# S8, Ep 16: The Seasonal Shift: Matt Reilly Discusses Spring Fishing Strategies in Southwest Virginia

Page: https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-articulate-fly-1052360/s8-ep-16-the-seasonal-shift-matt-reilly-discusses-spring-fishing-strategies-in-southwest-virginia
Text version: https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-articulate-fly-1052360/s8-ep-16-the-seasonal-shift-matt-reilly-discusses-spring-fishing-strategies-in-southwest-virginia.md
Podcast: [The Articulate Fly](https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-articulate-fly-1052360)
Published: 2026-03-06T10:00:00+00:00
Episode link: https://fly-fishing-podcast.thearticulatefly.com/s8-ep-16-southwest-virginia-pre-spawn-smallmouth-matt-reilly
Audio file: https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/episodes.captivate.fm/episode/785f3583-0576-4072-aa55-6bab53ed8ef8.mp3
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JSON: https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/the-articulate-fly-1052360/episodes/s8-ep-16-the-seasonal-shift-matt-reilly-discusses-spring-fishing-strategies-in-southwest-virginia
Duration seconds: 681

## Resource

Episode Overview This fly fishing podcast episode delivers a timely late-winter transition report from Southwest Virginia, covering the critical window when musky season winds down and pre-spawn smallmouth bass fishing kicks into gear. Host Marvin Cash reconnects with guide Matt Reilly of Matt Reilly Fly Fishing — a USCG-licensed captain and specialist in smallmouth, musky and other predatory game fish in the New River system — for a frank assessment of where conditions stand and what anglers should be targeting over the next several weeks. Recent snowmelt pushed water temperatures down, but a sustained stretch of warm days (highs in the 60s and 70s with some approaching 80°F) has temperatures climbing back through the mid-to-upper 40s, signaling that pre-spawn smallmouth are beginning to stage out of their winter holding water. Matt also previews his spring striper run program, opening dates on his guiding calendar, and his expanded mountain trout program through associated guides in southwest Virginia — a fishery he argues is underutilized by visiting anglers drawn instead to the Smokies or Virginia's tailwaters. For serious anglers planning a spring trip or looking to understand how temperature history shapes fish location in early season, this report is essential listening. Key Takeaways How water temperature history — not just current readings — dictates where pre-spawn smallmouth will be holding after warm early-season spikes followed by cold snaps. When to start streamer fishing for pre-spawn smallmouth: once morning temps consistently hit 50°F, a mid-column baitfish presentation becomes reliable; mid-to-upper 40s can work with slow retrieves and long pauses. Why fishing smallmouth through the winter gives you a positional advantage in early spring, since you ca…

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