Fly Fishing

Shaq · Posted: Wed Mar 07, 2007 9:29 am Post subject: Washington DC Fishing

I will have to be in DC for Monday and Tuesday. My wife has a conference, She's afraid to fly. Usually when she needs to fly, I tag along and take a guide out on local water but am having trouble finding one for DC. I will have no car, no rods, no flies, no waders, ect. Any Suggestions? Otherwise I will just be hanging in the Hotel Bar.

newflyguy · Newbie Joined: Sep 27, 2006 Posts: 8

Shaq,

I live in Alexandria right outside of DC, and work in the city. Unless you want to cast into the Potomac River, there are no options within DC itself. There are certainly a few ponds and lakes just outside of the city in both Virginia and Maryland that hold bass, stocked trout, and various types of pond fish.

The better fishing is outside of the city further south in Virginia (Shenandoah Valley) and Eastern Maryland (Chesapeake Bay Area, streams in the national parks).

Next Monday and Tuesday are supposed to be pretty good weather wise, mid to low 60's. It really depends on where you are going to be that could impact your fishing.

jeremy · Posted: Wed Mar 07, 2007 1:53 pm Post subject: shaq

i used to spend a great deal of time in dc for business... i always scooted out to the rivers in maryland ... and they should be fishing good right now ... or decent anyway ... i think one of the rivers i used to frequent was the gunpowder ... all wild fish ... and beautiful water ... i would recommend it .. if your gonna be in the area ... i remember a few fly shops that i am sure rented gear and or/guide affiliations ... just do a google on "gunpowder river maryland" ..... it was suprisingly close to baltimore .. and baltimore, as you probably know, is close to dc ... but ... i just re-read your post .. if you got no car .. well.... ????

AvidDavid · Posted: Thu Mar 08, 2007 6:14 am Post subject:

Shaq:

I grew up in Bethesda MD and fished the C&O canal quite a bit - mainly for bluegills. The canal runs down all the way into Georgetown, near Key Bridge. The canal has a path alongside it from Washington DC all the way to ?Cumberland MD? In its prime, the canal was really a very long lake with many locks to control the depth. Now it has deep sections and dry sections; but it is easy access!

The Potomac is considered tidal up to the Little Falls Dam (a few miles above D.C.) and tidal water required no license back in my days. Access to the river is a little more difficult. It is a big river in D.C. and even your spey rod would cover very little water. Upstream (below Chain Bridge) there is a boat rental place along the road that follows the canal (above Georgetown). I think its called White's Ferry, but I could be confusing this name with another place upstream. This would provide access to the river (via oars) if they are renting boats this time of year.

I do not know of any guides, but there is a Trout Unlimited group in the Metro area and there is an Isaac Walton League that has some designated water upstream. Both have websites that I have seen in the past.

There are abundant guides on the Chesapeake, but that is a looong walk from D.C.! Access via Annapolis or the Lower Patuxent River

I have fished the Gunpowder, too, but it is pretty far from D.C. (the other side of Baltimore). Backwater Angler is an Excellent Fly Shop for the Gunpowder, in Monkton, MD. They have a website (not very impressive) but it would have their phone number. The guy who runs the shop may be able to put you in touch with a guide! You can catch a train to Baltimore (Amtrak or MARC train) from Union Station near the Capitol.

Another possibility is Catoctin State Park near Emmitsburg (North of Frederick, MD). It is very near Camp David and I can recall seeing pictures of Jimmy Carter flyfishing the creek in the park. I have seen nice trout in the park, too. But again, this is a 1.5 - 2 hour drive from D.C.

Closer to D.C. is the Patuxent River near Olney, MD, above Tridelphia Reservoir. It has some "flyfishing only" water for trout, but I'm not aware of open season. It is a small 15-20 foot wide creek in the FFO section, but you like those little creeks! The parts I have seen are not as fast moving as your little Brook Trout Honey Holes seen in last seasons video.

Hope this helps,

Dave

Shaq · Posted: Thu Mar 08, 2007 10:12 am Post subject:

thanks guys, I think I will just end up tying flies for 3 days. Need to supplement the trout boxes anyways

Timiaga · Posted: Thu Mar 15, 2007 5:28 pm Post subject:

I know you said you decided to tie for a few days - however - i will tell you i hit a couple streams in the Shenandoah for brookies and had success. Real fun. If you are interested, buy the fishing in VA book - they have a ton of recommendations - or email me and I'd be happy to point you in the right direction.

For the guys who lived down here - what time of year does the striper fishing get going? I just moved down last fall - and am still trying to learn the ropes. Thanks.

newflyguy · Newbie Joined: Sep 27, 2006 Posts: 8

Timiaga,

Where you inside the park or on the larger streams outside? Glad to hear that the brookies are biting again.

Timiaga · Posted: Fri Mar 16, 2007 6:36 pm Post subject:

I hiked into Big Run. It was SWEET. Next time I'll get some photos and share them with the group......