Big Bend Farm on the Cowpasture River.
It is tough writing this blog while so many of our friends and family in Texas are dealing with the aftermath of Harvey and bracing themselves for Irma in Florida. If you would like to donate anything, please bring it by the shop and we will be sure it gets to those in need. Our thoughts and prayers are with you all.
On to what’s going on in Virginia. The rain and mild temperatures we have been having the past couple days are welcome. Water levels are still a little on the low side. The smallmouth bite continues to be outstanding. Cicadas are falling and the fish can’t resist them. Throwing top-water patterns under the trees on the banks should continue to produce some great fish for the next couple weeks.
East and West slope brookie streams of the Blue Ridge are really picking up. Fish will start looking/moving into spawning areas next month so please, keep in mind to do your best to not wade in areas that are spawning grounds and release your fish back in to the hole you caught them out of. Fly of choice would be a fall/orange caddis. Go big. Our fall caddis hatch produces some of the largest caddis of the year. We have been seeing a few coming off already and we are seeing a lot of casings getting ready to hatch.
Caddis casings on the Cowpasture River/Big Bend Farm.
Big Bend and Big River Farm will receive their first stocking on Friday September 15th and will be open for fishing Saturday 16th. We cleared and cut trials yesterday and the rivers are looking great. We hope to have Sugar Hollow Farm open in the next couple weeks as well. Fall dates book fast so please, give us a call if you’d like to book one or more of these beautiful fisheries.
This cooler weather and water level jump on the James River has got the musky moving and looking to feed. We have started offering our musky floats for the fall and winter months. If you are up for trying your luck with one of these monsters, we have some great dates still open.
On a side note. I went to a meeting that was held at West Branch Angler on the West Branch of the Delaware. Of course there was some time to take a few casts. What a great place and amazing fishery. If you haven’t fished it before I highly recommend it. I did not have time to do a float. Fortunately there are plenty of fish right in front of the lodge.