Stand Up Paddle Fly Fishing

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Andrew Caballero-Reynolds

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Oct 15, 2015, 8:35:09 AM10/15/15
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Good evening everyone,

Just wanted to see if anyone else has tried fly fishing on an SUP in the DC area. I have been doing it pretty regularity for 3 months now and it has been fantastic,but I have run into a few issues and wanted to see if anyone had any insight or knew the regulations/ give some advice if you do want to try it.. 
- Burke Lake: I have been on it 4 times with my SUP, mostly launching from the picnic area, but when I went to launch from the boat docks the park authorities stopped me and said SUP's are not allowed bc you are not allowed to swim. I pointed out I had 3 fly rods, all my gear, a dry bag, and light weight anchor attached to the back, there was no swimming planned. In the end they said SUP's were not allowed as you were not allowed to stand up and fish from a water craft....does that sound right? (same story on Fairfax lake, Accotink lake: Both I have been able to get out on early in the morning or late in the day, but on weekends the authorities pull me out saying you are not allowed to swim...)
- Does anyone know if water craft are allowed on Roaches Run? I think that might be a great place to check out but again want to avoid park authority run ins. 
- Do you think you can launch an SUP at Fletcher's by paying the launching fee?

Areas easy with an SUP
- River run state park does not allow you to launch single chamber inflatable boats (hard SUP's are fine), so I just launch from Swains Lock and no issues.
- Pohick bay is amazing for fly fishing from an SUP and no issues at all. The best part about the SUP is you can get way up into the mouth of Pohick and there is some great snake head fishing up there.
- Columbia Isl Marina, free to launch and great fishing in the harbor and at the mouth to the river.-
- Belle Haven Marina, again no issues launching and the fishing is fantastic as you go into Dyke marsh.
- Launch from Roosevelt Island parking lot to get access to the island and up the P atomic to Fletcher's.

If anyone has gone out on an SUP in the area I would love to know how it went, and if anyone wants to join me let me know.

Andrew

Remick

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Oct 15, 2015, 9:08:36 AM10/15/15
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And we thought the no wading issue was BS....

TurbineBlade

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Oct 15, 2015, 9:19:39 AM10/15/15
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Being polite to Agents is always good, and it sounds like you are. 

That said, I don't know how someone could sustain the argument that fishing from a SUP is swimming.  What if you stuck a sail in it and said you were wind surfing? 

Gene

Jeffrey Silvan

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Oct 15, 2015, 9:30:18 AM10/15/15
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I looked up the Fairfax County Park Regs and it says nothing about not being allowed to stand up and fish from a watercraft (nor does the website for Burke), so it sounds like they just felt like you couldn't do what you were trying to, so they were making things up. How much you want to argue it is another question. My recommendation would be to email the Park Authority and ask what their interpretation is of the rule. Assuming they say SUPs are allowed, maybe politely explain the situation you've face and ask if they'd be willing to send out a notice to the park officers to clarify.

Gene, while it doesn't say it in the general regulations no windsurfing, the website actually explicitly says "No swimming or windsurfing." What else have you been trying to get away with?!

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Rob Snowhite

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Oct 15, 2015, 9:38:05 AM10/15/15
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Put in at Burke Lake Ramp. This ramp is free 24/7 and is owned by the Commonwealth of Virginia, as is the lake. Put in here and tell the kids at the ramp to eat sand. 

You are fine at Roaches. If you put in at Fletcher's end of parking lot buy a hot dog or Gatorade as thanks for using the facility. 

Sent from my iPhone

Rob Snowhite

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Oct 15, 2015, 9:40:25 AM10/15/15
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image1.png

Sent from my iPhone

TurbineBlade

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Oct 15, 2015, 10:52:03 AM10/15/15
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Gene, while it doesn't say it in the general regulations no windsurfing, the website actually explicitly says "No swimming or windsurfing." What else have you been trying to get away with?!

Ha!  Really?  I was just trying to think of something random....no windsurfing I guess! 

And yes, I try to get away with anything I can!  I'd set the world on fire if I could be king of the ashes!  ;) 
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John Bilotta

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Oct 15, 2015, 4:13:17 PM10/15/15
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Andrew,

I have seen lots of folks launch at the lower end of the Fletcher's parking lot.
John


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Howard Abramowitz

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Oct 15, 2015, 4:47:40 PM10/15/15
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Andrew,

If you are looking for more places, check out the site below, they have a google map with "kayak/canoe" launch locations that has a lot of good user added info about parking, fees, safety, and comments for each site. I've used it to find places to fish from my SUP locally, and when traveling.

http://www.paddling.net/launches/





On Thursday, October 15, 2015 at 8:35:09 AM UTC-4, Andrew Caballero-Reynolds wrote:

Rebecca

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Oct 15, 2015, 5:02:47 PM10/15/15
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I have SUP fished quite a lot at Burke Lake, and have also seen other SUPers out there.  I also used to fish out of a float tube there pretty regularly, prior to upgrading to the SUP.  The float tube is definitely more questionable since your feet are dangling in the water (musky bait?) and it is a little closer to swimming.  I have never had any issues on either the SUP or the float tube at Burke, despite having interacted with the rangers a couple of times when asked to show my fishing license.  That's the first I've heard of a SUP not being allowed there.  I think you probably were just unlucky (or else they've changed the rules and/or their enforcement of the rules).     

Rebecca



On Thursday, October 15, 2015 at 8:35:09 AM UTC-4, Andrew Caballero-Reynolds wrote:

Andrew Caballero-Reynolds

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Oct 15, 2015, 6:31:28 PM10/15/15
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Hi Rebecca,

Cool thanks for that info. It might have just been a bad ranger or someone that did not know the regs. Good to know other people have been fishing off a SUP out there, its a great spot. 

Cheers

Andrew

Brian

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Oct 16, 2015, 10:03:20 AM10/16/15
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Not sure if by Fairfax lake you mean Lake Fairfax?  No fishing from boats is allowed there at all, so if you actually got out and did you are quite lucky.  Although, along with the trout fishing program, enforcement of the rules there is sometimes lax...
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