Recommended flies:

• Mr. Rapidan Dry size 16 or18
• Mr. Rapidan Midge Dry size 18
• Murray's Flying Beetle size 16
  
• Mr. Rapidan Ant size 16 or 18
• Murray's Oakworm size 16
  
• Murray's Housefly size 16

Fish these on a Murray's Classic 7.5ft 6X Leader. Mash the barbs down on your flies and try to return the brook trout to the water within 30 seconds. 

With the clear water, the smallmouth are making us work harder. Before you enter the water, make a game plan on where you should be standing and where you should be fishing. Look for areas that provide protection for the bass including shady banks, downed trees, around grass beds and ledges. Wade as stealthy as you can and cast down and across stream. There are plenty of little minnows and crayfish that the smallmouth are taking advantage of. Therefore we have started using smaller sized flies.

Fly Recommendations:

• Shenk's White Streamer size 8 (this can be fished as a dropper below a #4 popper)
• Rubber Leg Nymph, Brown size 8
• Murray's Marauder, brown or olive size 8
• Kraft's Clawdad size 6
• Olive Dragonfly Nymph size 6
• Shenandoah Blue Popper size 6
• Murray's Sunfish Slider size 6 or 8
  
• Murray's Chugger, Frog size 6 or 8

Fish these on a Murray's Bright Butt 9ft 2X or 3X Leader. 

Water temperatures are currently in the high 70's so we are still "wading wet" with supportive boots and shoes made by Korkers and Orvis. 

🎣 Book Your Guided Smallmouth Bass Trip 

Late August and September are prime time on the Shenandoah — don't miss out. Limited dates available for Full and Half Day guided wading trips.

• Full Day Wading Trip — $475 for 1–2 anglers (+$50 per additional angler)
• Half Day Wading Trip — $350 for 1–2 anglers (+$50 per additional angler)

Spots fill fast — contact us today to reserve your date!  ph 540-984-4212

Anglers are doing well with dry flies and terrestrial patterns. Before you fish, mash down your barbs. When handling brook trout, limit air time to 30 seconds or less. 

• Hippie Stomper, Orange size 14
• Baltz Dry Para size 16
• Mr. Rapidan Dry size 16 or 18
• Murray's Flying Beetle size 16
• Mr. Rapidan Ant size 16 or 18
• Murray's Yellow Jacket Dry size 16 

We have a limited number of our exclusive Murray's Mountain Trout Fly Rods with a bright green wrapping on special. These rods are made for us by Scott Fly Rod Company. Each rod is 6'10" in 3-wieght in 3pc with case and lifetime warranty.  Perfect for the small native brook trout streams.  

Original Post 7-22-26  Some heavy thunderstorms rolled through the area last evening producing about half-inch of rain in most areas. The Harrisonburg area received about 2 inches of rain. Therefore the North Fork of the Shenandoah River is muddy around the New Market and Mount Jackson area this morning evening though the flows look good.  Edinburg and Woodstock are clear and fishable as of 9.45am but the muddy water will be filtering its way downstream over the next day or so. A little stained color is actually great for fishing but if it is mud color, try again another day.  

The South Fork of the Shenandoah River is fishable especially upstream and downstream of the Luray area.  There are many public boat landings on the South Fork which is more suitable for floating. With the water levels that we currently have, wading is also an option especially from Bixler Bridge to Foster's Landing. 

Cast down and across stream with streamers and nymphs. Fish topwater deer hair bugs and poppers along the shady banks and downed trees. Best times to fish: early mornings and late evenings.

Top Flies for this Week:

• Murray's Marauder, brown, olive or chartreuse size 8 --chartreuse works well with slightly stained water color
• Murray's Road Kill Nymph, black size 6 or 8
• Olive Dragonfly Nymph size 6
• Bombshell Poppers (these are new to our product line after our guides have been testing them for the last month--with excellent results)
• Damsel Olive Nymph size 10--this works well as a dropper below a Popper
• Clouser Crayfish, Olive size 6

Shop Our Popper Collection →

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.

Water flows are good for wading and the water temperature is staying around 77 degrees.  Best times to fish are early morning (around 5-7am) and late evening (6:30 to dark). Fish along the shady banks, around ledges and downed trees.  We are starting to see the dobsonfly eggs along the tree leaves hanging over the river. 

Wade as carefully as you can as the fish are wary. 

Recommended flies:

• Murray's Regular Hellgrammite size 4, 6, 8
• Shenandoah Blue Popper size 4
• Olive Dragonfly Nymph size 6
• Clouser Crayfish, Olive size 6
• Murray's Marauder Olive or Brown size 6
• Whitlock Near Nuff Spuddler, size 6

Shop Our Popper Collection →

FLY FISHING SCHOOLS

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.