Murray's Fly Shop, Edinburg Virginia

[Apache Trout]

http://www.murraysflyshop.com/
Stopped by Murray's on my way back from Tenn. where I visited my mom and celebrated her 70th birthday. I'm planning a Virginia trip this fall for a week so I wanted to pick up some flies and check out the shop. I may try to sneak down in April for a long weekend if possible.
Anyhow, Murray's was neat. It is half pharmacy half fly shop. Harry the owner is a pharmacist & fly fisherman. I had heard a lot of good things about Harry. He is to the Shenandoah region of Virginia as Fran Betters is to the Adirondacks.
When I got to the store Harry wasn't around. Two young women who worked there were busily filling mail orders as I browsed the store and picked out some flies.
After about 20 minutes Harry came in. He said from behind the counter, "better stop buying and start fishing". I laughed. He came right over and introduced himself. Very nice man.
I told him I was just passing through. He said you "ain't running from the law are you?" I laughed again and said no nothing that exciting, just coming back from visiting my mom in Tenn. Headed back to Connecticut. He said you kind of talk like us down here. I said yeah, many of us in CT don't have NY accents. I told him I'm planning on coming to fish VA this fall and possibly this April.
Two guys walked in the shop and he headed over to help them. He told me to stop in and see him when I come down and he'd sit down and tell me where to go and we'd discuss stream levels. Now that's service. Within minutes he was at a table with two guys from Colorado, maps sprawled about, as they busily scrawled down instructions.
When you meet guys like Fran Betters & Harry Murray it makes you realize how much they love to share their passion for the sport. It rubs off on you.
I picked up some neat flies, some of which are Harry's creations. Also, got one of Harry's instructional DVDs "Fly Fishing for Trout". I can not tell you how good this video is. Especially the section on small stream mountain fishing. It will improve your Class 1 WTMA skills immensely. I'll be happy to lend it to anyone I fish with this year just as long as you drop it in the mail after watching it. It's pure gold.
If you get a chance check out his site at the top of thread and listen to his podcasts. They are great.
Can't wait to fish VA.!
Also, a word of caution. Watch for bears, rattlesnakes, and copperheads during the warmer months. I carry bear pepper spray in a holster on my wading belt in case of too close encounters with bears, rabid animals and/or humans. Just be careful where you step or place your hands and you'll be fine with the snakes.
Keep an eye out for my future VA reports with loads of pics.
A.T.

[BRK TRT]

Nice report AT. I agree with your thoughts on both Harry and Fran.

In my opinion Fran Betters is the most underated fly fishing inovator ever.

As for Harry, no matter what question you ask He will always take the time to answer.

Try one of these on your next outing.


http://i129.photobucket.com/albums/p235/brookie47/DSCN4398-1.jpg

[Apache Trout]

I agree BRK TRT about Fran & Harry.
I picked up two of those. :)
A.T.

[dudley]

I meet Harry 18-20 years ago when he was hawking his book Fly Fishing for Smallmouth Bass
Nice enough fella.
That book, along with Will Ryan's are the best on the subject

[Z Fisher]

I was up at Fran's shop two years ago. He was very generous with his time talking to a group of us as he tied flies. Lots of tips on nymph fishing and fishing big, bushy dries in fast water. I'm sorry he's selling his shop. I've got a box of flies that he tied. Very cool things.

[Eric L]

I fish the Park (SNP) a few times a year. It's the closest trout fishing to my present location, but it's still 3 hrs driving each way. The streams are very high gradient, whcih makes them relatively easy to fish compared to the brushy slow class 1s in CT. All require a vigorous hike. Either you park at the bottom and head up or you park off of Skyline Drive and hike down. Trout are numerous, small (9 inches is big) and very highly colored. I have heard that after being denuded in the early 1900s that they were restocked with southern strain brook trout, but do not know if this is true. I have seen pelnty of bears in the park, but mostly I've seen their rear ends as they run away. The streams tend to dry up during the summer. Best fishing is now through May.

For some great trip reports and photos check out the SNP trip forums section of the Southeadst flyfishing forum:

http://www.southeastflyfishingforum.com/forum/shenandoah-natl-park-f61.html

Eric

[DA]

Did Harry mention Mossy Creek? I stopped at his shop in the early 1990's on my way to Arkansas. At that time, besides a VA license, you had to get a permit from the shop to fish Mossy Creek.

[Eric L]

Did Harry mention Mossy Creek? I stopped at his shop in the early 1990's on my way to Arkansas. At that time, besides a VA license, you had to get a permit from the shop to fish Mossy Creek.

I believe that there are 2 spring creeks in the valley that are on private land and require a (free) permit to fish. Murray's shop can issue permits for Mossy and the other one. No fishing on Sunday and no wading allowed.

I have never fished Mossy, but I know a bunch of folks who have. It's extremely difficult to fish -- very brushy banks and lots of submerged vegetation. Fishing dry flies will get you a couple of dinks per day if you are good/lucky. The big fish get caught by folks fishing large weighted bunny sculpins and the like. This requires techniques more akin to dapping with a 1/4 oz jig than actual fly casting.

[Apache Trout]

Thanks for all the responses. Didn't get a chance to talk streams with Harry this time as he was busy with other customers. Next time I will talk his ear off. ;-)
Eric, is the no fishing on Sunday a statewide rule?
That would affect my plans.
I'm assuming it's just that river.
Thanks for any info.
Also, I'll put up a couple of streams I plan to fish on this thread tonight and would appreciate any input. If you prefer me to ask about streams via PM I'll do that instead.
Thanks again.
A.T.

[DA]

I have never fished Mossy, but I know a bunch of folks who have. It's extremely difficult to fish --

I can second that! I only fished Mossy for about an hour and didn't get a bump. It's similar to Letort Spring Run near Carlisle, PA. I've fished the Letort many times and caught some nice wild browns. Lots of tall weeds behind you to contend with and all kinds of vegetation in the water.

[Eric L]

Thanks for all the responses. Didn't get a chance to talk streams with Harry this time as he was busy with other customers. Next time I will talk his ear off. ;-)
Eric, is the no fishing on Sunday a statewide rule?
That would affect my plans.
I'm assuming it's just that river.
A.T.

The no fishing on Sunday rule is one of the reasons that a permit is required to fish it. The landowner doesn't approve of fishing on Sunday and will not allow it on his property. As stated above, unless you really know the stream and/or fish difficult limestone streams like to Letort on a regular basis chances are you will get skunked and be frustrated doing so.

On the other hand, if you fish the small streams in SNP you are very likely to catch some gorgeous native brook trout in a spectacular setting. Just be aware that fishing the Park requires some serious walking/hiking up and down the side of the ridge. When fishing you will need to navigate fallen logs and boulder fields. There is almost no roadside access to any of the streams in the Park.

Eric

[Apache Trout]

Thanks Eric for clearing that up.
I wasn't planning on fishing the Mossy.
I was wondering if this was a statewide rule of no fishing on Sundays on all streams public and private, which it isn't.
I'm planning on fishing the Grayson Highlands area and a few other streams to be determined.
Thanks again.
A.T.

[Apache Trout]

Here are some of the streams I may fish on my trips. I'm not asking for any spots but any general impressions of these streams would be appreciated. If you don't feel comfortable commenting here just shoot me a PM.
Thanks.
Grayson Highlands (multiple streams)
Hughes River
White Oak Canyon Run
Rapidan River
Big Run
Little Stony Creek
Big Tumbling Creek
Whitetop Laurel
Rock Castle
PS. I'm in good shape for a 45 year old so lots of hiking is no problem.

[Eric L]

Here are some of the streams I may fish on my trips. I'm not asking for any spots but any general impressions of these streams would be appreciated. If you don't feel comfortable commenting here just shoot me a PM.
Thanks.
PS. I'm in good shape for a 45 year old so lots of hiking is no problem.

These are all well known streams, so I don't feel out of line commenting on them. Besides things are pretty slow around here now and others may be interested for future reference.

Grayson Highlands (multiple streams)

In Western VA. Wild rainbows, with some brookies in headwaters. Mostly small fish (<8 inches). Very few fish over 9 inches long. They are small high gradient streams. Very scenic. Tallest mountains in VA. PM for specific stream names.

Hughes River
White Oak Canyon Run
Rapidan River

These are all east slope streams in SNP. SNP is basically a single huge ridge running north/south with streams flowing off of the east and west slopes. All 3 are popular streams with hiking trails along the banks. WOCR has 2 spectacular waterfalls and is very popular with hikers. The Rapidan has Camp Hoover where Pres. Hoover used to stay and fish. Note that the SNP streams are a 4-5 hr drive from the western VA streams. SNP is in the eastern part of the state not far from DC. All of these streams have large numbers of 5-9 inch brook trout with a few fish up to 12 inches or so. There are a few browns in the lower reaches as well that work their way up from stocked water below the park, but there is an effort to remove non-native trout from all park streams.

Big Run

A west slope SNP stream I have never fished. No access from the bottom. You have to hike down from Skyline drive close to 5 miles to reach fishable water. Brutal day hike. Better for an overnight camping trip. One of the largest streams in the Park. Had a reputation for good #s of large brookies, but has suffered from drought the last couple of years. Word is that fishing last year was not worth the long hard hike in.

Little Stony Creek

There are 2 VA streams with this name. One is located near SNP on ski resort property and requires a fee to fish. It's supposed to be a nice mountain stream with good hatches (limestone bedrock) and both stocked and wild fish (browns and brookies, maybe rainbows too). The other stream is in western VA and I know nothing about it.

Big Tumbling Creek
Whitetop Laurel
Rock Castle

All in Western VA. Have'nt fished any of them, but Whitetop Laurel (near the TN border) is reputed to be one of the best trout streams in VA. Good trail access to more remote sections (Creeper trail?). I think it has rainbows, browns and brookies -- mostly(?) wild fish. If I were fishing western VA this stream would be on my to do list along with 2 tailwaters: South Holston and Davidson rivers.

Eric

[Apache Trout]

Thanks Eric.
A huge help.
Greatly appreciated.
A.T.

[Apache Trout]

If I go down in April I'm going to stick with Grayson & the western streams. Thanks for your western stream suggestions.