S8, Ep 77: From Smallmouth to Musky: Matt Reilly's Guide to Southwest Virginia's Fall Fishing

Episode Overview

On this Southwest Virginia Fishing Report from The Articulate Fly, guide Matt Reilly of Matt Reilly Fly Fishing explains how to approach the opening weeks of fly fishing musky season and the final stretch of fall smallmouth fishing. Recorded as Southwest Virginia rivers recovered from heavy hurricane rain, the episode breaks down why October and early November musky fishing produces far more sightings than hookups and how to adjust when clear water makes fish spooky. Matt walks host Marvin Cash through his musky calendar, which starts with scattered trips in October before he commits fully in early November. He contrasts early-season conditions, defined by warmer and clearer water, with the colder and murkier water of January and February. Early-season muskies spread through good habitat and move more, producing plenty of curiosity follows, but clear water and sunny days can make them wary. His first adjustment is speed: fishing faster forces an aggressive fish to commit and leaves a follower more fired up by the time it reaches the boat. He also explains why this window suits anglers new to musky and those learning an unfamiliar river on their own. For smallmouth bass, Matt describes fall as a reversal of the spring pattern. He sizes up to 5- to 6-inch streamers, leads with swim flies before slowing down and fishing deeper and keeps topwater in play if flows drop again. Water temperatures in the 50s are generally productive unless a hard cold front has just knocked them down. The episode closes with an update on open musky dates from November through February.

Key Takeaways

• How to use retrieve speed to trigger spooky early-season muskies in clear water on sunny October days.
• Why October and early November musky trips typically produce many follows and sightings but few eats, and why that makes the window a strong introduction for anglers new to musky.
• When to cover more water for musky, since early-season fish spread through good habitat rather than stacking only in key spots.
• How to size up to 5- to 6-inch streamers for fall smallmouth and when to slow down and fish deeper if swim flies get refused.
• Why a hard cold front that drops water temperatures from the 60s into the low to mid 50s can shut down an otherwise good fall smallmouth bite.
• When topwater still makes sense for smallmouth late in the season, particularly if flows fall low again.

Techniques & Gear Covered

Musky tactics center on fast retrieves that make an aggressive fish commit away from the boat, with the logic that a fish that follows without eating arrives at the boat more keyed up and less focused on the angler. Matt also describes covering more water per day in the early season while still concentrating on high-percentage spots. For smallmouth, he favors 5- to 6-inch streamers and starts with swim flies, then slows the presentation and drops deeper in the water column when fish refuse to chase. Topwater remains an option if flows fall again, and big smallmouth regularly swipe at 8- to 10-inch musky flies on musky days, a clear sign of how hard large fish will chase a big meal in the fall.

Locations & Species

This report covers fly fishing Southwest Virginia rivers for musky and smallmouth bass during the October transition. Hurricane rain had raised flows after a low-water year, and Matt hopes the river holds more water this fall and winter than it did last season. Fall and winter musky fishing in Southwest Virginia runs from sporadic October trips into a full schedule from November through February, with early-season fish spread out in warmer and clearer water and late-season fish moving more deliberately in colder, lower visibility water. Fall smallmouth fishing mirrors the spring pattern in reverse, with big fish chasing large meals as the water cools and that window peaking sometime in November.

FAQ / Key Questions AnsweredWhy is early-season musky fishing different from winter musky fishing?

Matt Reilly defines the early season (October into early November) by warmer and clearer water than the January and February late season. Fish are spread out and moving more, which produces lots of curiosity follows, but clear water can make them spooky. Later in the year the number of fish caught tends to stay about the same, but fish become more intentional in cold water and reduced visibility means anglers see fewer of them.

How do you get spooky muskies to eat in clear water?

Speed is Matt's first adjustment for spooky fish in clear water and on sunny October days. Fishing faster makes a fish work harder and forces an aggressive one to commit, ideally away from the boat. If it follows without eating, it should arrive at the boat more fired up and less concerned with the angler.

When is the best time for a beginner to try fly fishing for musky?

Matt points to October and early November, when anglers can move a huge number of fish, see plenty of follows and maybe get an eat or two. Those sightings give newcomers context for what they are doing and what the fish are doing. The same window works for anglers exploring an unfamiliar river on their own because fish are spread through good habitat.

What size streamers work for fall smallmouth?

Matt fishes bigger in fall than summer, typically 5- to 6-inch streamers, unless water gets extremely low. Cooling water makes big smallmouth willing to chase down a large meal, a trend that can peak sometime in November, and big fish will even swipe at 8- to 10-inch musky flies. He starts with swim flies and slows down and fishes deeper only if fish refuse them.

How does water temperature affect fall smallmouth fishing?

Water temperatures in the 50s are generally productive for fall smallmouth. The exception is a sudden drop: water in the low to mid 50s the day after a giant cold front, following temperatures in the 60s, usually fishes poorly. Matt describes the overall fall pattern as a reversal of what anglers see in spring.

Related Content

S8, Ep 68 - The Fall Transition: Matt Reilly's Insights on Bass Behavior and Bug Fishing Strategies

S7, Ep 90 - Transitioning Tactics: Matt Reilly on Targeting Smallmouth and Musky This Fall

S7, Ep 99 - Winter's Approach: Matt Reilly's Tips for Catching Musky in Low Water

S6, Ep 137 - Navigating Post-Hurricane Waters with Matt Reilly

S6, Ep 112 - Smallmouth Transitions and Musky Prep: Matt Reilly's Southwest VA Update

View all Southwest Virginia Fishing Reports with Matt Reilly

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