Smallmouth Bass Streams Fly Fishing Report--April 23, 2018

Smallmouth Bass Streams Fly Fishing Report--April 23, 2018

I am getting good bass fishing for bass that are feeding in the protected water in what I call "bank bays". These indentations are cut back into the river banks from 5ft. to 20 ft. by previous floods.  They may extend downstream from 10ft. to 30 ft. and may be from 3ft. to 6 ft. deep.  The abundance of minnows here and the slower currents provide ideal feeding stations for the bass. 

Murray's Sculpin Marauder, Shenk's White Streamer, Murray's Magnum Hog Sucker

Some of my most effective flies are the Murray's Sculpin Marauder size 4, Shenk's White Streamer size 4, and Murray's Magnum Hog Sucker size 4. Be patient when fishing bank bays and fan your casts carefully over the whole area. The North Fork of the Shenandoah River is fishable and you can get excellent water downstream from access point #5 also known as Chapman's Landing.  The South Fork of the Shenandoah River is still carrying too much water.  I expect it to be fishable within the next few days.

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