Trout Town

Location, Location, Location

The formula is pretty simple – trout need to eat more than the calories they expend to get their food.

They also need to live where there is shelter from the constant current, where there is protection from all types of predators and where there is a stable source of food.

Considering these needs can help us decide where to fish.

The next time you are setting up to make that cast, ask yourself does this area meet any of the trout’s survival requirements. The more of those needs you can meet, the better your chances for success are.

Classes

In the coming weeks I will to be holding Saturday or Sunday morning casting sessions here in Georgetown. Let me know if you are interested. We will probably meet over at Duke Ellington High School or down on the canal.

Starting in March, I am also going to be offering a private casting sessions on the Gunpowder that will focus on fishing strategies, as well as improving various casts. This is designed for beginner or intermediate anglers who want to improve their skills. Cost will be $120 per-person for a four hour session.

Echo Carbon

This week, I've been out casting a 4 weight, 8'6" Echo Carbon by Rajeff Sports. What a nice casting rod. It's a 4-piece, medium-fast action rod, which feels just perfect for trout on the the Gunpowder or Savage. For more on the Echo rods see www.rajeffsports.com.

Improving accuracy

Putting that fly where you want it, when you want it can be a challenge. A problem for some anglers is they really don’t really aim when they cast, they just toss the fly in the general direction of the bank, or that big rock over there, and hope.

In her book “Fly Casting Techniques,” Joan Wulff writes about the importance of two imaginary target lines.

The first is the line between your eyes and the target. The second would be the line from your casting hand to the target. It doesn’t matter where you hand is in the casting plane – vertical, horizontal – see the target and make sure your hand and eye target lines are meeting at that specific spot.

Predator/prey relationships

In his book “Presentation,” Gary Borger writes about the predator/prey relationship and says, “It’s usually the angler who muffs the role as predator and not the fish that muffs the role as prey.”

And he offers these words of wisdom:

“The single most important thing you’ll ever learn about presentation is that fish are wild animals. That should be the sole basis of your angling strategy; everything you do while fishing should be centered in that one fact. If you truly treated every fish like a wild animal, you’d not only catch more fish, you’d catch bigger ones as well.”

Before you make that first cast, have an idea, think about what you want to accomplish.

Snow 2010

Too much snow in the DC area. About all you can be doing is tying some flies and planning for the Shad run on the Potomac.
We are going to have some serious run off issues when this snow starts to melt.

More snow

Hard to get that practice in with the snow. I was out this afternoon with my 7wt working on an upcoming lesson program. Hopefully it will melt off pretty quick. It's a good time of year to tie some flies or clean up your equipment.

Road Rhythm

Okay, it is fair to say we probably have at least a few weeks before the fishing really picks back up around the DC area.

For some, pretty severe cabin fever is setting in. It can be hard to get much practice in because of the weather. One of the things I do is practice some of mechanics of my casting to a song on the car radio. If you haven’ tried this, give it a whirl. I try and work on different type of single handed casts, and don’t practice your double haul – unless you’re stopped.

Try a pick up and lay down cast

Then false cast to the rhythm

Think about your hand.

Where is that rod tip tracking?

Feel the stop

What would that loop look like?

And on and on and on…

Road Rhythm, give it whirl and let me know what you listened and how it worked.

Here is a Alan Jackson piece to get started:

http://www.cmt.com/videos/misc/225272/good-time-from-the-2008-cmt-music-awards.jhtml?

DACHA DREAMS

Dacha Dreams is within easy fly fishing of the Castleman, Yough, Savage and North Branch between Oakland, MD and McHenry, the home of Deep Creek Lake and WISP resort.

Besides fly fishing, there is fun for all, all year round, with skiing, tubing, snowboarding and ice skating in winter and swimming, hiking, rafting, waterskiing and kayaking in the summer.

Accommodations: House/Log Cabin, 3 Bedrooms + Other (See Description), 2.5 Baths (Sleeps 7-11)

Nestled in the woods, overlooking the lake, but near restaurants, cinemas, ski resort (10 min.), and state park with beach, Dacha Dreams is your own home-away-from-home. Pronounced Da Scha, the word is Russian for "Country House." Wireless high-speed internet means you can work and play at the same time. Boat slip/Hot tub.

Deep Creek is a four-season resort with something for every member of the family. Fly fish in four rivers nearby, or choose from several state parks to find your perfect cross country track, or hike in the 29 private acres behind Dacha Dreams co-owned by owner with others in our private cove. Good restaurants, nice walks, a boat slip, hot tub under the stars, and deck overlooking the lake tops off a perfect family home or romantic getaway.

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Hawaii bonefish. I had a great couple of days fly fishing in Oahu with Capt. Chris Asaro.
We chased a ton of big bonefish in very skinny water right in the middle of Honolulu.
I will definitely be back. Chris is a great guide with good eyes and a lot of fun to spend the day with. You can find him at www.sightfish.net

Fishing in 2010