Suggestions for brand new fly fisher for this weekend

Steve Higgins

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Nov 20, 2015, 2:01:11 PM11/20/15

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Hi All,

I was wondering if I could get the groups help for some weekend plans. I'm a very new fly fisher (I've been 1-2x throughout my life), I just bought a new rod/reel and some basic equipment - but no waders (maybe for xmas!). I was wondering if anyone had any good suggestions for a place to go this weekend within an hour or so of the DC area (or in DC directly) where I can gain some experience casting from the shore (or rocks) and maybe even catch something.

Thanks!

Steve

arthur noglak

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Nov 20, 2015, 2:57:53 PM11/20/15

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Steve,

I would recommend the c&o canal or the tidal Basin. Great places to work on your roll cast and no waders necessary! You could also try lake Fairfax.

Art

Steve Higgins

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Nov 20, 2015, 3:13:46 PM11/20/15

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Thanks Art,

Where along the C&O Canal is a good place to start? I seem to remember seeing that some of it was drained?

Steve

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Ashley Frohwein

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Nov 20, 2015, 3:50:32 PM11/20/15

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Between locks 7 and 8 were really low last week (from being drained, I assume), but I did see three carp. Be advised that going after carp in the canal is actually pretty challenging. I def wouldn't recommend it for your second or third fly fishing outing.

On Friday, November 20, 2015 at 3:13:46 PM UTC-5, Steve Higgins wrote:

Thanks Art,

Where along the C&O Canal is a good place to start? I seem to remember seeing that some of it was drained?

Steve

On Fri, Nov 20, 2015 at 2:57 PM, arthur noglak <arthur...@gmail.com> wrote:

Steve,

I would recommend the c&o canal or the tidal Basin. Great places to work on your roll cast and no waders necessary! You could also try lake Fairfax.

Art

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Ashley Frohwein

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Nov 20, 2015, 3:51:59 PM11/20/15

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lake fairfax in reston (if you're cool with fishing stillwater) might be a good place to start. There are bluegill and big bass, and they stock it with rainbow trout. No wading or boats allowed

arthur noglak

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Nov 20, 2015, 4:48:26 PM11/20/15

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I agree with lake Fairfax might be your best bet.

Steven Butler

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Nov 23, 2015, 8:03:28 AM11/23/15

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Forgive the thread hijack, but was curious at the mention of the canal...how is fishing the canal in the winter months? More specifically, is it worth fishing the canal during the Dec-Feb time frame with any hope of catching anything but a cold, buzz, or leaves during casting practice? Spent a fair bit of time nymphing in the mountains last winter, would like to try to incorporate some local spots this year.

On Friday, November 20, 2015 at 3:50:32 PM UTC-5, Ashley Frohwein wrote:

John Bilotta

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Nov 23, 2015, 8:08:37 AM11/23/15

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Usually drained or frozen.

Sent from my iPhone

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TurbineBlade

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Nov 23, 2015, 8:31:24 AM11/23/15

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Warm water, winter fly fishing NOT in close proximity to a warm water discharge generally sucks with fly tackle.

I hooked a fairly reasonable catfish at everyone's favorite discharge yesterday -- with the cold and strong NW wind, I had the place to myself! ;) The usual 200 small bass and a few perch are in there too.

Sight fishing to catfish is something I've found myself doing more than I imagined I would, and is pretty fun.

The day before I attempted to catch pickerel on a MD lake and left without a bite --

This time of year is tough.

Gene

TurbineBlade

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Nov 23, 2015, 8:32:36 AM11/23/15

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Now, winter warm water fly fishing (pardon the alliteration) without fly tackle is another story!

Gene

namfos

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Nov 23, 2015, 11:11:22 AM11/23/15

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There's the warm water discharge at Dickerson. Haven't fished it in years, mostly on account of a general aversion to cold weather and a specific aversion to taking a dunking in the winter. It was so long ago, I was using spinning gear. ;-)

Mark

TurbineBlade

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Nov 23, 2015, 11:55:50 AM11/23/15

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The last time I was at Dickerson I was struck in the back by a large sheet of ice floating down river. It was funny at the time because it wasn't large or thick enough to... kill me. It just broke and made let off some alien hiss across the river.

I've never gone back -- that was probably one of the most stupid things I've ever done. I did catch a couple of fallfish though.