Shenandoah Valley 19-22 March

I had the opportunity to spend a week in Harrisonburg while Carole was working on an Alternative Spring Break program at James Madison University.  Having not spent much time in this area, my first stop was Mossy Creek Fly Fishing.  I talked a bit with the owner Colby who was exceedingly knowledgeable and friendly.  On Monday, I picked up some tying materials and planned to tie some Kreelex flies while staying in the hotel. 

On Tuesday, I headed out to Beaver Creek, but all the stream passes were logged out by the time I got there.  I decided to give Mossy Creek a shot for a couple of hours as I had never fished there before.  Air temp: high 30s, water temp 45 degrees, winds howling above 25 mph.  I had my dogs Allie & Jumper with me so I planned to fish for only a couple of hours while leaving them in the truck.. Casting was a challenge throughout... I had one hookup and one follow, but nothing brought to hand.  I'd like to give that water another shot someday when I have a bit more time. 

On Wednesday, Orvis hosted a Trout School at Rose River Farms.  Allie & Jumper again accompanied me for the ride, and enjoyed running around the fields before taking up residence back in the truck while I went to work.

 I would be guiding 3 gentlemen on the river today. I guided for Brian H,. Gerry B., and Charles W. --- and we had a terrific day on the water.
Air temp:40s, sunny, water temp: 46.  In the morning, we worked on dead drift nymphing techniques and everyone got into several nice rainbows. The hot fly for the morning was a size 14 Green Weeny -- don't laugh at the name, just enjoy the results!  I tied up a dozen of these flies a couple of days earlier and was happy that I did. 
In the afternoon, we fished a different stretch of water and worked on down and across streamer presentations.  Again, the group all successfully got the hot hand and were able to hook into some beautiful trout -- both rainbows in the 14-17 inch range, and brookies in the 11-12 inch range.  The best flies were #10 Olive Woolly Buggers, white woolly buggers also enticed a few aggressive rainbows.
All told, everyone in group caught, landed and safely released more than 10 trout apiece. 
At the end of the day, I grabbed my rod and headed down to fish for about 30 minutes.  The bite was still on.....

  On Thursday, I headed out to fish Beaver Creek.  It was bitterly cold.  Wind chill was in the mid-teens. 
While rigging up to start the day, I could not find my 4-wt reel & line.  My default option was my 7'6" 1-wt Superfine.  I knew if I caught a fish here that my rod would be put to the maximum test... and it soon was. 
Using a Kreelex fly that I tied a few days earlier, I drifted the fly down a sweeping run, then stripped out another 20 feet of line and allowed the fly to drift all the way through the hole.  At the end of the drift -- BAM the rod didn't literally double over -- it fully doubled over and then some.  Landing a feisty 16inch rainbow in fast current with a 1-wt full flex rod is a challenge.  But a fun challenge.  As I reached back for my net to land the fish, I found my 4wt-reel safely lodged in the webbing! I snapped a quick pic and safely released the fish back in the river.

 As the wind continued picking up and the rod guides continued to ice over, I decided to call it a day and head back to warm up.
On Friday, I tied a bunch of Clousers and Mickey Finns before picking up Carole and heading home.
Harrisonburg is a terrific area.... I could see taking up residence there some day.