This was a good fishing year. I had the best catch of my life as I also got engaged....and she kind of puts up with my fishing habit! This year was a year of continued learning, but by far my most competent year of fly fishing as I was less distracted with form and more focused on the fish. Don't get me wrong though, as I still probably hooked about as many trees as I did fish... This year was very much a year of exploration as I set a goal to step out of my comfort zone and explore some maps to try new water, especially in Maryland. I was skunked many a time, but managed some nice hikes in some beautiful places.
Winter: I was able to make a few weekend trips into the mountains for brookies, but only brought a few fish to hand as the weather didn't always cooperate on weekends. I also managed a few "sick days" (don't judge) on some warmer winter days where the dry bite was on fire. Love how brookies don't need a hatch to get going on top! I filled in the rest of the winter working on casting on the stocked streams locally.
On Wednesday, December 28, 2016 at 11:37:40 AM UTC-5, Charlie Church wrote:
-- Winter: I was able to make a few weekend trips into the mountains for brookies, but only brought a few fish to hand as the weather didn't always cooperate on weekends. I also managed a few "sick days" (don't judge) on some warmer winter days where the dry bite was on fire. Love how brookies don't need a hatch to get going on top! I filled in the rest of the winter working on casting on the stocked streams locally.
Spring: I spent much of March, fishing brook trout streams in the Shenandoah with one a long weekend camping trip on Big Run, which was interrupted by smoke from the wildfire nearby. Sad, but neat hiking out the ridge line and looking down on the fire from the adjacent mountain. I also spent a long weekend in a cabin on the west slopes which afforded me the opportunity to add to my list of Shenandoah streams with great success. I spent much of April wearing out my fingers stripping in shad. I had previously spent time with them on spin gear when in college in Fredericksburg, but I found boat to boat on the Potomac much more enjoyable than shoulder to shoulder wading the Rapp. My cousin and I had a blast with the shad and I even managed my first Striper on the fly. I didn't measure, but I would say 20-22" on a 6 weight, and I am now addicted. Much of late spring was blown out with rain and I had to push smallmouth to summer.
Summer: I floated the James and Rapp. Rivers with my dad with limited success, but loads of fun. I successfully didn't kill half of my family as I organized a two day float on the Shenandoah. So many smallmouth, some hogs as well! I didn't catch any of the hogs, but I like to think I selflessly put my family on them....because I care about them having a good time. I spent late summer traveling Colorado with my fiance. She was a champ and agreed to a guided wading trip where she out fished me thoroughly, as well as encouraging me to fish in every town we stopped in. the highlight of the trip was pulling the fly right out of the mouth of a high alpine greenback cuttie's mouth. We hiked 10 miles off trail in Indian Peaks to Thunderbolt lake where I threw a hopper and watched a trophy fish rise to sip the fly.....only to get overly excited and set the hook early. Those fish a gems.
Fall: I continued exploring the area more, especially the tidal potomac. I had decent success on striper, but none pushing 20". I would have liked to do more brookie fishing, but the low water and spawning kept me away. I took a trip up to Cannadaigua, NY and managed one brown and a couple smaller pickeral. The hope is to make it back up there this spring to hit the lake run rainbows.
Fun year, fun thread. I hope to continue my growth in this sport and continue to make more of an effort to meet others who I can learn from. This group is such a great resource. Thanks all and here's to 2017.
Fall: I continued exploring the area more, especially the tidal potomac. I had decent success on striper, but none pushing 20". I would have liked to do more brookie fishing, but the low water and spawning kept me away. I took a trip up to Cannadaigua, NY and managed one brown and a couple smaller pickeral. The hope is to make it back up there this spring to hit the lake run rainbows.
Fun year, fun thread. I hope to continue my growth in this sport and continue to make more of an effort to meet others who I can learn from. This group is such a great resource. Thanks all and here's to 2017.
Gregg
On Wednesday, December 28, 2016 at 11:37:40 AM UTC-5, Charlie Church wrote:
Earlier today I decided to take a look at the 2016 resolutions thread from last year. It made me think it would be cool to see if everyone accomplished their goals.
As for me, I got one of mine done. I had mentioned I was dying to get a bull drum (even on bait). Parker, Kyle (VB Local) and I had a pretty epic day this fall on them. We ended up with 10 big ones.
I log all of my trips which makes providing a recap pretty easy. See below:
Winter:I did not get out a ton this winter since I was in the process of getting ready to move to Virginia Beach in the spring. The times I did get out went well though and resulted in some early season dry fly for brookies. I also was able to get out and float the potomac once and got a decent smallmouth. I will take it in the winter.SpringBefore moving to VB, I was able to go on a pretty big 'going away' binge. It included 2 floats up in Western MD, a couple smallie floats, a shad trip, and a few trips to local spring creeks. In one week I was able to get a brown, rainbow, brookie, hickory shad, american shad, striper and smallmouth. I spent a couple days looking for big drum on the eastern shore to no avail. It seemed like every chance I had to get out on the shore was met with wind / dirty water.
I also spent a ton of time looking for smaller reds, trout and flounder and did quite poorly. The flounder bite for me never materialized all year and the reds/trout took until fall. Looking through my logs, I had 11 trips that resulted in skunks. The dues were paid heavily.SummerI got out a lot this summer. Highlights included 2 offshore trips, a couple cobia trips, a trip up to Alaska to visit one of my best friends who now guides at the lodge I used to work at and overall a ton of exploring. The alaska trip (goodnews river lodge) was ridiculous. My wife and I got all 5 species of salmon, rainbows, dollies, tons of grayling and a lake trout with a good amount coming on mouse patterns. Locally, I struck out on cobes but was able to get a few big trout, consistent stripers under lights, a few alberts offshore, some dolphin and a good amount of smaller reds later in the year.Fall
Fall was easily the best time for me. Reds and trout showed up in huge numbers which made finding new wading spots a lot easier. I was able to find a few spots that I could hit after work and get into a decent amount of fish. It definitely made me not miss 495. This fall also included that awesome drum trip mentioned above. The trout bite was strong all the way up to December with more than a few memorable trips.
Some of my favorite photos from the year are attached. Hopefully next includes a lot of time on the water, some exploration and maybe some dues paid along the eastern shore hunting the silver king.
How did everyone else do?
http://www.tpfr.org
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