S8, Ep 23: Low Water Chronicles: Matt Reilly on Pre-Spawn Smallmouth Strategies and Seasonal Shifts
Episode Overview
In this Southwest Virginia Fishing Report on The Articulate Fly fly fishing podcast, host Marvin Cash checks in with guide Matt Reilly for a timely spring conditions update. With pre-spawn smallmouth season winding down under extreme drought pressure — flows running at roughly a fifth to a quarter of seasonal averages — Matt breaks down how he's adapting tactics on the water in real time. Rising water temperatures, driven by a stretch of days pushing into the upper 70s and near 80°F air temps, have forced the bite to shift well ahead of the typical photoperiod-driven spawn timeline. The result is a low, clear-water pattern that demands the kind of finesse approach more commonly associated with late summer than early spring. Matt details his pivot to smaller, slimmer, more natural-colored baitfish imitations — CK Baitfish, his buddy Roger's Rump Shaker and bigger Murdich Minnows — after watching the bite transition linearly away from the large 6–7 inch chartreuse-and-orange profiles that were working earlier. He also walks through his line and leader setup adjustments for clear, pressured conditions: a clear-tip intermediate seven-weight line with a leader running closer to seven feet. With the pre-spawn window for Matt closing around mid-April, this episode is essential listening for anglers planning pre-spawn smallmouth trips or trying to understand how low water conditions affect the spring streamer bite.
Key Takeaways
- How to recognize when rising water temperatures are pulling smallmouth bass out of the pre-spawn window prematurely and why adapting quickly matters.
- Why downsizing to smaller, slimmer, more natural-colored baitfish streamers outperforms big profile flies when Southwest Virginia rivers run low and clear.
- How a clear-tip intermediate line paired with a longer (approximately seven-foot) leader helps generate strikes from wary pre-spawn smallmouth in bright, low-water conditions.
- When to prioritize early and late windows during high-sun days on low, clear smallmouth rivers, mirroring the approach used for pressured trout.
- Why water temperature is the leading indicator for pre-spawn smallmouth behavior, and how flows far below seasonal averages can affect the entire spring bite calendar.
Techniques & Gear Covered
Matt Reilly's approach to low, clear pre-spawn conditions centers on intermediate-line streamer fishing with a deliberate reduction in fly size and profile. He described fishing a seven-weight rod with a clear-tip intermediate line paired with a leader he's extended to roughly seven feet to add distance between the line tip and the fly. On the pattern side, Matt has landed on smaller baitfish imitations in the 4-inch range: the CK Baitfish, the Rump Shaker (a slimmer profile pattern from his friend Roger) and bigger Murdich Minnows are his current go-tos. He's deliberately stepped away from the larger 6–7 inch profiles in brighter chartreuse and orange that were effective earlier in the pre-spawn, confirming through daily observation that going bigger at this stage does more harm than good. Color selection has shifted toward more natural, subtle tones, with early-morning and late-evening windows providing the best action on sunny days — a strategy that mirrors pressured trout streamer fishing logic.
Locations & Species
This report covers Southwest Virginia's smallmouth rivers during the late pre-spawn period, with Matt fishing these waters daily as a full-time guide. No specific river names are discussed in this episode, but the conditions Matt describes — flows at roughly a fifth to a quarter of seasonal average, water temperatures sliding into the upper 50s and threatening to breach 60°F ahead of the photoperiod-driven spawn — apply broadly across the region's smallmouth fisheries. The target species is pre-spawn smallmouth bass, with Matt noting that the fish are still actively feeding on baitfish imitations despite compressed and technically demanding conditions. The seasonal context is critical: the window is narrowing fast, with Matt expecting the prime pre-spawn bite to close soon, and booking availability for this phase of the year is essentially gone.
FAQ / Key Questions Answered
How do you adjust your streamer setup when Southwest Virginia smallmouth rivers run low and clear?
Matt drops to a seven-weight rod with a clear-tip intermediate line and extends his leader to approximately seven feet. The clear tip reduces line visibility, and the longer leader creates more separation between fly line and fly, both of which help generate strikes from wary fish in bright, pressured conditions.
What fly patterns and sizes work best for pre-spawn smallmouth in low, clear water?
Matt has shifted to smaller baitfish imitations in the 4-inch range — the CK Baitfish, the Rump Shaker and bigger Murdich Minnows — in more natural, subtle colors. He's moved away from the larger 6–7 inch chartreuse and orange profiles that worked earlier in the season, noting through daily observation that oversized flies are counterproductive once conditions tighten up.
How does water temperature affect pre-spawn smallmouth behavior in Southwest Virginia?
Water temperature is the primary driver. When temps push into the upper 50s and approach 60°F well ahead of the photoperiod that normally triggers spawning behavior, it disrupts the typical pre-spawn feeding pattern. A stretch of near-80°F air temps compresses the entire spring calendar, potentially ending the traditional pre-spawn bite earlier than normal.
When is the best time to fish for smallmouth in low, clear conditions?
Early morning and late evening are the most productive windows on sunny, bright days when rivers are running low and clear. Matt draws a direct parallel to trout streamer fishing, where high-sun midday conditions tend to shut down aggressive behavior on clear water.
What does extremely low flow — well below seasonal average — mean for pre-spawn smallmouth strategy?
Low flows force fish into tighter, more predictable holding water and demand a more cautious approach overall: smaller flies, more natural colors, quieter presentations and longer casts. Matt notes that fish are still catchable, but the angler has to commit to finesse tactics rather than the aggressive power-fishing approach that works when rivers are full and colored.
Related Content
S8, Ep 9 - Ice, Snow and Musky: Navigating Winter Fishing in Southwest Virginia
S7, Ep 19 - Weathering the Winds: March Fishing Insights and Pre-Spawn Strategies with Matt Reilly
S7, Ep 1 - Winter Fly Tying and Pre-Spawn Tips with Matt Reilly
S6, Ep 33 - Southwest Virginia Fishing Report with Matt Reilly
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Folks, it's Marvin Cash, the host of The Articulate Fly. We're back with another Southwest Virginia Fishing Report with the man himself, Matt Reilly. Matt, how are you?
Matt ReillyI'm good, man. How are you?
Marvin CashJust trying to stay out of trouble and get ready for the Easter Bunny. It's. It's kind of funny. We were talking before we started recording. It sounds like you might need to do a rain dance in your neck of the woods.
Matt ReillyOh, yeah, man. I think, much as I hate to say, you know, my pre spawn smallmouth season, I'll pretty much end here like the 14th of April.I don't think we have much hope for more. More water in the next couple of weeks. Just looking at the extended forecast. So rain would be nice just for the remainder of the year, but I don't.I don't see it happening here in the immediate future.
Marvin CashYeah, very interesting. So, you know, Anders hit me up on Instagram when I was soliciting questions, and, you know, he wanted to get the update on the pre spawn bite.You know, how's it been?
Matt ReillyUh, it's been, I mean, typical up and down. Recently we've really settled into that low water pattern.And, you know, when I say low water, I mean like, like a fifth of the seasonal average, maybe a quarter. It's. It is very low out there pretty much everywhere. That in places is causing. We've had some very warm weather too.You know, string of days here in the upper 70s, close to 80, so water temps are sliding really quick. And that can. That can kind of make things funky at times. If.If your water temps get in the upper 50s is certainly 60 plus, you know, well ahead of the photo period that. That drives the spawn. So that all that said, you know, last couple days on the river have been pretty good. And we've just.We've just been having to adapt to those conditions and really make sure we're fishing the right water type. And. And I mean, like I said, we're kind of sneaking around like. Like summer.
Marvin CashYeah, it's interesting. So, I mean, are you. I would imagine you're lengthening leaders. Are you trying to go for, like, more delicate flies to kind of get rid of that plop?
Matt ReillyYou know, I haven't. I. I have been fishing more delicate flies just as a byproduct. It's nothing I did intentionally. Um, I don't know.I don't know if that's necessarily going to make a huge difference. I. I have lengthened leaders a little bit.I'm mostly fishing intermediate lines and Here recently I've dropped down to a seven weight and have been fishing clear tip intermediate seven weight lines with a, you know, my standard like six and a half foot intermediate leader. I did, I did lengthen my, my tippet section a little bit so it might be closer to seven feet.But you know, streamer fishing with a clear tip line and a seven foot leader, it's, it's, I think that's, that's plenty. At least it's been, been working for us.And yeah, you know, just same, same as I would do on the, from the conventional side just as things get lower and clearer, just you know, downsizing which I really hate to do this time of year but we are firmly in the it's necessary place.But just, just going a little bit smaller, a little bit slimmer, a little more natural colors and you know, especially on these sunny days, early and late tend to be, tend to be the ticket too. So yeah, not, not unlike streamer fishing for, for trout. You know, it's a similar, similar thing you're trying to do.
Marvin CashYeah. And so on the pattern side, what's, what's your favorite like feather changer, CK bait fish. What are you throwing?
Matt ReillyYeah, CK bait fish kind of.And, and my buddy Roger's rump shaker pattern is like a know 4 inch smaller profile bait fish, some bigger Murdich minnows, that, that kind of thing you could, you could definitely get away with any, any number of game changers that are in that smaller size. And you know I have at times played around with, with going a little bit bigger and in certain places to see if it, if it makes a difference.And um, like I said at this point I think it does more harm than good.And you know, having been on the water every day too, you know, I, I have seen it very linearly transition from you know, fish, fish smoking, 67 inch big profile flies and chartreuse and orange and to really needing that, that smaller, more subtle presentation. So I'm pretty confident in that.I mean I've fished the last, after Monday we kind of, kind of cracked that code and then, and then the last two days I really haven't changed change flies much and it's, it's been working. So that's, that's where we're at right now.
Marvin CashYeah.So we'll slide into the Easter holiday and then you'll probably come back, got a few days, get your taxes done and then you'll be on the striper train, right?
Matt ReillyYeah. Yeah. My, my accountant hates me because he, he, he's trying to get a hold of me this time of year and that just. That just doesn't work. I think I've.I think I've been extended the last like five years, but we. Yeah, we'll have another week and a half or so.We are supposed to get a little bit of rain over the weekend, so maybe that'll, that'll kind of bolster us a little bit, hopefully. Um, and then water temps or air temps are supposed to kind of settle back into that seasonal like 40 to 65 range.So, you know, hopefully that'll kind of keep those. Those water temps in the. In the 50s consistently again.
Marvin CashGot it. Well, you know, folks, we love questions on the articulate fly.You can email me or DM me on Instagram and if we use your question, I will send you some articulate fly stickers and you're drawing for something cool for Matt at the end of the season.And you know, Matt, before I let you hop like I always do, you know, you want to let folks know kind of what you have open, how to get in touch and all that kind of good stuff.
Matt ReillyYeah, I have a. Basically a handful of days in like June, July, and then like one or two in August and September.It's, it's, you know, as I always say, it's kind of always changing. So, so don't. If you're interested in something, don't hesitate to reach out. I, as always, I'll. I'll keep my. My site and.And newsletter subscribers breast of any cancellations or shifts around in the schedule or anything. So that's where you'll see that stuff first. But yeah, that's, that's pretty much it.Just kind of looking at couple of days in the postpone smallmouth timeframe, May, June, and then couple of summer dates. And yeah, that's a good problem to have.
Marvin CashGives you a good excuse for your accountant too, right?
Matt ReillyYeah, exactly.
Marvin CashSo it sounds like folks are kind of out of luck on the striper front, so maybe they just need to plan better for next year. And you know, folks, I have all of Matt's contact information in the show notes.So drop down there, go to the website, sign up for the newsletter so that you can maybe sneak in a date or two here before we get into that kind of late summer slash, early fall smallmouth window. That's probably still got a few more days.
Matt ReillyYeah, there's still a few, few more days, particularly in October, but you know, that stuff tends to book up pretty quick, so it's, it's pretty thin well, there you go.
Marvin CashWell, listen, folks, it's getting warm outside. And as Matt said, though, I think we're finally out of this yo, yo weather where it snows one day and then it's 85 degrees the next.So, you know, if it's warm where you are, get out there and fish. Want to wish everyone a happy Easter. Tight lines, everybody. Tight lines and happy Easter. Matt.
Matt ReillyHey, thanks, man. You.
