S7, Ep 56: Low Water, Big Fish: Early Summer Tactics with Matt Reilly

EPISODE SUMMARY

Guest: Matt Reilly - Fly Fishing Guide at Matt Reilly Fly Fishing (Southwest Virginia)

In this episode: Virginia guide Matt Reilly shares current fishing conditions and seasonal transition strategies for smallmouth bass anglers. Topics include post-cicada summer patterns, early summer smallmouth tactics and crayfish-focused feeding behavior.

Key fishing techniques covered: • Cicada fishing in multiple states • Topwater presentations for cruising smallmouth • Subsurface fishing in clear water conditions • Crayfish pattern fishing • Bug fishing for summer conditions

Location focus: Southwest Virginia rivers and streams

Target species: Smallmouth bass (with mention of upcoming tarpon fishing)

Equipment discussed: Topwater flies, subsurface patterns, crayfish imitations

Key questions answered: • What to expect after cicada season ends • How to target smallmouth in early summer heat • When to switch from topwater to subsurface techniques

Best for: Intermediate to advanced anglers interested in smallmouth bass seasonal transitions and Virginia fishing conditions

Marvin Cash00:00:04

Hey folks, it's Marvin Cash, the host of the Articulate Fly. We're back with another southwest Virginia fishing report with Matt Reilly. Matt, how are you doing?

Matt Reilly00:00:12

Good, man. How are you?

Marvin Cash00:00:13

Just trying to stay out of trouble. And so you're screaming down what, 77 or 81 heading down to Tarpon Fish, right?

Matt Reilly00:00:21

Yeah, yeah, we are. I think we're on 40, 26.Maybe we have made it that far, but I think we might, might hit a truck stop at midnight for a couple hours and then be at a boat ramp at 7:30, I think. So we'll see how it goes.

Marvin Cash00:00:40

Yeah, that's a young man's game.

Matt Reilly00:00:42

Yeah. Yeah, exactly.

Marvin Cash00:00:44

So, well, I know you're taking a nice break and it's kind of ironic, right? I mean it's. So we're recording this on Tuesday. It is a scorcher in the mid Atlantic.And you're telling me that you think you're Gulf coast weather is going to actually be better than it is in the mid Atlantic.

Matt Reilly00:00:58

I, man, I'm crossing my fingers. It was pretty rough at home today. But you know, I think it's going to get better over the next couple of weeks fairly substantially.So we'll, we'll see how it goes.

Marvin Cash00:01:11

There you go. And you know, while watching your, your social media looks like you've wrapped up Virginia cicadas.So what do you expect when you get back from Tarpon fishing?

Matt Reilly00:01:20

Yeah, we.So I mean, I fish cicadas in a bunch of different states, but sort of the northernmost of what's, you know, within three or four hours of me is pretty much done, has been for a week or more and been out smallmouth fishing a couple of times since then.And we are in sort of a sort of predictable early summer pattern right now from the looks of it, where we've got fish willing to eat top water for sure. Water temps are warming up rapidly, especially with the hot weather. So that'll kind of lean into the bug game a little bit.But typically early summer we'll see a sort of a focus on crayfish, which is, you know, sounds kind of nuts to say the fish are eating a lot of crayfish. Cause smallmouth all a lot of crayfish. But there seems to be about a week or two, late June, early July, where they really focus on them.I don't know if you can really associate that with a molting process or, or what it is.But you know, the last couple times I've been out, there's been a very strong focus on the bottom, you know, even in real low, clear water with sun, that would normally be really good bug fishing conditions here in another month or so where, you know, they're just kind of sort of apathetic to the, to the top water presentation. But going subsurface is, is putting more fish in the boat.So that's what I've been seeing, definitely catching fish on top water, especially seeing fish, you know, if you see them cruising, the darker fish, for whatever reason, always seem to be the ones that are buggier than the rest. So, you know, if you see a real dark fish cruising a flat someplace in the sun, you know, I'd bet a lot of money that they'd eat a bug.But otherwise, I'm not really forcing the top water thing right now like I will in another. Another month or so.

Marvin Cash00:03:33

Got it. And so, you know, I guess, you know, as we get a little bit deeper into summer, too, right. The bait fish bite will get a little bit better, right?

Matt Reilly00:03:40

You know, it might.I, I really don't do a ton of streamer fishing through the mid and late summer, especially if we have low, clear water and hot water, because that's just when the bug really shines. And frankly, if you're targeting big fish and you have those conditions, that's, that's what you need to do naturally.If you've got higher flows or dirty water or something, it, it'll pay, pay off. But, but no, I, I, you know, fingers crossed, Won't be doing a ton of streamer fishing over the next three months or so.

Marvin Cash00:04:15

Yeah, well, we could always get some rain. Right. But, and as I always lament, like, I still don't buy the fact that it's 10 degrees cooler where you are.And, you know, it seems to me the fish are always in the shade and I'm wearing my sombrero, getting roasted out on the river.

Matt Reilly00:04:30

Yep. Sometimes we're in the sun. Those are the ones we like.

Marvin Cash00:04:34

Yeah. It doesn't seem to be my luck. And I don't know, I mean, it's. Makes for a long day on the water.

Matt Reilly00:04:41

Yeah, it can for sure.

Marvin Cash00:04:42

Yeah.And so it's kind of funny, I was gonna, you know, pimp your open days and your email you sent out, I don't know, a day or two maybe it was on Sunday, and you said you're already booked up, so, you know, you want to let folks know before I let you keep on cruising on down the road, kind of what you have available kind of deeper into the fall. And I'm sure You're already starting to think about muskie dates?

Matt Reilly00:05:01

Yeah. So, I mean, I think I have a couple days in mid October left if you want to get in this year, but. And you know, I say always check.Check with me if you have some free time, pop up and want to do something, because I do have cancellations come up, and I'll put those out through my email and things, too, but otherwise, yeah, we're looking at, like, sort of December, January, February, muskie dates. And, you know, probably won't book too much further out than that right now, but that's. That's what we're looking at.

Marvin Cash00:05:39

Well, that's awesome. Well, you know, folks, remember, we love questions on the articulate fly. You can email me or DM me on social media. Whatever's easiest for you.And if we use your question, I will send you some articulate fly swag, which, as I've been saying these days, I'll probably throw in a butcher shop sticker or two and we'll hear a drawing for some cool stuff for Matt. And, Matt, you want to let folks know where they can find you so, you know, maybe they can get in your muskie calendar.

Matt Reilly00:06:02

Yeah, the website's Matt ReillyFly fishing dot com. All my contact info and everything's on there, so feel free to reach out however you feel best.

Marvin Cash00:06:11

Yeah. Well, there you go. Well, I hope you have a productive tarpon trip and enjoy the cool weather in Florida.

Matt Reilly00:06:17

Hey, thanks, man.

Marvin Cash00:06:18

Absolutely. Well, folks, as always, say stay cool and yo it yourself to get out there and catch a few. Tight lines, everybody. Tight lines, Matt.

Matt Reilly00:06:26

Thanks, Marv.