Wading in the Potomac

[GreenRanger364V]

Is it legal?  I have seen people doing it lately and not only does it seem dangerous, but a lot of times the are blocking the channels in smaller creeks.  Almost had someone hit me with their backcast last week as I was trying to scoot by them in a narrow channel that I needed to go through to leave a creek.

[Jeffrey Silvan]

The short answer is yes. There's certain areas that I'm not sure are legal (or are probably better avoided) such as on the Potomac side near Reagan (rather than the sandbar opposite Gravelly). There's certain areas that can be very dangerous or impossible, particularly above Chain Bridge, but once you get further down, it's much safer. It sounds like you were in a kayak when this happened, but it's a great example of how to share the waterways. The fly fisherman should always be cognizant of anyone behind him, but if you show up from somewhere he wouldn't be expecting - such as quietly floating/paddling towards him from behind in water - simply saying "Excuse me" or "Crossing behind you" should get his attention and avoid any problems.

On Sun, Nov 25, 2012 at 3:35 PM, GreenRanger364V <nick...@gmail.com> wrote:

Is it legal?  I have seen people doing it lately and not only does it seem dangerous, but a lot of times the are blocking the channels in smaller creeks.  Almost had someone hit me with their backcast last week as I was trying to scoot by them in a narrow channel that I needed to go through to leave a creek.

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[Daniel Davala]

Also, when you say "smaller creeks", you are likely no longer referring to the Potomac River.  For instance, 4-mile run is a VA tributary, so any rules/restrictions governing the Potomac would not apply.  Can you clarify where this occurred?

 

Dan Davala

On Sun, Nov 25, 2012 at 3:35 PM, GreenRanger364V <nick...@gmail.com> wrote:

Is it legal?  I have seen people doing it lately and not only does it seem dangerous, but a lot of times the are blocking the channels in smaller creeks.  Almost had someone hit me with their backcast last week as I was trying to scoot by them in a narrow channel that I needed to go through to leave a creek.

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[Miles]

It is legal, as far as I know -- and if any fly anglers were killed or injured while wading recently, I think this community would know about it. So probably relatively safe.

Sorry about the back cast thing, but in my experience if someone is casting too close to you, they probably know you are there and are trying to warn you in a passive-aggressive way that you are too close.

Did you ask them whether you could get by? Clearly stating that you do not intend to ruin another angler's fishing is usually enough to avoid confrontation.

Obviously, if someone is wading in a spot, you can probably do so, too -- and it sounds like wading is the best way to fish that particular spot. I used to take my canoe to 4MR until I realized everyone else wades there, so now I leave the boat at home for that water. And if you want to be out in your boat, there is plenty of water that is inaccessible to waders but which fishes easily from a boat.

MDT