Sharing the joy of fly fishing and the region’s streams with others is a passion of Knee Deep guides. Whether you’re an expert angler or a first-time fisherman, the Knee Deep experience is tailored to your specific interests and experience. Our offerings range from in-home casting and fly tying instruction to multi-day on-water escapes. And, of course, we can design custom packages for corporate events and special occasions, including bachelor outings, anniversaries, and girls day out.
"I don't see any fish"
Often I run into anglers on the trails and hear them say “I didn’t see a fish all day.”
“They’re in there!” I tell them. Often while looking at a scene like the one above.
I know how hard it can be when the fish aren’t feeding on the surface to believe that there’s fish in the pool in front of you. I like to sit on the bank with other anglers and clients and just observe the water for ten minutes. The trout in the Big Gunpowder Falls haven’t escaped Bald Eagles and herons by making themselves easy to spot. After approaching a run or a pool, taking a few minutes to watch and let the fish get used to your presence can make all the difference.
"There's a fish!"
While talking with a fellow angler in just such a situation last week, the fish above resumed feeding. Boldly, this fish swam several feet in all directions to chase down emerging sulfurs. You can spot him swimming toward the camera. We marveled as other fish took up feeding positions alongside this fish and they swirled around in plain sight of us. We couldn’t have seen them without polarized glasses and some patience. Often, while fishing, I’ll suggest we take a five minute break after making many casts to a feeding fish who seems to vanish.
Don’t get discouraged if you don’t see fish. Reading the water and learning to spot the fish comes with practice. Don’t hit the water without your polarized sunglasses and approach the water carefully. Don’t rush to wade into the middle of the flow and you’ll be rewarded with opportunities you never saw before.
Keep your stick on the water,
Micah & The Knee Deep Fly Fishing Team
Snake In The Grass
I was just about to put my foot down when I saw this nice fat water snake relaxing on the bank. As far as I could tell he was digesting a big meal or was full of eggs. Either way, it was about as fat as a plastic water bottle.
It’s a sign that spring is in full swing and it’s great to see a good diversity of water-life after last fall’s hurricanes. The hatches are great this year and the fall’s high water doesn’t seem to have affected them. Get out there and don’t forget the camera and a flashlight if you’re fishing late! (Be sure to check your batteries – everyone’s got a story there!)
Tight Lines,
Micah & The Knee Deep Team
While the water is high and may get higher today, there are sunny skies in the future forecast. Here at Knee Deep Headquarters, we’ve got a day off the water tying Pheasant Tail nymphs and spinners for when things return to normal.
The prior week was filled with great fishing on The Big Gunpowder Falls. Sulfur emergers, wets, and dry + dropper combinations proved deadly right up until the latest front rolled through, when things slowed down.
If you’re headed out this week, be sure to check the river gauges before you head out. At close to 300 CFS the water is mighty fast. Fishing heavy streamers in the eddies is a great way to stay on the banks and hook up with some big fish. Don’t let stained water scare you away. If you can cast around the rapidly growing vegetation on the banks, you’ll find fish holding on the edges. By late this week, things should calm down.
Tight Lines,
The Knee Deep Team
New M-Series 4wt
While I’ve put a few of Mystic Fly Rods’ M-Series rods in the hands of clients, I’ve yet to have time to fish myself and give them a full once-over. I can say that I have a new favorite rod. The 9’3” 4wt is perfect for fishing dries (even long dropper rigs) on the Gunpowder. I had a blast dishing out sulfur emergers on Friday night. I’m looking forward to using this one a lot during this season!
Sulfur Madness
The Night Shift
A few folks in the know leave work a lttiel early to beat traffic and hit the Gunpowder Falls for that magic hour after the sun fades. It’s a time when I’ve made some great memories with family and friends, both old and new, and caught a lot of fish. The Sulfur hatch is on and it’s time to start bailing out early! E-mail us or call and set up an after-work outing in the next few weeks!
The start...
The Finish
Summer can’t be far off.
Hooked-up
It's Not Always About The Browns!
Sometimes, the slashing takes on your elk-hair-caddis are from the toothy end of a beautiful brook trout.
The Big Gunpowder falls is fishing great right now. The week ahead should provide great dry-fly fishing. If you haven’t hit the water yet this year, this is the time to get out and work the kinks out of that old fly-line. Check the flows before you head out; there’s a few thunderstorms in the forecast mid-week. Be sure and have an up-to-date license and trout stamp. If you don’t have one yet, swing by Backwater Angler on the way and have them help you navigate the new Maryland DNR system.
Not sure about heading out on your own? Give us a call or e-mail and get on the calander!
Hooked Up
Spring seems to be here to stay and so are the hatches. Sunday’s outing provided plenty of sunshine and warm temps as well as mayflies and caddis. A mixed bag of insects keeps anglers busy changing flies but the action seems to continue throughout most of the day. As the sun rose higher during the day, the hatches changed, turning on and off but there always seemed to be some surface action. Forecasts for the week predict similar conditions and the fishing should be great. 80 degree weather feels pretty good!
Now’s the time to get on the calendar for an outing in June and there’s a few dates remaining open in May. If you’re headed out on your own, bring along some #14 elk hair caddis and a handful of #14 sulfur emergers. Snowshoe comparaduns are a favorite and float well in faster runs and tail-outs. Don’t forget lots of water and sunscreen!
Sunshine and Brown Trout
…photos are at the bottom!
I took a ride around the north end of DC to Mongomery/Howard County to fish the Patuxent River. With the whole day to myself, I took the scenic route. This brought me past the Brighton Dam area, which I hadn’t fished since last season, so I decided to pull in and check it out. To my surprise, a stocking truck pulled up and a few volunteers helped toss buckets of fish into the river. It was nice to see fish going in there as it’s a great chunk of catch and release water for the new angler to cut their teeth on. It’s worth checking out after work on a weekday; just don’t stay too late and get locked in by the park staff!
A short run in the truck took me upriver to the Howard’s Chapel Rd crossing and I fished upstream almost to Hipsley Mill Rd. The early spring was giving the rose bushes a head start – I can’t wait to see how my waders hold up on the cold Gunpowder after this run – and the terrestrials too. I didn’t see many of the river’s crayfish but there were Japanese beetles and enough caddis to get me to prospect with an Elk Hair Caddis. I turned over a few rocks and found big mayflies, caddis and scuds in the riffles. I got a chance to watch from a high carved bank as two fish picked their lunch from the current below me and fed on the surface as well as sub-surface while I enjoyed a cigar from our pals over at W. Curtis Draper Tobacconists. Most of my hits and misses came on tan buggers and crayfish patterns despite the fish watch for smaller forage.
If you’re looking to explore this stream that’s right in our backyards, travel light with a few attractor patterns and streamers. If you’ve got some small hand pruners, save yourself some stress and a few scrapes, by tossing them in your wader pouch. Bring a camera to catch the birds and flowers that are popping up a couple weeks behind the city. Cast to the under-cut banks and downfalls and you’ll find lots of fish. Take your time and observe. You’ll be surprised what you discover. I left a few flies in the trees for you! – Micah
