Fly fishing in June in Virginia can be wonderful on both the mountain trout streams and the smallmouth rivers. The Shenandoah National Park has reopened the access off the Skyline Drive and the recent rains have provided ideal water levels.

I’m tapering down to 6X and using my most delicate 2 and 3 weight rods. Frequently I approach many pools on my hands and knees to prevent scaring the trout. I use a slick line cast to assure that I’m drifting my fly naturally.

There are 3 heavy hatches right now. 1) Olive caddisflies, 2) Little Yellow Stoneflies, and 3) Sulphur Mayflies. I match these naturals with a Mr. Rapidan Delta Wing Olive Caddis size 16, Murray’s Sulphur Dry size 16 & 18, and Murray’s Little Yellow Stonefly Dry size 16. Listen to my podcast for more trout fly fishing in June tips.

Bass Fly Fishing in June

The natural hellgrammites are reaching their full size now and some are hatching. The bass are actively feeding upon them. The largest concentrations are in the riffles and for the next 100 feet downstream. I use the Murray’s Heavy Hellgrammite in all three colors in size 4. I use two different techniques to fish my Hellgrammite.

From 20 feet below the riffles upstream through the three foot deep pockets in the riffles I fish upstream dead drift. From 20 feet below the riffle on downstream for about 100 feet or as far as the heavy boulder water reaches I fish across and downstream. I cast across stream at a 20 degree angle downstream. After my hellgrammite sinks deeply I swim it across the stream bottom by stripping it 6 inches every 10 seconds.