Talkin’ Turkey: WHFF
Runnin’ N Gunnin’
The spring turkey season is running wide open over here as the Commonwealth will now let you hunt birds all day long- through May 13th. Upland birds and waterfowl are all well and good. Still, Virginia's true cast-and-blast is when we chase gobblers through George Washington and Jefferson National Forests, thanks to our Commercial Guide National Forest permit. We can split your day into a morning turkey hunt followed by your choice of trophy brown trout or smallmouth bass in the afternoon or go straight gobblers all day.
Our guides are all local boys who have been going after these birds all their lives- they know their patterns, routines, where they eat at, where they go for a nightcap, and where they have coffee in the morning. We go after the turkeys with the Run N' Gun: we put them to bed the night before and will start there the next morning, where they're roosted up. We give them a couple of calls, so they come running down thinking they're going to come and get their morning sugar. Through the rest of the morning, we listen for that gobble that'll send a chill through the whole forest- Appalachia's version of the elk bugle- and position ourselves within earshot to call them in.
This isn't your father's game bird- all it takes is some good hiking boots, your trusty, dinged-up pump action shotgun, and a steady hand, do not forget the steady hand. The toms we're knocking down are landing in the 30lb range and will be harvested for you to take home and enjoy.
We’re Going Streaming
Over on the New River, the smallies are still hitting comically large streamers on heavy rods. These are the last couple weeks of streamer action until that last full moon of April comes around, which generally will trigger the start of the smallmouth spawn, and we'll start targeting the banks of the rivers with lighter rods and poppers wiggling across the top water. The end of the pre-spawn comes bittersweet for our team. We're excited for a long summer of topwater action but will miss the jerk that comes with the 20+ inch hogs running into deep pools with a streamer or crank-bait hanging from its jaw.
It’s Getting Buggy
We're starting to get some good hatches in the afternoon over on the Jackson River, and the big brown trout are filling up on them. More of this is to come as we get into the prime dry fly season, with the famed caddis hatch right around the corner at the beginning of May. We've been fortunate enough for the river to maintain still solid water levels making for productive streamer fishing to hold us over until the top water is fully open for business.
Dinner Bell
I've finally put the finishing touches on our outdoor dining area hunkered in the heart of our garden. Guest meals will now be prepared over good ole open fire and served in this new space amongst the food you'll enjoy. We can't wait to have you check it out.
Published in Wesley Hodges Fly Fishing Newsletter
