Anyone like to fish Turkey Run Area? Could use pointers, please!

[alexjmc...@gmail.com]

Hey all, 

I'm still learning fly fishing and have been trying to fish Turkey Run.  Miles from Orvis set me up with poppers, and also a sinking poly leader and some streamers.  I'm using a 9ft 5 wt sage rod.     

I keep getting skunked.   I have fished early and late.   I've tried to put my flies behind rocks, in eddies, and in deeper pools.   Dan from Orvis advised to fish the faster moving water and I've kept that in mind.   I have fished up and down Turkey run on the south side and also once on the north side, as was suggested in some posts.   

Perhaps I'm not presenting the flies well or I'm fishing the wrong spots?   Does anyone fish there much who might be willing to show me the ropes?  Or maybe I should fish elsewhere?  I'll trade you for some coffee - I have a coffee  bar in DC and I can always help with coffee! 

Thanks

Alex

202-506-0202

[Misha Gill]

It sounds to me like you're doing the right things.  The best tip I have for you is persistence!  As I think the old saw goes, luck lies at the intersection of practice and opportunity.  Keep at it and you'll get into them one of these days. 

[Aden]

Turkey run is not only a beautiful spot but usally productive.  I fish there regularly.  The section i know best is from the upper parking lot.  Once you walk down the switchbacks and steep staircase the trail splits.  The best two options I believe are to either walk upstream or to go straight to the water.  First, I must say that if the little falls guage is higher than 3 feet or running faster than 3000 cfs I wouldn't go near the water.  Now, if you wade straight out from the trail past the first set of rocks there is a really great run that has a little depth to it.  I cast across or slightly upstream, wait til my line is at my one o'clock and start stripping.  Lately, a very fast and jerky retrieve has produced.  Also, foam damsel flies in blue and red have produced.  

Last year, every fish I caught was over 14 inches.  This year, not much over 12 inches.  Last week and the week before I could only manage 2 fish in 6 hours.  Give it a week or two and when the weather finally cools I think it will turn on again.  This last week has just been strange everywhere I have fished. 

[Shawn]

This is kind of off topic, but have you been able to access Turkey Run this week? I was driving up the GW on Tuesday evening and noticed all of the overlooks and pull-offs being barricaded due to the shutdown. Hopefully there are still some areas that people can access but it is looking few and far between along the immediate stretches of the Potomac. 

Best of luck and I'd have to echo Aden's remarks on the weather/climate; the cooler weather and little rain will be good for all next week.  

[Barnett Williams]

I wanted to bump this thread up- has anyone had any luck recently? If so, what worked?

 I am looking to hit Turkey Run soon.