Best Flies for Cranberry River (West Virginia)

What's hatching now

Month, insect, size, and pattern from the Cranberry River hatch chart. October is highlighted when that month exists in the chart. We do not invent a hatch that is not on the chart.

Nymphs

Subsurface patterns matched to this river's chart and catalog. Fish them at the size the chart lists, not the size that looks good in the bin.

• 

  Zebra Midge

  #16

• 

  Midge Larva

  #18

• No photograph

  Egan's Tungsten Surveyor

  #14–#18

• No photograph

  ZebraGon

  #14–#18

• No photograph

  Egan's Thread Frenchie

  #14–#18

• No photograph

  Egan's Rainbow Warrior Perdigon

  #16–#20

• 

  Rainbow Warrior

  #16–#22

• 

  Klinkhammer Special

  #12

• 

  Thread Midge

  #18

Dries

Dries and terrestrials for the Cranberry River. If the chart says a size 18 PMD, do not start with a 12.

• 

  BWO Parachute

  #16

• 

  Quill Gordon

  #12

• 

  Elk Hair Caddis

  #12–#18

• 

  X-Caddis

  #14

• 

  March Brown

  #12

• No photograph

  Olsen's CDC Midge

  #18

• 

  Griffith's Gnat

  #18

Streamers

Streamers and wets for stained water, banks, and low light. This is not a claim that streamers are "on" today.

• 

  March Brown Wet

  #12

• 

  Black Spider

  #12

Setup

4X and 5X cover most nymphing. 4X on dries until the fish get picky, then 5X. A 3.0–3.8mm tungsten on the point and a lighter dropper is a default until you see the water. Tight-line the near bank and the heads of pockets. Use an indicator only when you need to search water you cannot euro.

FAQ

What flies work on the Cranberry River?

Start with Zebra Midge and BWO Parachute, then match size to the hatch chart for the month you are standing in. The Cranberry River does not need a 40-pattern box. It needs the right size on the insect that is actually in the drift.

When is the best time to fly fish the Cranberry River?

The editorial window we list is April, May, June, September, October. That is a planning month range, not a guarantee. Shoulder months can fish well if flows and water temperature cooperate.

Do I need a guide on the Cranberry River?

West Virginia has walk-up wade water and, on some sections, float water. A guide is worth it for a first float or a technical tailwater. A hatch chart and a gauge are enough for a first wade if you already nymph. We list local guides and shops on this page when we have them.

Where can I see live flow for the Cranberry River?

The Cranberry River has no USGS gauge mapped yet. The river page says so; we are not guessing a number. Access notes and the hatch chart are on that page. We do not publish other people's spots or fish counts.

Is this a report of what's working now on the Cranberry River?

No. Executive Angler does not publish other anglers' catches, GPS, or a crowdsourced hot fly. This page is hatch-chart patterns plus catalog flies. Presence on the river page is gauge and weather only.

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