There are several opportunities for fly fishing in the winter around DC. Don't let the cooler weather get you down. Firstly, all of Maryland's major trout streams have been stocked. There are fishing opportunities as close as 30 min. outside of DC, and at least 5 stocked trout streams within an hour of DC on the Maryland side including Middle Patuxent, Little Patuxent (go to Savage Mill and walk down to the confluence and fish up and downstream on both rivers), Daniels area on the Patapsco in Ellicott City (about 45 min north of the city), the Gunpowder river (1 hr, 10 min north of the city, well-stocked with rainbow, but a nice population of small wild brown trout that rise to midges all winter long because its a tailwater - its also stunningly gorgeous and empty in the winter). The Potomac smallmouth fishery is year-long and now finally the river levels will steady up and drop as the weather cools concentrating them around warm water outlets (check out the Pepco plant in Dickerson, MD). For smallies I'd use a 6wt and intermediate or sinking line and clousers or even large #8 - 10 nymphs under an indicator.
Though many of the Chesapeake guides are already booked, between now and mid-January there should be an excellent striper bite. You could look for an available weekday and take a buddy to split the costs. The advantage is you'll have a guide to teach you since you're a beginner. And some of the best striper fishing comes on cool to cold overcast days (as long as there is no wind).
I'm sure other members can speak better to VA side but also take a look at the VA stocking schedule to see if Passage Creek (about 45 min from city) is fishing.
If you have a car, winter is a good time to get out and explore! For example, if you're willing to drive up to 2 hours that would also get you to the lower Pennsylvania spring creeks which fish well all year because they hold a steady temp and attract a lot of fly anglers who you can chat up (Yellow Breeches, Spring Creek, etc.). Check out TCO for those.
So start by getting a couple of good guide books on VA, MD, and central PA and do your homework. Follow the stocking schedules. Make sure you've got trout gear and bass gear, and call the local fly shops like Beaver Creek, TCO, and Great Feathers.
good luck!
On Tuesday, October 30, 2018 at 9:56:45 PM UTC-4, jawilli...@gmail.com wrote:
I've been living in DC for about 5 years, but I've only been fly fishing since June, and I'm definitely hooked. Really bummed that the warmer season is coming to a close, but was wondering if there are places around here to still fish through the colder months?
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