Sneaking cautiously to the water’s edge, the angler delivers a tiny fly to a small dimple in the stream. As the offering disappears, he leans back and sets the hook on a scrappy brown trout. Moments later, he releases the fish unharmed. The orange-spotted trout had been planted as a fingerling and was now virtually a wild fish.
An experience like that would often have occurred in a spring creek in Montana or a limestone stream in Pennsylvania. But it wasn’t. It took place just a few miles south on Interstate 81 on Virginia’s Mossy Creek.
Shenandoah Valley sportsmen are fortunate to have some of the best fishing in the East within easy driving distance. From nearby lakes within a few hour’s drive to small freestone creeks, some with native brookies, some with stocked fish, we have a wide selection of terrific trout waters to sample any day of the year. And no one could overlook the Shenandoah River. Both the North and South forks as well as the main stem are loaded with smallmouth bass, rockbass, redbreast sunfish, walleyes, and even a few muskies.
But one fishing opportunity that often gets neglected by the average local angler is Mossy Creek, near Mount Crawford, just off I-81. This creek is almost like having a replica of the famous limestone spring creeks of south-central Pennsylvania miraculously displaced here in the Valley. It flows crystal clear, with a near constant year-round temperature in the perfect range for trout.
The soil in this area is laced with heavy limestone deposits. This means streams flowing through the area have a high alkalinity content. That in turn means they are rich in aquatic plant life, insects, and crustaceans, and they are high in oxygen content as well.
In short, it is a trout fishing paradise. Temperatures remain in the 50 to 60-degree range virtually year-round. That not only provides year-round fishing opportunities, it also means trout can feed and grow 12 months of the year. And grow they do, some to very large sizes. To protect this world-class fishery, the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources has instituted special regulations. Only fly fishing is allowed, and only one fish over 20 inches may be kept per day.
A special landowner permit must also be obtained, either from the landowner bordering the water or from the department. See their website at https://dwr.virginia.gov/ for more details. It’s free and lasts one year.
In addition to its underground spring source, Mossy has numerous other springs feeding into it throughout its length, keeping it in the optimum feeding range for trout from its birthplace to where it empties into the North River. The four-mile fishing stretch runs from the Augusta-Rockingham County dividing line to the confluence of Joseph Spring.
This much water offers many enjoyable days of angling. Be aware, however, that this type of spring creek fishing is quite challenging. There is vegetation along shore and hanging over the water to contend with when casting. And there are many aquatic plants in the creek that can catch the line or leader and cause drag that makes the fly move unnaturally. The fish are also quite wary. But the challenges only make the rewards that much sweeter when you do land a beautiful brown trout here and carefully release it back into the water unharmed.
All fishing on Mossy Creek must be done from the bank to avoid damaging the stream or its insect populations which the trout count on to thrive.
Some of the best fly patterns to try at this time of year are terrestrials such as black ants, cinnamon ants, beetles, grasshopper patterns, crickets, and inchworms. Some hatches of aquatic insects also take place. When you encounter one, try to imitate it as closely as possible with a mayfly or caddis of the right size and color.
Streamers also produce at times on Mossy, and often tempt large trout. The best time for those flies is after a rain or just before dusk. Woolly Buggers, Zonkers, and Marabou Muddlers are good patterns to try.
Fishing is done by walking quietly along the bank and spotting a trout before casting. Then bend low, make an accurate delivery, and hang on tight. You might be hooked up to a large and feisty brown trout.
For more information on flies, tackle, or guided trips, contact Harry Murray at Murray’s Fly Shop in Edinburg, 540-984-4212; www.murraysflyshop.com. Murray says he also has openings on his bass fishing schools and seminars on the Shenandoah River this spring and summer. That offers a great way to get in practice for the challenge of fishing for limestone stream trout.
Award-winning outdoors writer Gerald Almy is a Maurertown resident
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