Fly fishing in May can be wonderful on both the mountain trout streams and the smallmouth rivers.

As the stream levels drop and return to normal from the recent heavy rains the water temperatures will be ideal for some excellent fly fishing on the native brook trout streams. There are four major aquatic insect hatches that usually occur this month.

The first two hatches are stenonema mayflies (gray fox and light cahills) which are close relatives of the march browns. The Sulphur mayflies and the Little Yellow Stoneflies are also beginning. I match these with Murray’s Olive Drake, Murray’s Yellow Drake, Murray’s Little Yellow Stonefly Dry and Murray’s Sulphur Dry all in size 16.

Bass Fly Fishing

After the high and muddy water clears, the bass will be located on the feeding stations. These will be below the river crossing ledges. These ledges may reach all the way across the river or only 20 feet long. Frequently there will be breaks where the current cuts through these ledges to carve out pockets 4-6 feet deep.

Many minnows, crayfish, and hellgrammites are washed through these cuts and the bass hold right along the downstream edges of these flows. This is easy food for the bass.

I fish these areas by wading into the river right below the ledges and casting my fly so it lands right below the ledge. After it sinks deeply I swing it downstream along the strong current and gradually wade across the current until I cover the whole ledge.

Recommended flies for this fishing are Murray’s Tungsten Cone Head Marauders. Fish these with a floating 7-weight line on a Bright Butt 9ft 2X leader.

COVID-19 Update: The fly shop is not open to walk-in customers as this time. We are open for pick-up orders and shipping online orders. If you need help on where to go, I will gladly meet you at the front door of the fly shop with the maps to discuss access on the streams or call us at 540-984-4212.