# S8, Ep 29: Fishing in Flux: Matt Reilly's Take on Spring Trends and Techniques

Page: https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-articulate-fly-1052360/s8-ep-29-fishing-in-flux-matt-reilly-s-take-on-spring-trends-and-techniques
Text version: https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-articulate-fly-1052360/s8-ep-29-fishing-in-flux-matt-reilly-s-take-on-spring-trends-and-techniques.md
Podcast: [The Articulate Fly](https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-articulate-fly-1052360)
Published: 2026-04-30T10:00:00+00:00
Episode link: https://fly-fishing-podcast.thearticulatefly.com/s8-ep-29-southwest-va-fishing-report-matt-reilly-low-water-tactics
Audio file: https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/episodes.captivate.fm/episode/278e3c46-d93b-4c9d-989c-8251747c55c5.mp3
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Duration seconds: 1146

## Resource

Episode Overview The Articulate Fly returns to Southwest Virginia with guide Matt Reilly of Matt Reilly Fly Fishing for a candid late-spring conditions update covering the 2026 striper run, the smallmouth spawn transition and the tactical realities of fishing during one of the most compressed and drought-affected springs on record. Marvin Cash and Matt dissect a season that accelerated and stalled simultaneously — an extended cold February followed by an abrupt heat spike of 85–95°F days in late March and early April, paired with persistently low water, collapsed the striper run and complicated every major seasonal transition on Southwest Virginia's river systems. The weird weather and flows have made it genuinely difficult to pattern pre- and post-spawn smallmouth — the fish anglers actually want to target — because the usual seasonal cues have been compressed and scrambled. Matt provides a practical framework for identifying spawning males so you can skip them and keep hunting for fish that are actively feeding: the lazy follow, the lip-grab without commitment, the fish that trails your bug 8–10 feet off the bank and turns back are all signs to move on. He also explains why low water in an otherwise frustrating spring carries a meaningful upside for long-term recruitment if dry conditions hold through June. The episode closes with a thoughtful response to a listener question from Myles about breaking into fly fishing guiding professionally, with Matt covering mentorship, income diversification, the ethics of client and fishery stewardship and the financial realities of building a sustainable guide business. Key Takeaways How to recognize spawning male smallmouth behavior — lazy follows, lip-grabs and short pursuits that turn back to the bank — so you can move on quic…

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