the native brook trout streams is April and May when the water levels and hatches are ideal. If you want to learn more about fly fishing for native brook trout, you have some options:
- read my book Trout Fishing in the Shenandoah National Park
- attend my classroom discussion on the Shenandoah National Park on December 14 at 10a.m. at the fly shop in Edinburg
- register for the Spring 2025 Mountain Trout School meeting at Graves Mountain Lodge in Syria, VA and fishing in the Shenandoah National Park
- register for the Spring 2025 Mountain Trout School meeting at Murray's Fly Shop in Edinburg, VA and fishing in the George Washington National Forest