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.
- SpeciesBrown trout
- Water typeLimestone spring creek
- RegulationsFly fishing only, free permit
- Best seasonsYear-round; hoppers late July
- Nearest townBridgewater
Overview
Mossy Creek, Virginia is a limestone spring creek in Augusta County, just south of Bridgewater off Route 42. For Mossy Creek fly fishing, the public water is a 4-mile, fly fishing only special regulation area that runs entirely through private property. Anglers need a free Mossy Creek permit (a signed landowner permission card) and a Virginia fishing license.
Flies and Hatches
Mossy 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 between landowners, Trout Unlimited, and the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources (DWR, formerly the 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. Summer is a popular season for dry fly fishing on Mossy.
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. This is a good time to see and hook larger fish on Mossy. Streamer fishing on Mossy can also bring about some action from larger fish. In our experience, high water events give anglers a good chance at larger browns. Heavy spring rains or tropical systems that move over the area dumping multiple inches a day will stain the water and increase the flow. Larger browns will emerge from the undercuts and holes and move to the shallow moss beds to ambush disoriented bait washing downstream. Don’t be afraid to throw flies in the 4-6 inch range to entice a strike by these larger fish.
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.
Regulations and Licenses
Access to Mossy Creek is available with a FREE permit that is allocated at the Verona office of Virginia DWR or online. The permit is good for one year from the date of issue.
The public section of Mossy Creek is private farmland, open to anglers thanks to the landowners. Please carry your permit, follow the permit rules and any posted landowner rules, and leave fences and livestock alone.
MOSSY CREEK SPECIAL REGULATION AREA MAP
A FREE Permit is Required from Verona office of Virginia DWR or ONLINE
-CLICK HERE TO OBTAIN YOUR FREE PERMIT ONLINE HERE-
Mossy Creek regulations and permit information from Virginia DWR
Obtain Permit at Virginia DWR Office:
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
Fish it with us
Guided trips with Mossy Creek Fly Fishing fish our exclusive private water on Mossy Creek. See our Virginia fly fishing guides.
Flies for Mossy’s hatches and hopper season are in our dry flies and trout flies collections.