Spring has sprung and the days are longer. Just brings a extra pep to my step knowing Winter is behind us. So far no complaints with the weather and the fishing thus far. Water levels are good, not to high or to low. Spring here in Virginia offers a few options for the fly angler. Trout fishing is always high on the list with aquatic insect hatches kicking off and offering great dry fly fishing. Smallmouth bass has definitely grown in popularity and the pre spawn bite can be great for large smallies when they are at their heaviest weight. But with temperature swings and weather fronts it can be hard as well. With cool water temps their metabolism isn't high so if they eat a good size meal its holding them over longer so bite can be slow some days. Some of my anglers have stuck some great smallmouth so far since I started pre spawn fishing first week of March. I'll continue to fish smallmouth bass until mid April then I leave them alone to spawn. I spent a week down in Weldon, Nc for Hickory and American shad run on the Roanoke River. Making this a annual trip offering for the Spring from here on. Shad are a blast on a fly rod, they bend a 6 or 7 weight fly rod well with jumps and pulls all the way to the boat. Shad can be non stop action as well fish counts can be very high per trip. Appreciate everyone that made the trip down to NC to fish for the shad with me. In about a month from now I'll head back to the Roanoke River for the annual striped bass run. Always look forward to that run! If you haven't gotten on the water yet this Spring clear your schedule and enjoy this weather! Tight Lines!
