Fishing Season: Year Round

Mossy Creek - VA

Fishing Outlook & Conditions

Water Temp:

40

Mossy Creek Fly Fishing's Tip of the Week

Cold snap has us back to more normal April weather. Cold front early this week will slow the bite. Look for better fishing as the weather stabilizes by Friday.

Directions open in app

Map of Mossy Creek

5-Day Outlook as of 4/27/26

Detailed Forecast This AfternoonSunny, with a high near 67. Southeast wind around 6 mph. TonightPartly cloudy, with a low around 42. South wind 3 to 6 mph. TuesdayShowers and thunderstorms, mainly before noon. High near 64. South wind 5 to 10 mph, with gusts as high as 18 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New rainfall amounts of less than a tenth of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms. Tuesday NightA slight chance of showers after 2am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 49. South wind around 6 mph becoming calm in the evening. Chance of precipitation is 20%. WednesdayA slight chance of showers and thunderstorms, then showers and possibly a thunderstorm after 8am. High near 66. Calm wind becoming south 5 to 8 mph in the morning. Chance of precipitation is 100%. Wednesday NightA chance of showers and thunderstorms before 8pm, then a chance of showers between 8pm and 2am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 44. Chance of precipitation is 40%. ThursdaySunny, with a high near 62. Thursday NightMostly clear, with a low around 37. FridayMostly sunny, with a high near 63. Friday NightA chance of showers after 8pm. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 40. Chance of precipitation is 30%. SaturdayA chance of showers. Partly sunny, with a high near 56. Chance of precipitation is 30%. Saturday NightPartly cloudy, with a low around 35. SundaySunny, with a high near 63.

Techniques & Tips as of 4/27/26

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

Buy Now

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.