fishing

It Was The Winter…The Cold Winter

Micahdammeyer fishing, Uncategorized, Winter , , , , , , 2 Comments
Almost Ice Fishing

Some years winter really drags on. Living in Washington, DC it can seem like winter is canceled one week and back at work the next. It’s what makes cabin fever soar over 103 degrees. I get the fever pretty bad every year and, after spending a LOT of time hibernating, have to find ways to get out. Sometimes the timing isn’t always perfect and, more often than not, the weather is at its worst. One such trip last month was exactly that.

The wind was blowing 15-20mph steady with gusts up to 40mph and there were a few inches of snow on the ground.  It was definitely winter. A serious blow out in my waders cut my day short and made me happy I was only a mile from the truck and a bag full of spare clothes. We found a good post-fishing homestyle Mexican place on the way home and the day was saved. 

Sometimes you have to get out no matter what the Weatherman says. In a few more weeks we’ll be sporting short sleeves tossing caddis and mayflies. I can’t wait!

In the News – Here On The Hill

Micahdammeyer fishing, News , , , 0 Comment

I found this one here on The Hill. It’s a short article with a few quotes from Utah’s Rob Bishop.

Article here

Thoughts of “pockets” and “hands” come to mind. Fracking is coming to a neighborhood near you. If you’re a DC/MD/VA resident with Comcast cable and have HBO on demand you can catch the Oscar-Nominated“Gasland” from the comfort of your own sofa. Maybe save this movie for AFTER Valentine’s Day.

 Don’t forget that your water comes from somewhere upstream.

The Stoneflies Are Comming

Micahdammeyer fishing, Fly Tying , , , 0 Comment
#14 Brown Stones
Brown Stones

Every year I can be found fishing on the New Years weekend. When I was a teenager the holidays were a time when my family was home together and we’d get out of the house as a group (a group of trouble makers) and slide our way to a local trout stream. Our mother was a saint to put up with us and this holiday routine. I recall a few years where I caused us all to be late for Thanksgiving because we were chasing brookies in Jockey Hollow or Christmases where new gear was tested right after it was unwrapped out at Ken Lockwood Gorge; always a fun spot once it was coated with ice. As the years went on and my brothers and I moved further from each other there are less afternoon outings following big early meals. I will never forget being out-fished by one of my brothers who threw a giant purple leach in a honey hole of hatchery rainbows. I’m still scratching my head over that 15 years later.

Nowadays, I still get out in the winter but recall those times with my brothers and father fondly. With the “early black stoneflies” just around the corner I hope to call them on New Year’s Morning and tell them about how they were thick in the air and how they missed it. Next year I’ll be lobbying hard to get everyone together for some icy fishing for sure. Living below the Mason Dixon Line means that there’s a chance for warmer days in the winter than our snowbound friends up North. Warm days and rising water temps signal the little stoneflies to crawl out onto rocks and snow piles to hatch. Snow is a great place to spot them as their dark bodies cure nicely with the reflection from a white background. Even a few adults buzzing around can let you know the time is right for fishing some nymphs in the riffles. As one of the first real hatches of the year, I get pretty excited when I see them fluttering around.

 Don’t forget to stop by your local shop and pick up a new license for 2011 and be safe while getting Knee Deep Friday night – DON’T DRINK AND DRIVE.

Warm Winter Days

Micahdammeyer fishing, Uncategorized , , , , 0 Comment
Every fly fisherman knows the importance to taking advantage of those odd warm days during winter. While the hatches of April and May seem like the makings of a work-daydream there is still lots of life in that cold water. Winter’s fishing is a great time to get out and fish some bigger flies and explore some streams where things like crowds and banks covered in rose bushes can make access hard during the summer.
 
 

Last Saturday I seized the day (read: “gave the wife a day in the house without me dropping stuff everywhere”) and headed out to the Patapsco. I had fished shortly after the Maryland did their fall stocking and, while I was having a blast hooking big rainbows, I regretted leaving without collecting some bugs and seeing what is really going on under the surface.  

This time I got in there with my kick net and was amazed with what I found.  I only sampled the area below the first riffles following the Daniels Dam. In about 3 square feet I found about 3 dozen insects of note. The primary find was a large scud with big dark caddis following in at a close second. I’ve attached some photos below. 

Patapsco Caddis

These caddis had lighter colored undersides. They weighed in at a meaty #12 or so and would be EASY to represent with any basic caddis pattern. 

Potapsco Scud

These scuds ranged in size from something close to a 16 up to a large 12 or so. 

Potapsco stonefly - Look at that stripe!

It’s something like and “early black stone” but the stripe is the brighest I’ve ever seen. Very interesting! 

Crawler! 

These big flat mayflies were great. There’s were lots of them to keep the smallies happy during the summer. 

The weather man is calling for a bit of snow but a warm up on Thursday. Cross you fingers!