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April & The Mayflies

Micahdammeyer Uncategorized 0 Comment

Now that those first warm days have started to come around once or twice a week things are starting to feel a little more like normal. There’s still a few stoneflies coming off here and there in Maryland but the big early grey mayflies are starting to pop off here and there.  

I hit a couple rivers this week with a pal and managed to get him his first trout on a fly rod. It feels pretty good to share that with someone. It’s great watching the frustration of tangled leaders and lost flies disappear once there’s a fish on the hook.  

The bigger and more secluded streams are still pretty cold and struggling to get above 50 but the smaller and more open streams are warming right up. We managed to get fish on big nymphs and even a few on dries. Fishing the surface with big Grey Wulffs was pretty satisfying after such a long winter of chucking streamers. We had to work a little but getting down and dirty paid off.  

Even in April there's still a few small stones left.

I hit a couple rivers this week with a pal and managed to get him his first trout on a fly rod. It feels pretty good to share that with someone. It’s great watching the frustration of tangled leaders and lost flies disappear once there’s a fish on the hook.  

Getting Knee Deep!
The payoff
The weather's here...

The bigger and more secluded streams are still pretty cold and struggling to get above 50 but the smaller and more open streams are warming right up. We managed to get fish on big nymphs and even a few on dries. Fishing the surface with big Grey Wulffs was pretty satisfying after such a long winter of chucking streamers. We had to work a little but getting down and dirty paid off. Also, this trip was pretty nice as I did not rip my 3rd pair of waders this year. I’m going to try to have a streak of dry-feet-days.

March comes back with cold and snow?

Micahdammeyer Big Gunpowder Falls, fishing, Uncategorized, Winter , , , , 0 Comment

As is fitting with most of my outings this Spring, the good days seem to happen when I’m busy with indoor activities and the cold days land on my days marked “FISH!” on the daytimer. I was not discouraged and after some fun stops in the AM I was on my way to the water with my dog Shay. Once we’d settled in and remembered what it was like to be outdoors we got into a good groove.    

"My new 'scent' "

   

While there were some tiny bugs here and there and I even saw one small fish bust the surface, I was throwing weight at the log jams. This little guy took a few tries to hook but he came out of his hiding place 3 times before chewing up my fly.
 
March Brown Jr.

   

The fishing got better as the sun fell and the eagles stopped flying around above me and a few fly changes later I had a good formula going. It was great to get out and unwind for a while. I eventually had to throw in the towel in favor of dry socks food and a good brushing for the dog…not before a few better fish were duped by some more creative streamer fishing.   

March Brown ...that's better!

   

I spent half an hour or so picking grass out of my dog’s coat and packing up my laundry and wet leaky (fairly new) waders and then headed down towards Baltimore for some dinner. A while back the guys over at Backwater Angler clued me into Andy Nelson’s BBQ and it was just what the dog and I needed after a day eating squashed sandwiches. As always it was great and hit the spot after working hard chasing after trout with a stick!    

BBQ Dinner

   

All-in-all it was a great day and with over 150 hard-won miles put on my new transmission I made it home safe and sound. That “satisfied but tired” feeling that only comes after a day on the water was good to feel again after a long winter and I’d almost forgotten about those 2 fish days spent with frozen guides and hands. I’m looking forward to the warmer days ahead.    

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!

While You Were Sleeping…

Micahdammeyer News, Uncategorized , , , , , 0 Comment

While I was at The Fly Fishing Show catching up with old friends and learning about all the typos I’m so fond of posting here in the Internet, Virginia’s legislators were hard at work stomping out wetlands.

http://cbf.typepad.com/bay_daily/2011/01/virginia-wetlands-again-in-jeopardy.html

If you’re a Virginia Voter, get on that one – it won’t kill you to send an e-mail. I came across this one through the Potomac Riverkeeper’s facebook page. If you’re on there become a fan! They need your help and they’re good with the news.

If you missed the Fly Fishing Show in NJ, there’s still a chance coming up in the spring to catch up with your favorite fishing guru at the Valley Forge show this spring! The NJ show is a great time and I’m expecting the Philly show to be just as fun.

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!

November’s Winds Of Change

Micahdammeyer Uncategorized , , , , 0 Comment

With the addition of this new blog I hope to post updates of events and fishing reports from recent trips with pictures thrown in. 

Icy Guides - Early November 2010

A run up to the Big Gunpowder Falls this week required some digging through the gear to finds hats and gloves. When we arrived in the morning the temperature on the truck’s thermometer read 26 degrees.  We had a frigid start complete with ice in the guides. The water temps were still in the high 40’s and flirting with 50 as the day went on. It was great to be chucking nymphs with gloves on – a novelty which will wear off sometime in February. 

I had high hopes for the day but the clouds rolled in and I only saw one caddis. The fish were eagerly chasing streamers but were a little skittish in the low flows. 

Bead Head Cased Caddis

Careful wading and some long casts were the name of the game but all that could change after this front moves through. Keep checking in. As it rains it’s a great chance to get caught up on the fly tying. The weather looks clear and warm all next week and I have high hopes for the caddis.