Moving to Rockville by way of Colorado

[Anthony Marovelli]

Hello!

Can't say how relieved I was to discover TPFR and the fly fishing community in the DC area. I've been living and working in South West Colorado for the summer where the trout are anything but shy: Browns, Rainbows, Cutties, CuttBows, and Brookies. I'll be moving to Rockville in October and I can't wait to sink my teeth into the local waters. Of course, some questions come to mind. 

In regards to an appropriate starter rig for the area, should I be looking at 6 and 7 Weights? Sinking line? I would imagine trout are not the bread and butter in the immediate vicinity. Any and all advice welcome!

Second question--Are there other trout bums out there? I've read things about the Gunpowder and other small creek fishing but mostly in Virginia. Would love to find some freestone stompin' grounds. 

Can't way to jump in and get involved with the fly fishing community out there.

Cheers,

Anthony

[Misha Gill]

Hey Anthony, welcome to the club, prospectively! Definitely make sure to attend the Beer Ties to meet the other trout bums in the area! There are a surprising number of us. This group is organized around the thought of "fish where you are," and that means the Potomac and its tributaries. In the Potomac itself you have smallmouth bass, stripers, and an epic shad run in the spring. Travelling about an hour is required to hit the nearest wild trout water, and I dare say the fish will be smaller on average than in SW CO, but the environs have their own unique appeal, as do the fish. You mentioned VA but don't overlook MD. If you're thinking of fishing the Potomac, you could definitely get away with a 6 weight, if you need another arrow in your quiver. I personally carry a 3, 5, 6, and 8 weight and that covers about everything I need. If you had to have one rod, a fast action 5 weight would do about 95% of the job. Looking forward to meeting you, and don't hesitate to start contributing to the forum anytime the mood strikes. 

[Anthony Marovelli]

Thanks for responding Misha. Glad to know beer and fishing go hand in hand back East too. I should be able to make the Beer Tie in November. I'm very excited to make the Potomac my new home water; knowing there's a strong community out there makes it all the better. I have a tremendous amount to learn in fishing bigger waters and this seems like the perfect place to start. With that being said, there's nothing like hiking into a small stream and poking around regardless of the fish size. Looking forward to meeting you and the other bums.

P.S. Thinking about a 6 Wt. w/ sinking line or going full monty for the 8, still not sure. Any suggestions in the realm of a specific rod? 

Cheers,

Anthony   

[Misha Gill]

Sure thing, looking forward to meeting you as well. I'd counsel against the sinking line, you don't need it most of the time, and usually the only time I use a sinking line is for shad in the spring. Between the 6 and the 8 wt, I'd say I use my 8 wt more often, and it has the added bonus of being just enough rod to handle stripers in the Chesepeake Bay. The 6 weight will be better for streams with small bass and trout, but a 4/5 weight can handle those too. Good luck!

[Yambag Nelson]

Whatever rod you go with, you are going to end up buying sinking line eventually for the spring shad run, might as well go and get it out of the way. 

There is decent trout fishing within a couple hour drive.  Probably not the quality you are used to, but the brook trout in the mountains are native and beautiful.  One downfall of this area is you can't just head out after work for a couple hours of trout fishing.  To make it worthwhile it really needs to be an all day type thing.   Overall though there is enough interesting fishing around to keep you busy.

[Rob Snowhite]

Welcome to the 'DMV'. Floating is your dominant line to cast around here except during the shad run. You'll develop the shad flu and have to call in sick to work several days in a row. 

6wt will cover every species in the river unless the bull sharks start swimming up here that we know of. 

You'll find plenty of species nearby to keep you entertained. I'd suggest Big Hunting Creek as your local. 

Sent from my iPhone

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[Marek Rich]

The only time you’ll really need a full sinking line is during the shad run, and even then I think it’s overkill (unless fishing from a boat). Stick with a 6 wt. 8 is simply more rod than you’ll need.

 

I live in Potomac and work in Rockville, often venturing out on the water. PM me and we can coordinate a time this fall.

 

Marek

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[Andrew Sarcinello]

Hey Anthony,

Where were you at in CO? I spent a few days fishing around Durango last fall, absolutely loved that place.

MD has plenty of wild trout to offer within an hour of Rockville, and if you enjoy stocked trout there's even more of that in the spring season. A lot of the wild trout waters are really small, and as you'd expect the fish aren't huge. But there are some fun places where you can hike in and catch native brookies all day that don't see much pressure. Wild browns are fairly common around here if you get away from the developed areas - but compared to CO you may find it challenging to find consistently good wild brown trout fishing around here. A lot of streams have erosion and temperature issues. As for other species, other people can handle that question better than myself.

-Andrew

[Jim Boryan]

Hey Anthony,

Boy are you in for a treat. The DMV has one of the largest populations of creek chub in North America. If you thought catching trout in Colorado was fun wait til you get a massive creek chub on the end of your line!
Cheers!

[namfos]

Welcome to The Old Line State. I live in Rockville and work for the county gummint. Good advice from all the other TPFRs here.

FYI: Felt soled waders are VERBOTEN in Maryland, yet felts are still cool in DC, VA, WV and PA. I've never seen anyone get busted, and I've not met anyone whose been busted for them, but the max fine for first fence is $1000 - you could buy a lot of second hand fiberglass rods and Medalist reels for that kind of dough.

Hope to meet you at the October Beer Tie.

Mark

[Anthony Marovelli]

Definitely going to grab a double spool and slap on some sinking come spring--Thanks for the input!  

[Anthony Marovelli]

Thanks for the advice Rob,

Big Hunting Creek sounds like a badass place to investigate. Thinking about a 6wt. Redington Chromer, large arbor interchangeable spool.
Looking forward to meeting the gang around mid October. 

Cheers,

Anthony   

[Anthony Marovelli]

Thanks for getting in touch Marek--would love to hit some water with an established local. Pretty dead set on the Redington Chromer 6 wt. Anticipating a 3 wt. purchase next spring for those brookies in the mountains. 

Talk soon,

Anthony 

[namfos]

Forgot to include this re felts: http://dnr2.maryland.gov/fisheries/Documents/Felt_sole_faq.pdf

Mark 

[Anthony Marovelli]

Hey Andrew,

Thanks for getting in touch. Funny you mentioned Durango--I was around that area not long ago. Cool town with some big fishing nearby. Currently I'm in Crawford, CO on the Western slope. I live and work on a luxury dude ranch with private water, the Smith Fork. (Which I'll miss most) I've fished most of the Gunnison, Uncompahgre, Taylor, and Crystal Rivers. There are an infinite amount of creeks and streams that produce small but beautifully colored trout; many comprised of hybrid brookie/cutthroat mixes (If you can believe that) I promised not to tell the locals but the Crystal River in Marble, CO was truly unbelievable; willing fish that ate everything showing neon oranges, yellows, and chrome. Worthy of a vacation fish to say the least. Despite experiencing the beauty of the Rockies, I'm excited to explore the DMV and make it my new home.

Let's find some trout this fall,

Anthony     

[Anthony Marovelli]

Hey Jim,

I've heard tales of these creek chubs in Eastern Colorado. A fine fighting fish is the one I want to catch! No discrimination here. From what I'm told they get to be 15" in some places and take flies all the same. Good to know!!

Cheers,

Anthony 

[Anthony Marovelli]

Thanks for the heads up on the felt! What's the best fly shop in the area? I'll be rebooting some new gear come the fall. In regards to the Beer Tie I'll more than likely be able to make the November date.

Hope to see you there,
Anthony 

[Marek Rich]

Went out today around Carderock and got into some nice smallies on my 4wt. One easily pushed 16". Good fun.

Friday's afternoons are my usual free time, so if you can make that work great. Otherwise it requires a lil coordination.

Sent from my iPhone

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[namfos]

Well, my favorite was, emphasis on past tense, Urban Angler in Old Town Alexandria - but that one is no more.

[Richard Farino]

Working on it!

On Sep 13, 2016, at 11:56 AM, namfos <mark....@gmail.com> wrote:

Well, my favorite was, emphasis on past tense, Urban Angler in Old Town Alexandria - but that one is no more.

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[TurbineBlade]

I miss Urban and the guys there most of all.  The hardest part was getting in and out of there, but literally everything about that place was so well done.  Also, I wish I had purchased like 8 more hats now.  I still wear one sweaty one most days of the week, and I go between the same sweaty one and an even more sweaty one on the weekends.  I need more options. 

Rich - When you get something open, save a few trucker hats for me and I'll be there! 

The other day I was thinking about how many sunfish I've caught while wearing an Urban hat...

Gene

On Tuesday, September 13, 2016 at 1:12:28 PM UTC-4, Richard Farino wrote:

Working on it!

On Sep 13, 2016, at 11:56 AM, namfos <mark....@gmail.com> wrote:

Well, my favorite was, emphasis on past tense, Urban Angler in Old Town Alexandria - but that one is no more.

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[Gary Fleeger]

I'm new, so I never made it to Urban Angler, but an Urban Angler hat sounds awesome...I'm in!

I go to the Orvis store in Bethesda, which is down the round from Rockville, and they have been great to me as a new guy to the lifestyle. They have their own parking lot which is rare in Bethesda and very helpful.

They are also very cool to my 8 year old son...big points for that alone!

[Yambag Nelson]

Hunting Creek outfitters in Frederick is about an hour away (maybe less from Rockville) and is a very good shop. 

[Richard Farino]

Urban Angler hats aren’t hard to come by.  They’re just no revered as they once were and kind of sneered at with disdain.  Sorta like my Yankees hat.

From: Tidal Potomac Fly Rodders <tidal-potoma...@googlegroups.com> on behalf of Gary Fleeger <gfle...@gmail.com>
Reply-To: Tidal Potomac Fly Rodders <tidal-potoma...@googlegroups.com>
Date: Wednesday, September 14, 2016 at 2:15 PM
To: Tidal Potomac Fly Rodders <tidal-potoma...@googlegroups.com>

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[namfos]

Speaking of which, I need to purchase a Yankees hat by next april. Now that Limp, I mean A-Rod is gone....

Hey, Dalton, we should probably do a funky fishing hat contest, sort of like the fugly sweater thing in December. And I mean FUNKY. ;-)

Mark

[Gary Fleeger]

I recommend the local curly W hat for the home team. No reason to get a dirty look for both your Urban Angler and Yankees hat in the DMV:)

[Richard Farino]

If he waits he can get a District Angling hat when we’re all set up ;)

R

From: Tidal Potomac Fly Rodders <tidal-potoma...@googlegroups.com> on behalf of Gary Fleeger <gfle...@gmail.com>
Reply-To: Tidal Potomac Fly Rodders <tidal-potoma...@googlegroups.com>
Date: Thursday, September 15, 2016 at 1:46 PM
To: Tidal Potomac Fly Rodders <tidal-potoma...@googlegroups.com>
Subject: Re: {Tidal Potomac Fly Rodders} Re: Moving to Rockville by way of Colorado

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[TurbineBlade]

I'll take several --  just let me know when they're out!

Gene

On Thursday, September 15, 2016 at 1:53:02 PM UTC-4, Richard Farino wrote:

If he waits he can get a District Angling hat when we’re all set up ;)

R

From: Tidal Potomac Fly Rodders <tidal-potoma...@googlegroups.com> on behalf of Gary Fleeger <gfle...@gmail.com>
Reply-To: Tidal Potomac Fly Rodders <tidal-potoma...@googlegroups.com>
Date: Thursday, September 15, 2016 at 1:46 PM
To: Tidal Potomac Fly Rodders <tidal-potoma...@googlegroups.com>
Subject: Re: {Tidal Potomac Fly Rodders} Re: Moving to Rockville by way of Colorado

I recommend the local curly W hat for the home team. No reason to get a dirty look for both your Urban Angler and Yankees hat in the DMV:)

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[TurbineBlade]

BTW -- I'm about to hit the beach and likely not catch anything!  I can't read rips or identify troughs, sandbars, and as far as I'm concerned wave action and tide are Maytag appliance models. 

To the OP -- You have nearby SW fishing too now.  Tear it up!*

Gene

*fall down in the surf and dump your stripping basket and then wrestle 12' of your running line away from a horseshoe crab. 

On Thursday, September 15, 2016 at 1:53:02 PM UTC-4, Richard Farino wrote:

If he waits he can get a District Angling hat when we’re all set up ;)

R

From: Tidal Potomac Fly Rodders <tidal-potoma...@googlegroups.com> on behalf of Gary Fleeger <gfle...@gmail.com>
Reply-To: Tidal Potomac Fly Rodders <tidal-potoma...@googlegroups.com>
Date: Thursday, September 15, 2016 at 1:46 PM
To: Tidal Potomac Fly Rodders <tidal-potoma...@googlegroups.com>
Subject: Re: {Tidal Potomac Fly Rodders} Re: Moving to Rockville by way of Colorado

I recommend the local curly W hat for the home team. No reason to get a dirty look for both your Urban Angler and Yankees hat in the DMV:)

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[namfos]

Put me at the top of the waiting list, Rich. But I still want a Yankees cap. And if the locals can't keep their disdain for my hattery in in check, the problem lies with them and their substandard upbringing, not with my choice of chapeau.  LOL! ;-)

Mark

[namfos]

What? You mean a Walgreen's hat? ;-) LOL

Mark

On Thursday, September 15, 20

[Gary Fleeger]

Ouch on the Walgreens hat, but I guess I left that one wide open!  

I like the sound of District Angler!!!

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