Fly and Gear ordering and delivery: We can get flies to you within two to three business days from the time you place your order via Priority Mail. If you provide a budget for flies, we will select them to match the budget and get them to you on time for your trip. Please see the bottom of this column for ordering options.
We have custom Perfect Fly selections in 3 different price ranges for this stream that come with or without fly boxes that make excellent gifts. Click Here To Order or Call us at 800 594 4726 or email us at sales@perfectflystore.com.
Type of Stream
Freestone
Species
Brown Trout
Brook Trout
Rainbow Trout
(Wild and Stocked Trout)
Size
Small to Medium
Location
Nearest Towns
Season
Year-round
Access:
Good on the average
Special Regulations
None
Non-Resident License
The
Weather
National Weather Service Link
Season:
The fishing season runs year-round
Winter:
Trout can be caught on nice, warm winter days.
Spring:
Springtime is the best time for fly fishing the Dry River because of its excellent aquatic insect hatches and good water levels.
Summer:
Summertime is okay but the water can get low during the late summer.
Fall:
Autumn is a great time for fly fishing the Dry River.
Fly and Gear ordering and delivery:
Email us at (sales@perfectflystore.com) with the dates you will be fishing and we will send you a list of our fly recommendations. We can get flies and gear to you within two to three business days from the time you place your order via Priority Mail. If you provide a budget for flies, we will select them to match the budget and get them to you on time for your trip. Your can also call us at 800-594-4726 and we will help you decide what flies and gear to use. All orders are shipped free in the U.S. If under a $100 order requiring Priority mail is a charge of only $8.10. Orders over a $100 are shipped free via Priority Mail.
Copyright 2013 James Marsh
Fly Fishing The Dry River Virginia
Dry River is thought by many to be one of the most highly populated wild brook trout streams in the state of Virginia. It is called the Dry River because the streambed is usually much wider than the water. In one area, it actually goes underground. Most of the water
comes from the freestone portion but some also comes from the bottom release of the dam at Switzer Reservoir.
Dry River has an excellent population of wild brook trout. Dry River has one downfall to its good brook trout fishing. It is stocked in Spring and consequently, the crowds show up to catch the fish before the truck leaves. Thank goodness, it isn’t stocked during the
Summer or Fall and the corn crowds leave. One side advantage is the trout that don’t get caught do hold over quite well. Fly fishing Dry River can produce about as many wild brookies as any of Virginia’s streams.
There are about a dozen miles of public access water on this stream. Most of it is owned by the City of Harrisonburg. Access is easy from highway #33 for several miles. The road follows the stream closely. You will find public access starting above Rawley Springs. It
seems the further you go upstream, the better the conditions are. There are a few areas you can get away from the traffic on highway #33.
Skidmore Fork, a small tributary located below Skidmore Lake, also has a population of wild brook trout. Dry River is for the most part a low gradient stream that’s easy to wade and more open than most brook trout streams. It provides some great dry fly action for most of the season.
This little stream has one of Virginia’s best Eastern Green Drake hatches. It also has a very good population of many other aquatic insects as well as plenty of terrrestrials, sculpin and small baitfish.
Fly Fishing Gear, Tackle and Trout Flies for Dry River Virginia
Fly Line:
You would probably want a 3 or 4 weight fly line for your dry fly fishing on the Dry River. You could get by using a 5 weight, floating fly line for everything.
Fly Rod:
I would suggest a rod for the 3 or 4 weight line and another for the 5 weight line if you
choose to use it. The three or four weight rod should be between eight and nine feet in
length, and a medium fast action would work best in our opinion.
Fly Reel:
The reel for the three or the four weight rod should be light and with a smooth drag. A disc drag that adjust in fine increments would be best for the five weight line.
Leaders:
We recommend a 7 and half foot leader for the Dry River. There are situations where you
would want to go up to 9 feet. I would suggest having them in sizes ranging from 2X for
streamers, up to 7X for small dry flies and midges, in both the 7 and half and 9 foot lengths.
Tippet:
You should have extra tippet in sizes ranging from 2X to 7X.
Waders:
Waders are not necessary in the summer for the Dry River but we would suggest them any
time it is too cold to wet wade.
Wading Boots:
Much of the bottom is rock, sand and gravel. Felt soles are the best.
Trout Flies:
We recommend “Perfect Flies”. We think they are the best trout flies you can purchase. If
you haven’t already tried them, we certainly hope you will. You want be disappointed. We
have imitations of every insect that hatches on the Dry River as well as a full line of
terrestrial patterns. You may also notice that we sell standard, generic and attractor flies at a very low price.