Smallmouth Bass Streams: The largest hellgrammites can swim almost as well as minnows. One tactic we teach in our on-the-stream fly fishing schools mimics this well and is easy to master. Cast your hellgrammite across stream and after it sinks deeply, swim it back across the streambottom by stripping it six inches every ten seconds. Good flies are the Murray's Heavy Black Hellgrammite size 4, Murray's Heavy Olive Hellgrammite size 4 and Murray's Heavy Brown Hellgrammite size 4. Access point #3 (Burnshire Bridge) on the North Fork of the Shenandoah River is good. Access point # 13 (Foster's Landing) on the South Fork of the Shenandoah River is good.
Both the North and South Fork of the Shenandoah River are discolored. The North Fork of the Shenandoah River should be clear by Thursday, May 11. The South Fork of the Shenandoah River should be clear by Thursday, May 11.