Re: {Tidal Potomac Fly Rodders} Very, Very Local Fishing....

I was rather sure that the Potomac river around Bolling AFB (where I live) just wasn't fly fishing waters but a slow evening with nothing to do at the house got me to thinking I'll take up the challenge.  250 steps to the water and my first cast (I didn't even bother to bring my vest/tackle with me because I was that pessimistic).  Over the next hour plus, I followed these initial steps up with approximately 4 sets of 10 steps as I moved my way down river.  At about the time I figured my yellow popper with a nymph dropper just wasn't going to draw anything up, something straightened the line out.  I spent a few seconds trying to figure out how much weight was on the other end (it's been a while since I've had anything of significant size on the other end of my fly rod) followed by stripping in the line.  The fish started rolling which I've figured out is the tell tale sign of a catfish (which it was).  The tide was low so the rocks near the water's edge were slippery which made it very difficult getting a hold of this guy and he ended up breaking the tippet and flopping around on the rocks as I struggled to keep my balance and not get my line tangled.  After finding a safe place for the rod I made my way back down to the fish, picked him up and struggled to get the nymph off his lip.  In the end, I walked down to some guys spin casting and borrowed some pliers, took a picture, and tossed him back.  As he swam away, I marveled at their ability to live through just about anything since he had been out of the water for almost five minutes.  I'm going to with 300 steps.  Thanks for the challenge.

On Tue, Jun 19, 2012 at 11:24 PM, GSFeder <gsfeder@yahoo.com> wrote:

I decided to try the challenge, too. However, I live far enough west in Arlington that 4 Mile Run is pretty much a trickle near my house. My wife is traveling for business, though, so I brought my 6 wt to work and headed to the tidal basin. 1,237 steps later, I had my first sunfish on a bead head prince hanging 24" below my hopper. This proved to be a good combo as I landed several more sunfish and bluegills, one of which was a football shaped 10-incher that put a surprising bend in the rod. 

I kept going to the Ohio Dr bridge, where I could clearly see that the tide was coming in. I tried a chart/white clouser and a dumbbell eyed leech, but got no love.  A spin caster across the way caught a catfish that he took home. He must not have read the note on the bottom of his license. 

I saw an interesting fish that appeared to be breathing air.  About 12" and looked from the top like a pan fish. Definitely not a snakehead. It swam like a porpoise, coming up for air every yard or so. Any ideas?

Cheers, 

-- Greg

Sent from my iPhone

On Jun 19, 2012, at 9:39 PM, Rob Snowhite <rob@robsnowhite.com> wrote:

I decided to take part in this local fishing challenge. We have lived on a golf course for 8 years and I've never fished the ponds. Tonight I decided to do this. I was walking out the door with a tall boy of beer when the wife cut me off. We were ending a dinner party. So I walked down to my car, pulled out a 5wt and my mouse fly (I decided I'd do this in style) and download the pedometer app for my iphone (Dan, an Iphone is like an Atari/telephone hybrid). I started walking.

The golf course manager cart passed me and waved, I lowered my rod so he would not see it. I got down hill over greens and what ever else you call golf course parts. I passed red breasted black birds (robins) and a few rabbits. The smell of honeysuckle perfumed the air. I came upon the last group of golfers and had to lay low till they passed. Eventually they moved on and so did the managers cart.

I clocked 699 steps to the first sign of water. The creek feeding the pond. Just minnows and 2 suckers. I moved over the bridge and to the water. I started to cast my mouse and got a nibble. A minute later the first solid bite and I set the hook. First fish from my front steps was 1074 steps according to my phone.

I walked the edges and dodged the bat hatch. I managed 3 more largemouth on the 5wt and mouse fly until my wife called worried about me. 1361 steps until the last bass.

Here are the pictures. 

1. Baby lady and me at the tidal basin today 
2. 1st bass near my house
   
3. 1st bass again 
4. 1st bass with mouse in mouth
5. 2nd bass
6. 3rd bass
7. 4th bass
   

 

Rob Snowhite

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From: Daniel Davala <daniel.davala@gmail.com>
To: tidal-potomac-fly-rodders@googlegroups.com
Sent: Tuesday, June 19, 2012 4:49 PM
Subject: Re: {Tidal Potomac Fly Rodders} Very, Very Local Fishing....

I am very fortunate to have the day off today, so this morning VA and I decided to set out on foot and measure just how close we live to the nearest fly rod fishery!  We have actually fished this little stretch of Little Rocky Run many times before on family walks, but it had never occurred to us to count the steps until Trent told his story.  So we strung up our little three weight, grabbed 5 dry flies, some tippet, and my little scissors/forceps and crested the threshold - 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9..........

 

It took us 1030 steps to get to the bridge overlooking the water where we could see the occasional fish darting around.  VA took a moment on the bridge to do, well, what all fly fishers do and survey the situation.  Another 60 steps and we were off the bridge and had rounded the corner to start our descent - 1091,1092,1093.......

 

At 1118, we got to a good place for VA to sit, and 4 more steps put me on a solid, level, dry patch that gave me a good angle up the stream.  About four casts in my Parachute Adams disappeared in a swirl and I had the first fish on! 

 

Front door to fish on - 1122 STEPS!!!!!!!!!!!

 

Fascinated as always, VA helped me land the fish and we both looked at its colors for a bit before letting it swim away.  The next little guy she actually wanted to hold and did so until he wriggled loose and went lippity, lippity, not very fast back to the water (Peter Rabbit reference for those who haven't read it in a while!).  At this point, my beautiful girl requested that I catch one with purple and pink spots, and I told her I would try.  Instead, I managed a very cool little Rock Bass with brilliant blue accents.  We decided he was pretty enough, and after he swam off we climbed back up the bank and started our walk home. 

 

While there was no need to count the steps home, I did observe that VA takes approx. 1.87 steps for every one of mine, so if she had undertaken this endeavor on her own the total step count would have been around 2098.  That's still very good! 

 

So come on folks, let's hear a few more stories - take a walk!  Take a kid, or a spouse, or a friend, or significant other, or just go solo!  Smile as people stare at you for looking pretty out of place, walking down the sidewalk or roadside with a fly rod strung up.  If they ask, let them know what you are doing and tell them about the club and our unique perspective.  Most important, HAVE FUN WITH IT!!!!!  I look forward to more reports!

 

Dan (and Virginia) Davala

 

On Mon, Jun 18, 2012 at 9:47 AM, Eric Y. <theericyoung@gmail.com> wrote:

Pretty good idea going on here... I just tried it this morning. 48 steps for a sunny and 53 steps for a small LMB. I'm cheating though - I'm at my folk's farm visiting for fathers' day yesterday and my mother's birthday tomorrow. 

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