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.
For photos of Mossy Creek click here
Verona office of the VDGIF
Street address:
517 Lee Highway, Verona, VA 24482
Mailing address:
P.O. Box 996, Verona, VA 24482
Phone: (540) 248-9360
8:15 AM - 5:00 PM, Monday through Friday
Directions from Mossy Creek Fly Fishing:
- Take 33 West to I-81.
- Take I-81 South to Exit 240 (Mt. Crawford/Bridgewater Exit).
- Take Rt. 257 West(3.3 Miles) to the town of Bridgewater.
- Turn left at the T intersection onto Rt. 42 South.
- Take 42 South(3.7 miles) and go straight over the bridge where 42 takes a 90 degree
left turn. (The parking area on the right is 1 of 2 public parking areas.)
- Continue straight over the bridge follow Mossy Creek Road 1.2 miles and take a
left onto Kyles Mill Road.
- Continue for .5 miles until you see the public parking area on the left next to
the iron bridge.