Fishing Season: Year Round

Mossy Creek - VA

Fishing Outlook & Conditions

Water Temp:

40

Mossy Creek Fly Fishing's Tip of the Week

Rain coming mid week so get your streamers ready!!!

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Map of Mossy Creek

5-Day Outlook as of 5/18/26

Detailed Forecast TodaySunny, with a high near 91. South wind 5 to 9 mph, with gusts as high as 18 mph. TonightMostly clear, with a low around 64. South wind 5 to 7 mph. TuesdayMostly sunny, with a high near 92. Southwest wind 5 to 10 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph. Tuesday NightPartly cloudy, with a low around 66. Southwest wind 5 to 8 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph. WednesdayA slight chance of showers, then showers and possibly a thunderstorm after 2pm. High near 91. Calm wind becoming southwest 5 to 8 mph in the morning. Chance of precipitation is 80%. Wednesday NightShowers and possibly a thunderstorm before 8pm, then showers likely. Low around 56. Chance of precipitation is 80%. ThursdayShowers. High near 67. Chance of precipitation is 80%. Thursday NightShowers likely, mainly after 2am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 51. Chance of precipitation is 60%. FridayShowers likely. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 63. Chance of precipitation is 70%. Friday NightA chance of showers before 2am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 54. Chance of precipitation is 50%. SaturdayShowers likely and possibly a thunderstorm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 75. Chance of precipitation is 70%. Saturday NightShowers likely and possibly a thunderstorm. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 59. Chance of precipitation is 60%. SundayShowers likely and possibly a thunderstorm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 79. Chance of precipitation is 70%

Techniques & Tips as of 5/18/26

Look for sulphurs in the evening hours as the evening hatch should continue to improve this week.

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.