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High Water

Micahdammeyer Uncategorized 0 Comment

I’ve been pretty lucky this spring in that my fishing days have timed well with dropping water.  I’ve managed to avoid being washed out all spring and have even gotten quite a tan on the sunny days. Sure, i’ve fished through some hogher water and wished I had a wading staff a few times but for the most part it’s been a great spring

On Thursday I hit the road for the Gunpowder Falls and was met with higher flows than I’d seen in person all spring. It was a reminder that, even in a tail-water situation, you can’t control the weather. I drove around and snapped a few pics but didn’t bother putting my waders on.

Overflow
High Muddy Water

The water coming over the dam was impressive but the feeder creeks downstream were heartbreakingly muddy. Only a few miles below the dam the river was flowing high and brown. It’ll take a few days for the river to bounce back from this one. Be sure to check the river gauges here before heading out. Over 300 can be some tough wading even for folks who know the river well. If you slip you’re swimming for sure at the current levels. It’s dropping fast but with more rain predicted this afternoon I’ll be watching weather.com for sure.

The Weather’s Here…

Micahdammeyer Big Gunpowder Falls, fishing, Spring, Trout, Uncategorized , , , , , 0 Comment

I didn’t think Spring would ever hit Maryland’s streams. While the great heat-island of DC has been green and flowering for weeks, it seems that the banks of the local streams have been slow to catch on. Last week’s trips to The Big Gunpowder gave me a chance to see the skunk cabbage really filling in and May apples in bloom. 

I got to take out an old friend that I’d met in VA a few years back when I lived down in the mountains there. We used to fish for smallmouths on the New River and chase brookies on tiny creeks in moonshine and ginseng country. We used to get into all sorts of trouble with locals and one particular warden that had it in for us because we used fly rods and had fancy waders. He’d moved to DC and had dug out an old Sage RPL 5wt and has been chomping at the bit. We’d met up after he’d been released from a conference in Baltimore. After getting him into some fresh wading boots he was in the water before I had all of my crap together. 

After a few false casts into the trees he was into fish. It felt pretty great to see someone hook into fish after saying “I don’t know if I remember how to cast!” ten minutes earlier. We caught quite a hatch of sulphurs, hendricksons and then caddis before calling it a night in favor of some greasy grub on the road home.  It was a great day of fishing. 

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.