As of this morning, the South Fork of the Shenandoah River around Elkton to Luray has a "stained" color to it but we have guides that are floating it today. I would recommend fishing the South Fork for today and tomorrow.  CFS is Luray is currently at 505.  

For slightly discolored water, use a

• Murray's Chartreuse Marauder size 6 or 8,
• Shenk's White Streamer size 6 or 8,
• Murray's Magnum Streamer, Chartreuse size 4.

The North Fork of the Shenandoah River is good for wading from Mount Jackson downstream to Woodstock.  The South Fork is great for floating in kayaks or wading from Bixler Bridge to Fosters Landing. 

Early mornings and late evenings are the best time to be on the water. If fishing in the afternoon on a sunny day, concentrate on the shady banks, downed trees or around grass beds.  Water temperatures are running in the high 70's.

Recommended flies for this week:

• Murray's Chugger Frog, size 4
• Shenandoah Blue Popper, size 4 (remove the weed guard)
• Boss Bug Popper (frog or damsel) size 4
• Woolly Bugger, Olive size 6
• Shenk's White Streamer size 8
• Mouserat size 6

Fish these on a Murray's Bright Butt or Bass Bug 9ft 2X Leader.  We recommend using a 9ft 7-weight fly rod like the Scott Centric, Orvis Clearwater or St. Croix Imperial.

We have many anglers that want to fish the river or ponds for bluegill.  sunfish & perch.  Our Murray's Panfish Fly Assortment is perfect for any angler and is great for kids just starting out. 

We have a few openings in our Half Day Fly Fishing Lessons on July 11 & July 15 if you are looking to learn more about fly fishing for smallmouth bass.  Great intro to fly fishing. 

FLY FISHING SCHOOLS

Our customers are doing well by coming into the streams from the lower boundaries. Use a cautious approach and try not to fish behind someone.  What they didn't catch, they have already spooked.  Mash your barbs down and try not to have the brookies out of the water more than 30 seconds. These small steps will help preserve the native brook trout for another day/another angler.

Recommended flies:

• Murray's Flying Beetle size 14, 16
• Mr. Rapidan Ant size 14, 16
• Hi-Viz Ant size 16, 18
• Murray's Yellow Jacket Dry size 14, 16
• Barbless Beetle, Pink size 14, 16
• Murray's Housefly size 14, 16

Fish these on a Murray's Classic 7.5ft 6X leader.

Occasionally the SNP will close trails due to heavy storms/winds. For up to date info on closures, see their Alerts on their website.  Or Sign up for Shenandoah Alerts by texting SHENALERTS to 888777. Any time there are closures, re-openings, or other important safety-related alerts, subscribers will receive a notification via text. You may unsubscribe at any time.

Top Flies for this week:

• Murray's Chugger, Frog size 4
• Shenandoah Chugger, Chartreuse size 4
• Shenandoah Blue Popper, size 4
• Shenk's White Streamer size 4
• Clouser Crayfish, Olive size 6
• Murray's Marauder, Olive size 6 or 8 

Our Fly Shop will be closed on Saturday, July 4th so there will be a delay in processing online orders over the weekend. We hope everyone has a safe and enjoyable July 4th!!!

FLY FISHING SCHOOLS

Terrestrial patterns are working best:

• Murray's Flying Beetle size 16
• Mr. Rapidan Ant size 16
• Stubby Chubby size 16
• Murray's Housefly size 16
• Dave's Hopper, size 14

Fish these on a Murray's Classic 7.5ft 6X Leader.

Our Fly Shop will be closed on Saturday, July 4th so there will be a delay in processing online orders over the weekend. We hope everyone has a safe and enjoyable July 4th!!!

Hot Flies for this week:

• Clouser Crayfish, Olive size 6
• Shenk's White Streamer size 8
• Murray's Olive Marauder, size 6 or 8
• Rubber Leg Nymph, Brown size 8
• Murray's Chugger, Frog size 4
• Boss Bug Popper, Damsel or Frog size 4
• Fish all of these on a Murray's Bright Butt 9ft 2X leader

FLY FISHING SCHOOLS

Hot Flies for this week:

• Murray's Flying Beetle size 14
• Mr. Rapidan Ant size 14, 16
• Murray's Yellow Jacket Dry size 14, 16
• Stubby Chubby, size 14, 16
• H & L Variant Dry size 16

Fish these on a Classic 7.5ft 5X or 6X leader.

Mash the barbs down on the flies for easy and fast release of the brook trout.  Try to not have them out of the water more than 30 seconds. 

A good reference book for stream access and hatch charts:  Trout Fishing in the Shenandoah National Park. 

• Murray's Flying Beetle size 14 or 16
• Mr. Rapidan Ant size 14 or 16
• Stubby Chubby, gold size 14 or 16
• Parachute Black Ant size 14, 16
• H&L Variant size 16
• Murray's Yellow Jacket size 14, 16

Mash the barbs down on the flies for easy and fast release of the brook trout.  Try to not have them out of the water more than 30 seconds. 

A good reference book for stream access and hatch charts:  Trout Fishing in the Shenandoah National Park. 

Hot flies for this week:

• Murray's Olive Marauder size 6 or 8
• Shenk's White Streamer size 4
• Murray's Brown Marauder size 6 or 8
• Clouser Crayfish, Olive size 6
• Clouser Crayfish, Dark Brown Turkey size 8
• Rubber Leg Nymph, Brown size 8
• Shenandoah Chartreuse Chugger, size 4 or 6  (cut the week guard off)

Fish these on a Murray's Bright Butt 9ft 2X Leader. 

FLY FISHING SCHOOLS

Hot flies for this week:

• Rubber Leg Nymph, Brown size 6
• Murray's Heavy Hellgrammite, Black or Brown size 4 or 6
• Shenk's White Streamer size 4 or 6
• Bass Caddis Nymph size 6
• Olive Dragonfly Nymph size 6
• Murray's Magnum Bluegill Streamer size 4
• Murray's Crayfish, Brown size 6

FLY FISHING SCHOOLS

Anglers are getting some good fishing by using dry flies.

• Murray's Flying Beetle size 14 or 16
• Mr. Rapidan Ant size 14 or 16
• Stubby Chubby, gold size 14 or 16
• Murray's Little Yellow Stonefly Dry size 16
• H&L Variant size 16
• Elk Hair Caddis, Olive size 16
• Mr. Rapidan Soft Hackle Nymph, Olive size 16
  

Mash the barbs down on the flies for easy and fast release of the brook trout.  Try to not have them out of the water more than 30 seconds. 

A good reference book for stream access and hatch charts:  Trout Fishing in the Shenandoah National Park. 

Pro Tip:  If you are having trouble seeing your flies or leaders, some anglers are using High N Dry Sighter Wax on their Murray's Flying Beetle to easily see it on the water.

Recommended flies for this week:

• Murray's Fly Beetle size 14
  
• Mr. Rapidan Ant size 14
• Murray's Little Yellow Stonefly Dry size 16
• Stubby Chubby size 16
• Barbless Caddis size 16
• Mr. Rapidan Delta Wing Caddis, Olive size 14
• Murray's Little Yellow Stonefly Nymph size 16

A dry with a dropper rig is recommended.  Fish these on a Murray's Classic 7.5ft 5X Leader or Mountain 6ft 5X Leader.

Fish down and across stream with the following flies that are recommended for this week:

• Murray's Madtom Sculpin, black size 4
• Murray's Heavy Hellgrammite, brown or black size 4
• Murray's Marauder, Brown or olive size 6
• Bass Caddis Nymph size 6
• Murray's Crayfish, olive size 4

We are getting some topwater action with Shenandoah Blue Popper size 4 and Murray's Chugger, Frog size 4 along the shady banks and late evening hours.  Fish all of the above flies on a Bright Butt 9ft 2X leader. 

FLY FISHING SCHOOLS

• Murray's Flying Beetle size 14
• Mr. Rapidan Dry size 14
• Murray's Purple Dun Dry size 14
• Near Nuff Mayfly size 14
• Spirit of Pittsford Mill size 14
• Olsen's Blowtorch Barbless size 16
• Copper John Jig, Barbless size 16
• Perdigon Nymph size 14

A dry with a dropper rig is recommended.  Fish these on a Murray's Classic 7.5ft 5X Leader or Mountain 6ft 5X Leader.

Stocked Trout Streams

 All of the local stocked trout streams are a little murky but fishable. 

• Murray's Tungsten Marauder in black or olive size 10
• Olsen's Blowtorch Barbless size 16
• Copper John, Green or Chartreuse size 14
• Murray's Heavy Hellgrammite, Brown size 8
• Casual Dress Nymph size 10
• Murray's Marauder, Chartreuse size 10

Stream flows on May 30, 2026 at 9:30am

• Murray's Flying Beetle size 14
• Mr. Rapidan Dry size 14
• Near Nuff Mayfly size 14
• Spirit of Pittsford Mill size 14
• Olsen's Blowtorch Barbless size 16
• Copper John Jig, Barbless size 16
• Perdigon Nymph size 14

A dry with a dropper rig is recommended.  Fish these on a Murray's Classic 7.5ft 5X Leader or Mountain 6ft 5X Leader.

Stocked Trout Streams

5/28/26  Update-- All of the local stocked trout streams are carrying extra water. Big Stoney Creek west of Edinburg is very full, murky but is fishable by using heavier weighted flies and Murray's Fluorocarbon Leaders. Passage Creek in Fort Valley is full, slightly discolored but fishable..

• Murray's Tungsten Marauder in black or olive size 10
• Olsen's Blowtorch Barbless size 16
• Copper John, Green or Chartreuse size 14
• Murray's Heavy Hellgrammite, Brown size 8

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Originally posted May 20--The native brook trout streams are low, clear and fishable. We are getting some great dry fly action despite the low water levels.  Plan to come into the streams from the lower boundaries for better water levels. Also plan ahead--some of the streams in the Shenandoah National Park hold up better than others during low water levels.  We have been receiving a few rain showers which has helped and over the next few days we are expected to receive more.  I cannot stress enough--stay low and hide your approach! The trout are very wary.

Best flies this week:

• Mr. Rapidan Dry size 16
• Murray's Flying Beetle size 14
• Shenk's Sulphur Dry size 16
• Klinkhammer, orange size 16
• Stubby Chubby size 16
• for droppers use a Mr. Rapidan Soft Hackle Nymph, Olive size 16 or Perdigon Nymph size 16
• fish these on a Murray's Classic 7.5ft 6X Leader or Mountain 6ft 6X Leader

Reference book:  Trout Fishing in the Shenandoah National Park

 To help in releasing the brook trout, use barbless hooks or mash the barbs down. 

Stocked Trout Streams--Update for May 23, 2026   All of the local stocked trout streams are currently high and muddy and unfishable.  It will take a few days to clear up.

original post on May 20--All of our local stocked trout streams are low and clear.  They probably will not be stocked again until October as the DWR does not stock these streams in the summer.  The DWR is still stocking a few streams throughout Virginia--visit their website for the latest stocking schedule.

Recommended flies for rainbows & browns:

• Murray's Flying Beetle size 14
• Mr. Rapidan Dry size 16
• Murray's Crayfish, Olive size 10
• Murray's Hellgrammite (regular weighted) black size 10
• Rubber Leg Nymph, Brown size 8

Best Recommended Flies:

• Bass Caddis Nymph size 6
• Murray's Crayfish, Olive size 6
• Murray's Magnum Hog Sucker size 4
• Near Nuff Sculpin size 6
• Murray's Madtom Sculpin size 4
• Shenandoah Blue Popper size 4
• Shenandoah Chartreuse Chugger size 4
• Use a Murray's Bright Butt 9ft 2X Leader or Bass Bug 9ft 2X Leader

The South Fork of the Shenandoah River has been very productive this week by either wading or floating in a kayak.

FLY FISHING SCHOOLS

Hot flies this week:

• Mr. Rapidan Dry size 16
• Barbless Caddis Dry size 16
• Mr. Rapidan Delta Wing Caddis, Black or Olive size 16
• Murray's Little Yellow Stonefly Dry size 16
• Murray's Sulphur Dry size 16
• Perdigon Nymph, French size 16
• Mr. Rapidan Soft Hackle Nymph, Brown or Olive size 16
• Little Yellow Stonefly Nymph size 16

Fish all of these on a Murray's Classic 7.5ft 6X or Murray's Mountain Leader 6ft 6X leader. A 6.5ft to 7.5ft fly rod in a 3-weight is recommended.

 To help in releasing the brook trout, use barbless hooks or mash the barbs down. 

Stocked Trout Streams

All of the local stocked trout streams are very low and clear. The DWR does not stock these streams during the summer months so look for larger pools that might hold some of the rainbows. To see the latest streams/lakes stocked, visit the DWR website. 

Hot flies this week:

• Murray's Marauder, olive, brown, or black size 10
• Murray's Heavy Hellgrammite, black or brown size 8
• Mr. Rapidan Dry size 14
• Spirit of Pittsford Mill size 14
• Near Nuff Mayfly size 14
• Mr. Rapidan Soft Hackle, Olive or Brown size 12
• Rubber Leg Nymph, Brown size 8

Top flies this week:

• Olive Dragonfly Nymph size 6
• Murray's Heavy Hellgrammite, black or brown size 6
• Murray's Marauder, black or brown size 6
• Rubber Leg Nymph, brown size 6
• Murray's Crayfish, Olive size 6
• Shenandoah Blue Popper size 4
• Fish these on a Murray's Bright Butt 9ft 2X Leader or Bass Bug 9ft 2X Leader

If you want to provide a big mouthful for a big bass, use a Mousey McMouseface size 1/0 in the very early morning hours using a Bass Bug 9ft 0X Leader preferably with a 9ft 8-weight fly rod. Fish this along the shady banks and downed trees.

FLY FISHING SCHOOLS

Hot Flies for this week:

• Murray's Madtom Sculpin, black size 4 or 6
• Murray's Heavy Hellgrammite, black or brown size 4 or 6
• Murray's Magnum Hog Sucker size 4
• Murray's Crayfish, Olive size 4 or 6
• We are starting to get some on topwater--Shenandoah Blue Popper size 4 and if you really want to provide a big mouthful--Mouserat size 6 fished along the banks in the shade.

Recommended flies for this week:

• Mr. Rapidan Dry size 16
• Klinkhammer, orange size 16
• Near Nuff Mayfly size 16
• Light Cahill Dry size 16
• Mr. Rapidan Delta Wing Caddis, Olive size 16
• Murray's Little Yellow Stonefly Dry size 16

If you want to use a dry with a dropper--add a Perdigon Nymph olive size 16 or Mr. Rapidan Soft Hackle Nymph brown size 16 below the dry fly.  Fish all of these on a Murray's Mountain 6ft 6X  or Murray's Classic 7.5ft 6X leader.  To help in releasing the brook trout, use barbless hooks or mash the barbs down. 

Stocked Trout Streams

The stocked trout streams are low and clear.  The DWR will wrap up their stocking schedule within the next few weeks. We have a few anglers landing a few rainbows on the local stocked trout streams in the deeper pools. The trout are wary so wade carefully.

Recommended flies for this week:

• Murray's Hellgrammite size 8
• Mr. Rapidan Dry size 14
• Murray's Crayfish, olive size 10
• Murray's Marauder, black or brown size 10
• Rubber Leg Nymph, size 8
• Mr. Rapidan Soft Hackle Nymph, olive size 10

Recommended flies for this week:

• Murray's Madtom Sculpin, Black size 4
• Murray's Magnum Creek Chub size 4
• Murray's Magnum Darter size 4
• Murray's Magnum Hog Sucker size 4
• Articulated Daddy's Money in Copper size 4
• Gallops Dungeon in Olive size 2

Fish these on a Murray's Fluorocarbon 9ft 2X Leader or Murray's Bass Bug 9ft 0X Leader.

Flies for the week:

• Light Cahill Dry size 16
• Mr. Rapidan Dry size 14
• March Brown Dry size 14
• Murray's Purple Dun size 16
• Murray's Little Yellow Stonefly Dry
• Fish these on a Murray's Mountain 6ft 6X leader
  

If you want to use a dry and a dropper, attach Orvis Mirage 5X Fluorocarbon below the dry fly and tie on a Perdigon Nymph, Olive size 14 or Mr. Rapidan Soft Hackle Brown size 16.

Stocked Trout Streams--All of the local stocked trout streams are clear, low but fishable. The DWR is still stocking a few streams.  Visit their website for the latest report on streams recently stocked.  Use a stealthy approach and try to fish down and across stream for best results.

Recommended flies for this week:

• Mr. Rapidan Dry size 14
• Klinkhammer size 14
• Copper John, Green, Zebra or Chartreuse size 16
• Mr. Rapidan Soft Hackle Nymph, olive or brown size 14
• Murray's Marauder, black or brown size 10
• Murray's Regular Hellgrammite, size 8
• Murray's Crayfish, olive or brown size 10 

Hot Flies for this week:

• Murray's Magnum Darter size 4
• Murray's Magnum Hog Sucker size 4
• Murray's Marauder, Brown size 6
• Murray's Heavy Hellgrammite, Brown size 4
• Whitlock Near Nuff Sculpin size 6

We are using Murray's Fluorocarbon 6ft 2X leaders if we need to get our flies down deeper but a Murray's Bright Butt 9ft 2X leader would work as well. Fish these on a 9ft 7-weight fly rod.  

Complete Ready to Fish Fly Rod & Reel Outfits

• St. Croix Imperial 9ft 7-weight 4pc fly rod with case and 15-year warranty, fly reel, line and backing for $553.90
• St. Croix Connect 9ft 7-weight 4pc fly rod with case and 5-year warranty, fly reel, line and backing for $453.90
• Orvis Clearwater 9ft 7-weight 4pc fly rod with case and 25-year warranty, fly reel, line and backing for $456.90

Hot Flies this week:

• Mr. Rapidan Parachute Dry size 16
• Klinkhammer, orange size 16
• March Brown Dry size 14
• Murray's Little Yellow Stonefly Dry size 16
• Murray's Near Nuff Mayfly size 16
• Mr. Rapidan Delta Wing Caddis, Olive or Tan size 16
• Blue Quill Mr. Rapidan Dry size 16
• Mr. Rapidan Soft Hackle Nymph olive or brown size 16

Fish these on a Murray's Mountain 6ft 6X leader. 

Now let's move onto the stocked trout streams.  All of the local stocked trout streams are low and clear. Passage Creek in Fort Valley was just recently stocked around the Elizabeth Furnance area off Rt. 678.  To see a complete list of streams recently stocked, visit the DWR website. 

Hot flies this week for the stocked trout streams:

• Mr. Rapidan Dry size 16
• Adams Dry size 14
• Bead Head Soft Hackle Pheasant Tail size 14
• Prince Nymph size 14
• Murray's Hellgrammite Black size 10
• Murray's Marauder Brown size 8

If you need help on access, stop by the fly shop or see National Geographic Map 792

Recommended flies for this week:

• Murray's Tungsten Cone Head Marauder size 4
• Murray's Heavy Hellgrammite, Black size 4
• Murray's Road Kill Nymph, Skunk size 6
• Murray's Madtom Sculpin, black size 4

Fish these low and slow on a Murray's Fluorocarbon 6ft 2X leader.

Summer 2026 Fly Fishing Courses

Full Day Fly Fishing Schools include a classroom presentation with on-the-stream instruction for a full day of learning.  Fly Rod & Reel Outfits are included for the school. We have openings on June 5, 19 and August 22, 28.  Spaces are filling up so Register Your Spot Today!

Half Day Fly Fishing Lessons include a basic 4-hour lesson on the water. Fly Rod & Reel Outfits are included for the lesson. Find out more at>>

Recommended Flies:

• Blue Quill Mr. Rapidan Dry size 16
• Mr. Rapidan Delta Wing Caddis, size 16
• Mr. Rapidan Parachute Dry size 16
• Murray's Little Yellow Stonefly Dry size 16
• Murray's Yellow Stonefly Nymph size 16
• Murray's Caddis Pupa, Tan or Olive size 16
• Fish on a Murray's Mountain 6ft 5X Leader

 4/13/26 Fire ban in effect

Date Posted: 4/13/2026  Due to high fire danger and dry conditions, Shenandoah National Park has issued a parkwide fire ban which prohibits all open-air fires. Only gas and or propane stoves are permitted at this time.

We have a few openings in our Mountain Trout Fly Fishing School on April 22, 2026 meeting at Graves Mountain Lodge in Syria, VA at 9am. For more information and to register, CLICK HERE.

Want to learn more about Fly Fishing Leaders? Read our latest blog

Stocked Trout Streams -

The local stocked trout streams are low and clear. Anglers are still landing a few trout. Again I cannot stress enough--use a stealthy approach.  To see the latest streams recently stocked, visit the VA DWR website.

Recommended flies for stocked trout streams:

• Casual Dress Nymph size 8
• Murray's Crayfish, Olive size 10
• Mr. Rapidan Dry size 14
• Murray's Hellgrammite Black size 10
• Perdigon Nymph size 14

Recommended flies:

• Murray's Magnum Darter size 4
• Murray's Marauder Brown, size 6
• Murray's Madtom Sculpin, black size 4
• Murray's Heavy Hellgrammite, black size 4
• Murray's Magnum Hog Sucker size 4
• Murray's Marauder, Chartreuse size 6

A 9ft 7-weight 4pc fly rod with a sinking tip fly line or sinking leader is recommended with these flies. The Scott Centric 9ft 7-weight, Orvis Clearwater 9ft 7-weight or St. Croix Imperial 9ft 7-weight are some that we recommend and promote in our Summer Fly Fishing Schools.

Learn to Fly Fish--Summer 2026 Fly Fishing Schools

These full day fly fishing schools start with a classroom presentation at our fly shop in Edinburg, VA and then continue on the Shenandoah River for hands on instruction. Fly Rod & Reels are provided for the day.  Open Dates: June 5, 13, 19 or August 22, 28

Basic Fly Fishing Lesson--Summer 2026 Half Day Fly Fishing Lessons

The half day lessons offer possible future anglers a basic lesson on fly fishing on the Shenandoah River. Each day begins with a meet/greet with the instruction at our fly shop then continues to the Shenandoah River for a casting and basic instruction lesson. About 4 hours.  Fly Rod & Reels are provided for the lesson.  Click Here for Open Dates and More info