COLDWATER: Trout fishing has been good; blue quill and trico hatches have lingered on despite cold night time temps. Fishing nymphs is by far more effective right now though. Prince nymphs, Pheasant Tails, and Copper Johns have been best. As temps drop, we will be throwing more Green and Pink Weenies to entice sluggish fish.

WARMWATER: The best bite going right now is Chain Pickerel. Flash flies, Wiggle Minnows, Murdich Minnows, and Krystal Buggers are all taking fish. We have been fishing the Chickahominy watershed and these feisty little pike have been making for very good fishing. Crappie fishing in ponds and reservoirs has been good as well. Clouser minnows and Krystal Buggers have been accounting for most fish. They have been tight to brush piles some days and schooled out in the open others.

SALTWATER- Striped bass fishing has been picking up steadily. Big ocean fish are making a good showing around the CBBT and up into the bay. We throw big Bunker patterns, Half & Halfs and Seekers for these fish. Now is a good time to find schools of fish working under birds throughout the bay. Trout fishing is still good in the warmwater discharge areas as well as in Rudee and Lynnhaven inlet. We prefer tandem rigs for these fish; big profile streamers with Clousers dropped off the back have been working best for us.

COLDWATER- As water levels recede, the trout fishing is fantastic. Hoppers and ants are still fishing well but the mountain streams are home to some good Blue Quill and Caddis hatches so be sure to cover all bases. Mossy Creek has been fishing well with hoppers and streamers.

WARMWATER- The high water has made largemouth and smallmouth fishing tough. As soon as the James comes down, big streamers will be taking fish. This is the case currently on the Shenandoah; fish are gorging on baitfish to fatten up for the winter. We recommend Reverses and Deceivers to match the baitfish. Crappie fishing has picked up in ponds, fishing buggers and damsels over brush piles has been taking fish.

SALTWATER- The striper fishing has really turned on. The abundance of silversides is making up for the lack of bunker. Bluefish blitzes have been commonplace, especially around rock structure. The islands of the HRBT and CBBT have produced consistent bluefish blitzes. Get your flies below the surface action to hook into the larger stripers. Trout fishing in the grass marshes and docklights has been phenomenal. During the day, we are fishing bigger Murdich Minnows and Deceivers. At night, the Mummi Clousers and Lightline Silversides have been taking most trout and schoolies.

Green Top Fly Fishing Report 8/19/11

Coldwater- With most mountain streams low, the spring creeks are fishing best. Mossy Creek, Beaver Creek, Spring Run, and the South River Special Reg section are fishing well. Small mayfly patterns work well early in the morning during the trico hatch. The fish aren’t usually too picky, so we fish size 20 Parachute Adams. Once the sun is good and high, hoppers and ants have been the best bet. Lots of large browns have been falling for Skilton’s EZ Sight Ant.

Warmwater- Smallmouth fishing continues to be the best option. Dead drifting topwater poppers and sliders is taking most fish. Lightly weighted streamers stripped with erratic retrieves have been working well. We like Reverses and Murdich Minnows for this. Cast to the banks or over rock ledges and bring back with short jerky strips. As the nights cool down, largemouth and pickerel fishing will continue to improve.

Saltwater- Speckled trout are thick all through the bay. Redfish are making a good showing as well. Half & Half’s and clousers have been taking both along with schoolie stripers. Fishing the Hampton side of the HRBT at night is producing a good mixed bag. We like the above flies as well as Murdich Minnows and Reverses for fishing the light line at night.

COLDWATER- Fishing is best on the spring creeks and Jackson tailwater. Small mayfly patterns are key in the mornings during the Trico hatch. Beetles, hoppers, and ants have been fooling fish on the spring creeks. For the Jackson, nymphing is more productive. Princes, Pheasant Tails, Hare’s Ears, and Jackson River Specials are all good.

WARMWATER- Bug fishing is on for smallmouth. Drifting poppers has been taking big fish in the rivers. Largemouth fishing in ponds and lakes has been slow in the heat. Right at sunset has been good; be sure to throw something to get their attention. Big poppers and divers are good as are flash flies and Prop Terrorizers.

SALTWATER- The variety is back in the bay! Trout and Reds can be found in the marshes and on shallow water structure- drop offs, undercut banks, and creek mouths. Half and Halfs, Clousers, and shrimp flies have been taking fish. Stripers are still on wood structure and pilings. Throwing bigger flies to match the Peanut Bunker is especially productive. Fishing the lights of the HRBT has been a good way to beat the heat and catch some of the larger resident stripers. Silversides and bay anchovies are thick in the lights so be sure to have some patterns to match.

COLDWATER- The best fishing right now is on the spring creeks and Jackson tailwater below Gathright Dam. Mossy and Beaver Creeks are fishing well with terrestrial patterns right now, with ants, beetles, and hoppers taking most fish. Now is a time to go get that big brown or rainbow. The Jackson River is fishing well; Prince and Pheasant Tail nymphs being most productive. At times, beetles and sulphur dries are doing well.

WARMWATER- The heat has the largemouth fishing best early and late in the day. The fish will still aggressively take topwater poppers and divers. Panfish fishing continues to be good, especially with popper-dropper rigs. Smallmouth fishing is heating up on the Upper James and the SF Shenandoah. Clawdads and Clouser minnows are accounting for most fish. Popper fishing is turning on fast for river bass.

SALTWATER- Striper fishing has entered typical summer conditions; presentation and accurate fly patterns are key to taking bass in numbers. Trout and Puppy Drum fishing has picked up in the lower bay, Eastern Shore, and Rudee Inlet. Clousers and Half & Halfs are good searching patterns as Mullet and Peanut Bunker are the predominate bait. Seaducers and other crab and shrimp patterns are excellent once the fish are located. Expect a mixed bag of the above fish as well as flounder, croaker, and bluefish as they all eagerly take a well presented fly.