Reflections from 100 Fly Fishers

Recently, I was featured in a book about fly fishermen (and women!) from around the country called Reflections from 100 Fly Fishers. The book contains a one page "blurb" about each of us. There are some interesting tips and tricks in there, as well as some great short stories. Best of all, the proceeds benefit Casting for Recovery and Project Healing Waters. You can get a copy on Amazon.

Reflections from 100 Fly Fishers is a beautiful collection of fly fishing memories and tips from over 100 top guides and fly fishers from across the globe. All profits support the Casting for Recovery and Project Healing Waters Missions.

Potomac Hunting

Two days on the Potomac and nothing to show. I found more carp yesterday on the Potomac, unfortunately, I only found them once I spooked them off. I didn't find any fish in the "normal" carp holes I fish, but I of course stumbled across them (literally) in places I don't normally see them. I've still yet to see the monsters I saw last summer, but my friend went out yesterday and said he saw one that looked to be approaching 40 inches.

Summer Flows

We are finally seeing some normal summer flows on the Potomac. I decided to check it out to see if I could find any monsters in last year's haunts. I saw one fish in the few hours I was out there, and it wasn't eating and I think I heard it laugh when I took a shot at it anyway. Oh well. At least I caught a few smallmouth. I wish the Potomac was easier to wade so I could cover more ground.

I did poke my head over to the C&O Canal, but didn't fish it. Water levels seem back to relative normal between Lock 7 and 8. Above lock 8 has nothing more than a trickle in it, but I never fish there anyway.

Still seeing abnormal conditions

The canal is still a bit off as of last weekend. Lock 7-8 is still high enough to be using the overflow, and Lock 6-7 is still dirty, but not as bad as last time. The water level there also seems to have dropped by 6 inches to a foot, so a lot of fish holding places were just a hair too shallow. I found a pod of about 15 carp sitting under the overflow discharge at Lock 7, and for fun, threw a fly at them. I got one to eat and landed him, but didn't bother trying for another because the landing process was a disaster. I had to high stick the fly line over a tree that was taller than me holding up the fly line, then I had to fight with the insanely tall bank. If I hadn't just recently bought a net with a retractable 48" handle, I never would have landed him. I got one more on a different section of the lock, with the net again saving me. For the most part, there weren't a ton of feeding fish today. The vast majority of fish I saw were simply relaxing under trees. Everyone once in a very great while, you'll get one of them to eat, but most of the time when you see one hanging out, it's a waste of time to throw at it.

I got a couple great pictures, but I forgot to download them off my camera and won't have access again for a few days. I'll update with those.