Now that I have some free time on my hands why not update everyone on how our fishing went and whats to come over the next two cold months. This Fall here in central Virginia was basically a carbon copy of last year. Another drought which means low and clear water conditions. Thankfully the low and clear doesn't effect the smallmouth bass as much as it does trout. It was a good Fall smallmouth bass season. We had very much a Indian Summer as they say, air temps in the 60's and 70's everyday it seemed like. In fact topwater fishing lasted a good while this year due to the warmer water temps. The recent cold fronts will pretty much keep me off the water from chasing smallies unless we see a warm up. This weeks temps have been in the 30's for highs so with the low clear water those water temps have dropped quickly. Likely the smallmouth will get a break from me till the pre spawn bite first of March.
When Fall gets here of course the number one fish fly fisherman think of most is trout. Early part of October while we still had some decent flows on the tailwater section of the Jackson river we had normal good fishing. Wasn't long into early November when they dropped flows to the minimum flows and the game changed. With the lower water and of course clear from lack of rain the fishing became much tougher. Most trips we were still catching some nice fish though just fewer fish per trip. Now that December is here and cold temps have arrived water temps are in the low 40's and the flow has been dropped again because of low water levels at Lake MooMaw. I'm confident we will get those good soaking rains like we do every Winter and fishing will back to normal by March or hopefully sooner. Highlights I had one of my regular clients catch his biggest rainbow to date and the largest I have had landed on the Jackson River in 21 years at 23 inches! Just a tank of a rainbow and took quite sometime to land on a 5wt rod. Also had the pleasure to guide and fish with my mentor Pat Dorsey from Colorado here on my home water. Me and Pat go way back I guess 27 years now, he gave me my first job as a guide in CO and it was awesome to have him come visit. I took him on the Jackson one day for trout, one day on the James for smallies and one day in the mountains chasing brookies. It was great to see him since it had been a couple years since we last fished.
Now thats its cold and it isn't a whole lot else going on I'll start doing and running some musky trips on the James River. Been out a few times with my son (14 years old) that really just caught the fishing bug hard a year ago. It didn't take long especially looking at the internet that he became interested in going after musky. First time he tried with lures within 10 minutes he had a 40" musky eat on the figure 8 and out of the excitement jerked the lure out it of his mouth. Of course I was bummed cause that meant this was going to eat at him and he was going to want to try every chance he has. What he has learned quickly is why their nickname is the fish of 10'000 cast, man I wish he would landed the first one HA! He has had several muskies follow over a few outings and unfortunately lost a fish 45 inch plus, so now he is determined as it gets to catch one of these crazy fish. So far I have been out once for musky with clients and not expecting a easy day with high winds, low temps, low and clear water my first time musky on the fly anglers caught one just before lunch. I was of course happy and could not believe the fish ate on the figure eight in that clear water!
So over the next few months I will be guiding musky and fishing for trout depending on conditions. I will be attending the Virginia Fly fishing Festival in Doswell, VA January 10 and 11, 2025. January 25th I will be at the Orvis Tysons Corner store and the Leesburg, Va Orvis store giving presentations that day. With Christmas upon us if your interested in getting your loved ones a fishing trip I do have gift certificates and they make a great gift. Almost forgot I have the cutest little boat dog ever now, Miss Sadie ( 1 year old Jack Russell) loves to tag along and has become quite the good luck charm. You can see a photo of her below and maybe you'll meet her in person in the coming year.
