Shenandoah National Park Fishing Report, 24-26 April: Brookieland, Kind Of

 We didn't have to travel eight hours to catch 5-8 inch fish.  There are plenty of streams in God's Country which hold Eastern Brook Trout.  But there was a bit of nostalgia going back to the SNP.  We've been fishing it on and off for the last three decades.  Many times I would light out with USNA colleague Professor Tim O'Brien.  Mary would also join me for a trip or two every year while we were living in Annapolis.  The draw was catching the only trout (actually a Char) native to the eastern US, but also fishing in some of the most scenic places imaginable.

On Monday Mary and I made the trek to Sperryville, VA, which is kind of the locus for fishing the eastern drainages of the SNP.  Most of our past trips were grueling out and ins; on the road from Annapolis at 0515 to miss the I-495 traffic, fish all day, then a long 2 3/4 hour drive home.   A few years back we stayed at Graves Mountain Lodge with the Trout Whisperer and Frank and Janie Weeks.  This time we opted for Sharp Rock Vineyards (https://sharprockvineyards.com/), an exceptional B&B and winery on the bank of the Hughes River a few miles west of Sperryville.  Owners Jimm and Kathy East were gracious hosts, the accommodations very comfortable, the wine fantastic, and the breakfasts could carry you over to dinner.  

As we arrived a few hours before we could check in, we hit The Black Twig pub in Sperryville for  quick beer (Sweetwater 420 Pale Ale on tap), then decided to drive a few miles up to the Quièvremont Winery (https://www.quievremont.com/) for a quick tasting.  The area around Sperryville hosts a good number of wineries (should your companion rather drink than fish).  Quièvremont, though, was special because Mike Guervremont, whose family owns the winery, worked with me during my White House tour.  Small world.  And most excellent wine and hospitality!

If this is looking like a travel log, well, it kind of is.  We did get some fishing in Tuesday and Wednesday on the Rapidan and Rose Rivers.  But to be candid, we did a lot of hiking and climbing, some fishing, and only a little catching.  As I said, the trip was to revisit an old fly fishing haunt and enjoy the scenery.  And the rivers proved just as beautiful as they were over the last 30 years.

Conditions were sunny but on the cool side; temps in the high 50s on Tuesday, and low 60s on Wednesday.  There were a few bugs coming off; Olives in the morning, Caddis and a few March Browns in the afternoon.  Not the conditions you'd find in late-April.  But ... true to form, if a pool looked fishy, it more than likely held a Brook Trout, which proved more than happy to pounce on a fly.

We fished dries and dry-droppers.  Mary hooked three fish on a 14 Adams Parachute.  The three brookies I hooked over the two days took a 16 Beadhead Pheasant Tail nymph dropped off a Stimulator.  If there was an issue, it was that the streams proved a bit less accessible than during the halcyon days of our youth.  While the rivers are still the most scenic we've fished, our ability to navigate the streams had diminished ... a lot!  "Back in the day," a thirty-fish outing was not out of the ordinary.  But then, we were a bit more spry, and able to navigate around and over the boulders like a mountain goat to hit all the pockets and runs.  You'd essentially get in the water and not leave until it was time to head home.  But now, after a few years, you just look for the few spots that are relatively easy to access, maybe catch a couple of trout, head back to the B&B for some wine or bourbon and cigars, and be happy with the day.

Which we were.  

A quick note on logistics.  Closest city is Warrenton, about 30 minutes east of Sperryville.  Plenty of grocery stores, hotels, restaurants, etc., if you want both fishing and civilization.  West of Warrenton your down to B&Bs, which is a nice way to go, andl closer to the rivers.  Sperryville can be challenging for foodies.  There are four restaurants in town.  A pizza joint (the old Thornton River Grill), which is only open on the weekends.  A burger place we didn't try but has been there forever.  A high end place (Three Blacksmiths) that was booked well into the next month, and the Black Twig (the Sweetwater 420 is the highlight).  There is an excellent market in town, which has a pretty impressive meat and seafood sections, as well as deli sandwiches, baked goods, snacks, drinks, etc., if you want to do your cooking.  Fortunately, we were saved by discovering an excellent Irish Pub, the Dark Horse Saloon, in Flint Hill, about 20 minutes from Sperryville.  Excellent table fare, with Guiness, Harp, and Smithwick's on tap.

SNP streams are regulated by the National Park Service.  Fishing in the park is C&R.  I know for sure that you need a freshwater fishing license, and you do not need a trout stamp.   I was unclear to me, though, whether you need a national forest stamp.  But it's only $4, so we got them to be safe.  I'd suggest purchasing a trout stamp, which permits you to fish the streams outside the park, which are stocked (and easier to access).

Rains have moved into NC PA, and look to stick around (including some snow) over the next few days.  Which is okay, because the streams need the water, and I need the recovery time.

Tight Lines,

Mikey D Fishing

Wachapreague Flounder Report 18 April

 An early season tip was all it took to plan a last-minute trip to the barrier islands of Virginia's Eastern Shore.  Son Joe, a.k.a "Salt Life", and his longtime friend Giovanni Gargano asked me to spread a little Mikey D Fishing magic on their flounder outing and meet them at high tide at the Wachapreague public boat ramp.  Joe had good success days earlier landing a few keeper sized flatties in excess of 17" and our hope was to exceed the previous trip's tally.  

Wachapreague is a fisherman's mecca.  Situated halfway between the Virginia line and Cape Charles, Wachapreague offers decent lodging, a waterfront restaurant, and plenty of good fishing water.  Barrier islands, hammocks, and sandbars provide great habitat for multiple species including flounder, red drum, sea trout, and even late season tarpon.  

Joe guided his well-appointed G3 to a gut about a mile or so from the ramp.  On his previous trip, Salt Life landed his first flounder on the initial drift.  Though winds were light, and the outgoing tide was flowing, we weren't as lucky.  After about 30 minutes, Joe hooked into an undersized but promising 14.5" flounder.   We were using bucktails tipped with a variety of gulp baits.

Despite the encouraging start and outside of a small skate, nothing else came over the gunwale.  I had other obligations, so my trip ended with the falling tide.  Joe and G headed out again, but the incoming tide didn't change their fortunes.  Sometimes however, the real reward is time on the water, a few tugs of the line, and for us, a little extra local knowledge extracted.  We had a few boats with us initially, but they soon departed for other waters.  Joe and G later learned that others had limited out by seeking what they called "clean water".  Having spent more hours than I can count on the mid Chesapeake, the water under our keel looked clean to me, but there is a different level of clarity that works best for a predator with both eyes on one side of its body.  Next time, turbidity will be a primary factor in selecting where to wet lines when Mikey D Fishing searches for flounder.

Until then...Tight Lines!

MDF

Potter County Fishing Report, 14 April: Butter 'n Brookies

 Fished the Class A section of Lyman run for a couple of hours today.  Air temps in the low-80s.  Water low, but still enough holding spots to fish.  From all the bug activity, water temp probably in the low 50s.

Fished my 7 1/2 foot 3 wt.  Flies of choice was a Stimulator with a size 16 beadhead Pheasant Tail as a dropper on 5X.

Every fishy-looking spot held fish...

Brought 8 to the hand/net in about 2 hours of fishing; 3 wild Browns and 5 native Brookies.  The Brookies were 4-5 inches.  I was pleasantly surprised by the size of the Browns, 10, 8, and 6 inches.  While a couple of fish took swipes at the dry, all fish that I landed took the nymph.

Hopefully we see some rain over the next few weeks to keep these streams fishing well.

Tight Lines,

Mikey D Fishing

Potter County Fishing Report, 2-10 April: Nature Always Wins

 The fishing this past week or so has been fairly consistent.  Not in numbers, but the skunk tally has  remained at zero.  I've mostly hit the usual holding spots on Fishing "Crick," picking up a trout here and there.  Wolly Buggers and "Feggs" were the go to flies.

This past weekend temps began to warm, and the first of the spring hatches began.  Good numbers of Caddis's, and a few gray-ish mayflies to boot.  On Sunday afternoon, after flailing away on the PavilionHole, I decided insanity had taken hold, and took a seat to just listen to the water.  Skies were sunny andbright, so I figured what trout were still in the hole were probably hiding under the rock ledge.  That's when Nature stepped in.  I heard some rustling on the opposite bank, and saw a mink running around.  The rodent proceeded to head to the water, poked his/her head down through some brush along the bank, and immediately came up with a fish.  No cast, no fly, no license, no problem.  It then ran back and forth on the opposite bank, certainly taunting me on my failed efforts.  Not to be outdone, I gave him/her the hole, went down to the next hole, and landed a 14-inch Rainbow.  Touché rodent!

On Monday Mary decided to join me on an afternoon outing.  We lit off for the delayed harvest section of the upper Allegheny, a few miles north of Coudersport.  When we got to the parking lot, skies were clear, temps were in the low 60s, and not a soul was on the water.  The river was a bit low, but running well.  Water temps, according to a gent standing on the bridge staring at the water, was 45 degrees.  I didn't notice a thermometer, so perhaps he was some kind of seer or something.  Or maybe he was just making it up.

We started below the bridge at a spot that always holds a fish or two.  Mary got first honors, and on her first cast was rewarded with a 12 inch Rainbow.  A bit on the skinny side, but the skunk was off.

We moved further downstream, but didn't move any fish, so decided to head above the bridge.  There are two decent holes; the first is rather tight due to overhanging brush.  The second is long and deep, but you're casting from a high bank.  But both hold fish.  When we got to the first hole, however, access was no longer an issue.

Beavers had deforested the banks of the stream and beyond.  It was an amazing site.  But, it also opened up the water, and allowed us to fish from both sides of the hole.

Fishing was not too shabby.  The water was clear, and you could see the fish swimming around.  We each picked up trout on Feggs and Wolly Buggers.  Mary threw a Squirmy Worm and had some follows.  

After an hour or so, we moved up to the upper pool.  Or, what used to be the pool.  

The aquatic rodent construction company had obviously decided to subdivide the pool into three sections.  Aside from smaller areas to cast, the fish were there, and seemed happy to at least chase out flies.  I did manage one decent Rainbow in the uppermost section, which took my Fegg and immediately darted toward the submerged cuttings.  There wasn't much I could do except keep some pressure on the rod and hope that the fish wouldn't break me off.  Fortunately, the trout backed out, and a nice 18-incher came to the net.

All in all some quality time on the stream, made more so by Nature's demolition experts.    

Tight Lines,

Mikey D Fishing

Potter County Opening Day Fishing Report: Into Each Life Some Rain Must Fall....

 To the tune of about an inch or more....

Captain DiPaola rolled in Thursday night to celebrate the "High Holy Day," otherwise known as opening day of trout season in PA.  The weather looked pretty grim; a warm front was forecast to move in Friday, bringing warmer temps, but also a lot of rain.  But ... Opening Day is more about fishing. It's the kickoff event of the fishing season, and a sign that spring is finally here. 

This time the weather guessers were right.  It rained most of Friday and through the night.  We were hoping that a steady rain might just give Fishing Creek a level bounce.  But a drenching rain about 0400 Saturday morning dashed that hope.

We finished a great breakfast of corned beef hash and eggs (courtesy of Mary), geared up, and headed down to Pavilion Hole behind the WBT.  The rain had quit, and temps were in the mid-50s.  Unfortunately, the West Branch of Fishing Creek was not exactly pristine.

While not a washout, the chocolate milk of a stream frustrated the fishing.  We threw Mary-tied Wooly Buggers and "Feggs," to no avail.  Not even a bump.

After a couple of hours, it was time to change things up.  First, a little mixology....

Nothing like a Bloody Mary to take the edge off and put a positive spin to things.  And maybe it was the Bloodies that turned the corner.  The sun came out, the skies turned blue, temps rose into a comfortable 60-65 degrees.  And the West Branch levels began to slowly lower and move from brown to ... well less brown.

About 11:30 we called an audible, and went to check out other sections of the east and west branches.  We picked up our first fish at the Atkins Road bridge over the east branch.  I drifted a WB under some brush, and a 10-inch stockie Rainbow came out of his hiding spot and took the fly.  

At least the skunk was off.  But other sections of the EB either had no fish, or were occupied by anglers.  So we headed back to the west branch.  Since I had stocked with the state on March 2, I knew where the fish were, albeit 30 days ago.  A quick run up Fishing Creek Road and we stopped to peak in on one of the spots we had stocked.  The water upstream was much better; a greenish tint with great flows.  Best of all, there were no other anglers around.  So we set up at a hole and gave it a try.

It didn't take long.  Capt. DiPaola got on the board drifting a "Fegg" just outside the current seam.  We proceeded to net 5 more fish without moving from the spot.  All were 10-12 inch Rainbows, caught on "Feggs" and Wooly Buggers.  Yeah, they were stockies.  But a lot of fun watching the line drift down with the current, then notice the quick jerk of the line indicating a trout had eaten the fly.

What started out as a potential skunking turned out to be one of our better Opening Days.  Add to that a delicious Prime Rib victory dinner Saturday night, some excellent Perdomos and Willett bourbon afterward, and it was a fantastic weekend.  And hopefully a sign of a great fishing season for the Mikey D team.

Tight Lines,

Mikey D Fishing

Quick Sunday update.  Temps started out in the mid-20s, but rose to the low 40s by mid-Afternoon.  So I grabbed the rod and headed down to the Pavilion Hole for an hour or so.  Water was a gorgeous jade-green.  Still up, but the flows were very fishable.  And the trout were hungry.

Had a Wolly Bugger tied on from the day before, and managed 6 hookups with 3 brought to the net, including a nice 15-inch Brownie.  Missed 2-3 other fish.  Didn't see another angler.