Orkney Springs Outfitters

04/12/2026

Catch My Drift: This weeks combo is a dry-dropper Midge and Case Caddis combo

If you’re not fishing a dry-dropper rig right now, you’re leaving fish in the water.

Here’s our current go-to combo: a ** #14-16 midge dry fly top (Griffith’s Gnat or CDC midge) as your indicator, with a #16 Case Caddis dropper hanging 12–18 inches below on 5x tippet.

Why it works this time of year:

April in VA is a transition moment. Water temps are pushing into the low-to-mid 50s, caddis larvae are drifting loose off the rocky bottom, and midge activity is steady through the morning. Trout are looking both directions, at the surface film AND just below it. This rig covers both zones on every drift.

How to fish it:

→ Target the seams along submerged ledge rock and the heads of pools
→ Cast upstream, mend once, and let it dead-drift through the strike zone
→ Watch the midge dry — any hesitation or twitch, lift
→ Give a subtle upstream twitch as the rig enters slower water to animate the Case Caddis — that movement triggers instinct strikes

Rigging tip: Tie your dropper off the bend of the midge hook with a 14–18” piece of 5x or 6x fluorocarbon. Keep it short enough to stay in the feeding column, long enough to clear the dry.

The trout have been responding well. Get out early!

Book a half-day guided trip and we’ll go catch a few trout!

Lyndhurst, VA just off 64 at the Blue Ridge Parkway entrance.

04/12/2026

Case caddis are extremely interesting insects, that trout love! Learn more today by booking a lesson on the water with one of our seasoned guides.

04/07/2026

This is how its done…

03/28/2026

Only 2 slots left for our Spring beginner fly fishing weekend! Signup today! Closes April 11. Next beginner class is Oct 2026.

03/02/2026

Catch My Drift: This week’s combo is dark and deadly:

Point Fly: Batman #14
Dropper: Purple Midge #20

The Batman’s dark, buggy profile pushes a strong silhouette through cold spring water, triggering aggressive takes from browns and rainbows holding tight to deeper runs and structure. Early season fish are still in that winter mindset. They are opportunistic, conserving energy, and keyed to contrast rather than flash. The Batman gets their attention fast.

Trailing behind, the Purple Midge plays the finesse role. In clear water, trout are already starting to key in on the first consistent subsurface midge activity. That small purple note often outperforms traditional black or red because it offers just enough visibility without looking unnatural. It seals the deal on fish that follow but hesitate.

Why This Combo Works Now

• Cold flows mean trout hug softer seams and tail-outs where food funnels predictably.
• A dark anchor fly helps them see the meal without moving far.
• The small midge matches the emerging forage they are selectively sipping.
• You cover both reaction and inspection in one drift.

Rigging Notes

• Tie the Purple Midge 12 to 16 inches off the bend of the Batman.
• Run it under a light indicator or tight-line if you prefer contact.
• Focus on transition water: inside seams, drop-offs below riffles, and the slow tail of pools.
• Keep the drift absolutely dead. No extra animation needed. Let the current do the talking.

This is not a searching rig. This is a convincing rig. Put it where fish already want to be and let the silhouette plus subtlety do the work.

Let us know how it works.

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02/26/2026

Water everywhere! Time to plan your adventures.

02/22/2026

Had to share this, talk about convenient.

Innovation with Heart: A Backpack That Becomes a Bed!
A German startup has created a backpack that unfolds into a warm, insulated bed—with solar-powered lights and phone charging. ⚡

It’s not a full home, but it gives people experiencing homelessness a safe, warm space, a little privacy, and a chance to recharge literally and figuratively.

Small ideas, big impact. Imagine handing this to someone who has been told “no” all day—the relief, the warmth, the hope it’s priceless.

02/20/2026

🎣 Catch My Drift: Orkney Springs Outfitters Weekly Fly Combo

The Combo: “Shenandoah Winter Wake-Up” Pheasant Tail + Midge

When water temps are cold and fish are conserving energy, success comes from getting flies down fast, staying in the strike zone, and presenting an easy meal. This combo is built for late-winter into early-spring conditions across the Shenandoah headwaters and mountain streams around Orkney Springs.

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Lead Fly: Beadhead Pheasant Tail (Size 14–16)

Why It Works:

This is your confidence bug. The Pheasant Tail imitates the mayfly nymphs that are active even in cold water. In winter conditions trout are not chasing. They want something natural drifting right to them. This fly checks every box.

How to Fish It:

• Dead drift is everything. No swing. No animation.
• Add split shot 6–8 inches above the fly if needed to maintain bottom contact.
• Watch your leader. Strikes will be subtle winter “ticks.”
• Fish seams, slow buckets, and tailouts where trout stack up to conserve energy.

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Dropper Fly: Zebra Midge (Size 18–20)

Why It Works:

Midging never stops. Even when nothing is hatching, midges are present. This smaller offering seals the deal when trout refuse the larger nymph.

Think of it as the “easy calorie” fish can inhale without moving far.

How to Fish It:

• Tie 12–16 inches below the Pheasant Tail.
• Keep it light and natural. This fly is about realism, not flash.
• Most strikes happen on the dropper. Set on hesitation.

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Rigging the Combo

Leader Setup:
9 ft 4X leader
→ Pheasant Tail tied to tippet end
→ 5X or 6X tag (12–16 inches) to Zebra Midge

Adjust weight so you occasionally tick bottom. If you’re not touching structure, you’re fishing above the fish.

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Where to Fish This Combo

This combo shines in:
✔ Deeper winter holding runs
✔ Soft edges off faster current
✔ Pools below riffles
✔ North-facing stretches that stay colder longer
✔ Late morning through mid-afternoon when water warms slightly

Mountain trout are conserving energy right now. They won’t move far. Put the flies where they live.

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The Mindset for This Week

Winter and early pre-spring fishing is about precision, not activity.

Slow down. Shorten casts. Focus on drift quality.
You are not covering water. You are solving a small puzzle one seam at a time.

This is the season where good anglers separate from impatient ones.

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Next Week on Catch My Drift

We’ll shift into pre-hatch scouting tactics and the flies that bridge winter nymphing into early spring emergence.

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02/19/2026

Catch My Drift: How to Tie Tippet to Your Leader

A Simple, Streamside Guide to Two Essential Knots

Adding tippet correctly is critical to fly presentation, drift, and overall strength of your setup. A clean connection allows your fly to move naturally while maintaining the tensile strength needed to land fish. Below are the two most trusted methods used by anglers everywhere. Learn both, and you’ll be prepared for any situation on the water.

Method 1: Triple Surgeon’s Knot

Best for: Quick rigging, cold hands, changing tippet on the river

Why anglers love it: Fast, strong, and very forgiving when line diameters differ.

How to:

1. Overlap the leader and tippet by 6 to 8 inches.
2. Hold both lines together and form a loop.
3. Pass both tag ends through that loop three times.
4. Moisten the knot to reduce friction.
5. Pull evenly on all strands until the knot cinches down.
6. Trim tag ends close.

When to Use It:

• While actively fishing and needing speed
• When teaching beginners
• When stepping down in size (for example 4X to 5X or 6X)

Method 2: Blood Knot

Best for: Building leaders, smooth presentations, technical water

Why anglers use it: Creates a slim, straight-line connection that transfers energy smoothly and passes easily through rod guides.

How to:

1. Lay leader and tippet overlapping, pointing in opposite directions.
2. Wrap the tippet tag around the leader 5 to 7 times.
3. Bring the tag back and insert it through the center gap between the lines.
4. Wrap the leader tag around the tippet the same number of times in the opposite direction.
5. Insert that tag through the same gap from the opposite side.
6. Moisten thoroughly.
7. Slowly pull standing lines to seat the knot.
8. Trim tag ends.

When to Use It:

• Constructing hand-tied leaders
• Fishing clear or slow water where presentation matters most
• Situations requiring a low-profile knot

Key Tips for Either Knot

• Always moisten before tightening to prevent heat damage to the line.
• Tighten slowly and evenly. Sudden pulls weaken knots.
• Replace tippet regularly. UV exposure and abrasion reduce strength.
• Use the lightest tippet that will still turn over your fly effectively.
• Test every knot with a firm pull before casting.

Mastering these two knots covers nearly every fly fishing scenario. Once they become muscle memory, you spend less time tying and more time fishing, which is exactly the point.

02/19/2026

Catch My Drift: Weekly Fly Pairing from Orkney Springs Outfitters

This Week’s Rig: Elk Hair Caddis + Pheasant Tail Nymph

Simple. Reliable. Built for Virginia streams.

Around Orkney Springs, trout don’t wait for perfect hatches. They feed where the food comes to them. This dry-dropper combo lets you cover the surface and the subsurface in one natural drift.

Why it Works

The Elk Hair Caddis floats high and gets their attention in broken water. The Pheasant Tail rides below like a drifting mayfly nymph. Together they match how trout actually feed in our freestone streams.

How to Rig It

• 9’ 5X leader
• Elk Hair Caddis (size 14–16) on top
• Add 18” of 5X tippet off the hook bend
• Pheasant Tail Nymph (size 16–18) on the dropper
• Let it drift naturally, add weight naturally.

How to Fish It

Keep casts short and upstream. Mend quickly. Watch the dry fly closely. If it twitches, hesitates, or disappears, set the hook.

This is the exact setup we teach during our Fly Fishing Weekends because it builds confidence fast and produces fish.

Good drifts catch fish.
Great drifts teach anglers.

Come fish it with us in Orkney Springs. April, May, Oct and Nov 2026 classes are open. Includes meals, happy hour, lodging, instruction, rod, reel and peaceful surroundings.

02/13/2026

Only a few slots left for our Fly Fishing 101 Class in Orkney Springs, VA at Shrine Mont! Book today!

Orkney Springs Outfitters teamed up with Shrine Mont in 2022 to begin offering an immersive Introduction to Fly Fishing weekend course designed to teach students about the intricacies of fly fishing with hands on instruction that covers everything from tying flies and casting, to pond and river fish...

01/16/2026

2026 Orkney Springs, VA Shenandoah Fly Fishing Weekends are now open for beginners and intermediate anglers. This is our 5th season! Classes are limited to 10 students per weekend, lodging and meals included. Book today, classes fill up quickly. Questions? Please DM.

Orkney Springs Outfitters teamed up with Shrine Mont in 2022 to begin offering an immersive Introduction to Fly Fishing weekend course designed to teach students about the intricacies of fly fishing with hands on instruction that covers everything from tying flies and casting, to pond and river fish...