Knee Deep Fly Fishing

It’s Finally Friday

Ok, it’s only Wednesday but we’re planning ahead. The forecast looks great for Friday and Saturday. With highs close to 60 degrees, there should be some great stonefly action.

What’s that mean for fishing? Dry little black stoneflies and nymphs will be a safe bet but the warm water will be getting bugs of all types stirring. They’ll be moving around in search of the perfect place to take off for their upcoming emergences. Employing wet flies and small streamers (think small wooly buggers and Pax Specials) will bring spring strikes out of the slack water and seams. Don’t forget to wing a wet fly through shallow riffles before crossing the streams and slashing through! I’ve spooked a dozen or more fish out of what seemed like 8” of water while heading to “the good water”. It’s a lesson that’s hard to learn.

In short: fish it all! Don’t be afraid to switch flies often and switch that tippet out when you need to float or sink faster. Can’t escape till Sunday when the forecast looks wet? Grab that rain jacket and hit it anyway. The fish should be active.

Keep your boots in the water!

Micah and the Knee Deep Team

IMG_1639CWM - reduced — A fat rainbow from the Patuxent River last week

It rained, it snowed, we fished

Micahdammeyer Uncategorized March 16, 2013March 16, 2013Big Gunpowder Falls, DC Fishing, Fishing, Flies for big gunpowder Falls, flies for gunpowder falls, Fly Fishing, fly fishing big gunpowder falls, fly fishing gunpowder falls, flyfishing, Gunpowder Falls, Gunpowder Falls fishing report, Knee Deep Fly Fishing, Knee Deep fly Fishing LLC, March Trout, Maryland, Maryland DNR, Maryland Fly Fishing, Maryland Fly Fishing Guide, Stoneflies, trout fishing, Witer Flies For The Gunpowder

This morning I thought I’d be over dressed for fishing. I started my day south of the Big Gunpowder in 50+ weather and ended at 34 degrees with rain and snow flakes. I know we just have to hang in there for a couple more weeks and we’ll be fishing in t-shirts. – Micah

A filmmaker needs your help

Micahdammeyer Uncategorized March 13, 2013Great Salmon Tour, Knee Deep Fly Fishing, LEfty's Tie Fest, Salmon, tie-fest, trout fishing

I met Peter Johnsen at Tie Fest last weekend. He’s working on a film project that sounds pretty cool. His “Great Salmon Tour” is setting out to “document the diversity of salmon and explore the deep cultural and personal connections we humans have to these fish.” That sounds good to me. I happen to have a deep cultural connection to fish

Check out the clip on his Kickstarter page. It looks promising. Maybe skip the mocafrapachino this afternoon and send that $4 his way. He’s already off to a good start. If it goes well, maybe there’ll be a brook trout film in the future.

Keep your tip on the water,

Micah

Thank You!

Micahdammeyer Uncategorized March 12, 2013Knee Deep Fly Fishing, Knee Deep fly Fishing LLC, LEfty's Tie Fest, Maryland Fly Fishing, Maryland Fly Fishing Guide, Maryland trout fishing, The Fly Fishing Show, tie-fest, winter, Winter Fly Fishing

For us here at Knee Deep (it’s a group effort) the show and expo circuit is wrapping up and, while sitting in a pile of boxes, plastic tubs, and extension cords, it’s nice to know that the air is warming up outside. Traveling to the shows and meeting so many anglers has been rewarding. It’s especially refreshing to meet new anglers and see their enthusiasm. Nothing makes you want to hit the water like hearing someone talk about their first trout on the fly. For those who really get the fly fishing bug, that feeling is the same for every fish caught after that first one.

For me the winter is a time to see old friends from near and far. As a kid, it was when family would come to town and we’d fish tiny streams for brook trout up in NJ. Nowadays, it’s a reminder of all the great fishermen (and women!) that I’ve been lucky enough to have fished with in the last 25 years and who’ve shaped who I’ve become. One pal I tied next to at the shows has known me since I was a 10 year old kid riding my bike to the river with a fly rod in hand. Some of the guys who let me tag along on trips to NY state all those years ago came to see me in in NJ and there is no way to describe how fantastic that feels. They’re still letting me tag along on their fishing adventures all these years later. It’s all been a reminder that the fly fishing family is very large but has a great spirit and will continue on for many years down the road.

Last but not least, during this season’s show circuit I’ve met so many supportive spouses along the way. Some of us have wives who may or may not fish but are supportive enough to set us free from the house every once in a while to share angling with others. Maybe it’s easier to let us run than listen to grumble while painting the house or working on the car. I don’t know how they live with us sometimes. I know I couldn’t have done it without my wife and I’m sure there are many other fishermen out there who feel the same way. Thanks Dear!

Thank you to everyone who attended the shows and stopped by to say “Hello” this winter. Knee Deep Fly Fishing wouldn’t be here without you.

Keep your tip on the water!

Sincerely,

Micah

Lefty’s Tie Fest This Weekend!

Micahdammeyer Uncategorized March 7, 2013March 8, 2013Big Gunpowder Falls, CCA, CCA Maryland, DC Fishing, DC Fishing Guide, DC Fly tying, fly fishing gunpowder falls, flyfishing, Knee Deep Fly Fishing, LEfty's Tie Fest, Maryland Fly Fishing, Maryland Fly Fishing Guide, Maryland trout fishing, tie-fest, Tiefest, Washington DC Fly Fishing Guide

Tie Fest Is almost here! Saturday is THE day to go get your tying fix with some of fly fishing’s most addicted tiers. There will be people tying, telling big fish tales, and shops showing off their gear. I’ll be there tying and telling some of the hardest to believe stories. IT’s going to be a fun day and I hear the facility will have a great restaurant with tasty grub AND a bar. What more could you ask for?

Get yourself there!

Micah & The Knee Deep Team

Season’s Greetings!

Micahdammeyer Uncategorized December 25, 2012December, Erie Steelhead, Gunpowder Falls Fly Fishing Guide, Knee Deep Fly Fishing, Maryland trout fishing

The Knee Deep Fly Fishing gang is off for a few days and is spending time with Family up in Erie, PA. “Mrs. Knee Deep” and family have been more than happy to let me get up in the dark and let them all sleep in while I fish. What better gift could an angler ask for besides some Christmas chrome? I’ve met some really great anglers along the way who’ve been more than welcoming on the river and it’s been a fun, cold, time. A big thanks to Rob who snapped a photo for me with a fat fish that tried to get me nice and muddy!

We hope you’re all having a safe and happy holiday!

Tight lines,

Micah

Hurricane Sandy Is On The Way

Micahdammeyer Big Gunpowder Falls, Fall, fishing report October 25, 2012Big Gunpowder Falls, DC Fishing, Fishing, fly fishing big gunpowder falls, fly fishing gunpowder falls, flyfishing, Gunpowder Falls, Gunpowder Falls fishing report, Gunpowder Falls Fly Fishing Guide, Knee Deep Fly Fishing, Maryland Fly Fishing, Maryland Fly Fishing Guide, Maryland trout fishing, Stoneflies, Streamer Fishing, Streamers for Gunpowder Falls

With Hurricane Sandy on the way, if you can skip work and hit the water Friday and Saturday, you won’t regret it. The forecast is for 40mph winds and heavy rain. The fall foliage will soon be gone but this will speed things up.

Stoneflies and caddis larve in the riffles will produce and streamers on the seams and near downfalls are a good bet. When your indicator rig tangles, it’s worth tying on a streamer and making a few swings before you re-tie your rig. The fish below fell for a big tan steamer after countless drifts with nymphs couldn’t lure him out from his log.

Get your feet in the water this weekend!

The Knee Deep Team