Fishing Season: Year Round

Mossy Creek - VA

Fishing Outlook & Conditions

Water Temp:

45

Mossy Creek Fly Fishing's Tip of the Week

Lows around 50 and highs around 70 will make for some enjoyable fishing conditions. Fishing has been good in the early morning hours for the trico hatch but we are seeing hex the last hour of daylight allowing for good dry fly fishing early and late now. Fish big hopper dropper rigs in the afternoon!

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Map of Mossy Creek

5-Day Outlook as of 9/1/25

Detailed Forecast Labor DayMostly sunny, with a high near 76. Northeast wind around 8 mph. TonightPatchy fog after 4am. Otherwise, mostly clear, with a low around 51. Calm wind. TuesdayPatchy fog before 8am. Otherwise, mostly sunny, with a high near 76. Light northeast wind. Tuesday NightPartly cloudy, with a low around 54. Calm wind. WednesdayA slight chance of showers and thunderstorms after 2pm. Partly sunny, with a high near 77. Calm wind becoming south around 6 mph in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 20%. Wednesday NightPartly cloudy, with a low around 56. ThursdayA chance of showers and thunderstorms after 2pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 80. Chance of precipitation is 50%. Thursday NightA chance of showers and thunderstorms before 8pm, then a chance of showers between 8pm and 2am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 57. Chance of precipitation is 50%. FridayMostly sunny, with a high near 79. Friday NightMostly clear, with a low around 55. SaturdaySunny, with a high near 80. Saturday NightPartly cloudy, with a low around 52. SundaySunny, with a high near 76.

Techniques & Tips as of 9/1/25

Jig nymphs and smaller jig streamers around the deep cuts and weed beds are going to be your best way to find fish hiding during bright sunny days.

Local Species Available Year Round

  • Fish Icon

    Brown Trout

Mossy Creek Fly Fishing's Recommended Fly Patterns

"Must-have" fly fishing patterns in descending order of importance:

Name: Colors: Size(s):
Birchell's Hatching Midge tan, brown, green 20
Spotlight Caddis Emerger N/A 16
Sparkle Dun black 18
Indicator Spinner - Trico black, red 14-16
Near Nuff Sculpin N/A 4,6,8,10
Trow Minnow Black 2,4,6
Muddler Minnow N/A 12-16
Vernille San Juan Worm N/A 12-16
PMX rust 10, 8
Kreelex Gold/Copper 8,6,4

Birchell's Hatching Midge

This midge fly pattern can be used as a dry fly or emerger.

2.49

Item #12A1

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Mossy Creek Fly Fishing's Recommended Gear

Description: About Mossy Creek

Mossy Creek is a peaceful limestone spring creek that meanders from its springhead in the village of Mt Solon about 8 miles to its confluence with the North River. It is similar to Pennsylvania spring creeks with fishable hatches of many species of mayflies and caddis. A four mile section of Mossy is open to the public thanks to an arrangement worked out by the landowners, Trout Unlimited, and The Virginia Department of Game & Inland Fisheries. Each fall Mossy is stocked with fingerling brown trout. These fish grow quickly and the individuals that last a few years are as wild and wily as any stream born trout. Contrary to the information given in some regional guide books, Mossy is an extremely challenging stream and is not recommended as a place for beginners. Dry fly fishermen, familiar with Mossy's moods fish it carefully and slowly, often crouching or kneeling along the bank. Surface action can take place all year with tiny Olives hatching sporadically throughout the winter. By mid April hatches of larger blue winged olives and sulphurs become regular. Trico action usually begins around Memorial Day and can last until Halloween. It is the summer dry fly fishing for which Mossy is most famous. Most of the public section runs through open meadows. By late July trout are used to seeing grasshoppers, crickets, beetles, and ants and the fish become very aggressive on the surface. The average fisherman has his best chance of seeing and hooking really big fish in Mossy at this time. Streamer fishing on Mossy can also bring about some action from the largest fish. The best opportunity we usually see for landing the largest browns of the year is during a high water event. Heavy spring rains or tropical systems that move over the area dumping multiple inches a day will stain the water and increase the flow. The biggest browns will emerge from the undercuts and holes and move to the shallow moss beds and ambush disoriented bait washing downstream. Don’t be afraid to throw flies in the 4-6 inch range to entice a strike by some of these monsters. Access to Mossy Creek is available with a FREE permit that is allocated at the Verona office of the VDGIF. The permit is good for 1 year from the date of issue.

Nearest Airport:

Shenandoah Valley Regional Airport

Hatches:

Sulphurs in the evening hours, BWOs, and tricos.

Best Time to Fish:

Afternoon

Best Stretch:

The closer you are to the main springs the better the fishing

Best Access:

There are only 2 public access points: 1 at the Mossy Creek Church, and 1 at the 42/747 bridge.