By Boice Frye

Shenandoah Falls on the Rose River. Photo credit: G. Edward Johnson via Wikimedia Commons.

Waking up before the crack of dawn to go fishing is an eye-opening experience many find to be enticing. I find myself enjoying these mornings more than anything else in the world. The brisk breeze brushes my face as I tie a small fly onto my leader line before overlooking the water flow through the mountains. The trees that surround me dance as I hurl my fly into the moving water, just around a bend in the Rose River. There are rainbow trout sitting almost motionless downstream of my fly. It is 46 degrees out, with a chilly breeze up in Madison County, Virginia, in the middle of the Blue Ridge Mountains. I wait patiently for my fly to float right in front of a trout before pulling my line to swim my fly upstream. The trout follows before slowly engulfing my fly, prompting me to set the hook.

Fly fishing is an art and a skill set apart from other kinds of fishing. It involves numerous types of equipment, such as waders, flies, rods, and reels. Using the fly rod involves casting by waving the rod back and forth in the air before releasing the fly in the air. Flies are lightweight artificial baits that are tied by hand out of materials like feathers, fur, and synthetic fibers on a small hook. There are many types of commonly-used flies, like dry flies, nymphs, emergers, streamers, and terrestrials. The retrieval of the fly uses a technique of pulling and stripping in the line by hand. Conventional fishing has different equipment, like spinning reels, baitcaster reels, and different rods. Spinning reels are simpler and easier for fishermen to use. When casting spinning reels, the angler flips the bail before throwing momentum forward before releasing the line. This process lets the lure soar in the air forward to the place the angler is looking to reach. 

Regardless of the technique, the weather and temperature often dictate how successful a fisherman is. In Virginia, the best times of the year to fish for trout are during the fall and spring. Species of trout like rainbow trout, brown trout, and tiger trout are stocked in many Virginia streams and rivers October through May by the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources. Brook trout is Virginia’s only native trout, found throughout high-elevation mountain headwaters and streams on the western side of the state. Trout thrive in temperatures below 68 and above 40 degrees. The most popular streams and rivers to fish in for trout are the Shenandoah National Park streams, South River, Jackson River, and Mossy Creek. 

Talking to my friends Arthur David Muddiman (‘27) and Wright Montague (‘27) about what makes fly fishing special to them brought my attention to the scenic aspect of fly fishing. When asked about his love of fly fishing, Montague said, “My love of fly fishing derives from the experience you get not just from catching fish but from the places I go to fish, to be a part of nature and just to observe everything around me.” The memories made on fishing trips are not always about how many fish are caught, but the energy that enters the body while in the wilderness. Seeing the sun come up and down is euphoric to fishermen because of the ability to witness the beauty of the world that pops out the most when fishing. Muddiman added, “It makes me feel like I am a part of the ecosystem and am not an intruder to it.” 

Photo credit: Boice Frye.

The fly fishing community is different from the conventional fishing community due to different practices. There are many fly shops located throughout Virginia, which can give beginners access to knowledge from locals who have spent many years practicing the trade. Green Top Sporting Good and Orvis are my personal favorite shops in the RVA area. Muddiman says his favorite shop is the Albemarle Angler in Charlottesville. The shop has very friendly workers that give out knowledge to all and have helpful catch reports. Muddiman stated: “the fly fishing community can have a negative reputation, but I have met many amazing people who have made it special to me.” 

I have yet to master fly fishing but continue to keep practicing and become better. I learned at an older age compared to some. Muddiman started practicing his casting when he was young: “I started at a young age, learning in the backyard with my dad.”

If you want to learn more, Hardman Fishing Adventures is a great YouTube channel that Muddiman suggests watching.