UPDATE: I actually ended up trading this rod for an Orvis 7'6" 1wt 4 piece Superfine Touch graphite rod, almost immediately after posting this. The Steffen is off to it's new home and I ended up going to the Orvis in Leesburg to pickup a WF1F line and a size 1 Battenkill reel. I'll have all this put together mid-week, at which time I'll post more. Bluegills are going to rock even harder than they did the 3wts!!!!
The fish were further between also. I ended up with 4 crappie, 2 largemouths and 5 bluegill - spread out over a couple of hours. These numbers really picked up at the end as I had moved to the short pier at the end of the dam - that's where the crappie were hiding out. I'm going to setup the GoPro 3+ Black shortly, so I can take "ballcap" perspective photos and videos - that will cure the ill I've had of not having good actions shots from the 1st person perspective. Stay tuned (I just need a decent micro SD card).
One last thing I saw of intense interest - the largemouth that I have been able to stand next while casting at the dam (while not being able to get the fly in the bass's mouth) had it's clutch of eggs hatch. I saw a suspended cloud of bass fry moving in and out of the algae right next to the dam rocks. The largemouth was doing patrols to prevent any of the marauding fish (every other fish in the lake) from grabbing an easy meal. The parent bass was actually very caring of the fry - makes you wonder if scientists have given proper credit to the intelligence of fish. Now that I got to see the fruits of it's labor, I'm glad I didn't catch that fish... but now that the spawn is nearly over... time to go casting to some hungry fish ;)
The sun was not out as bright as it had been yesterday. And the wind had changed direction leaving this stretch of water fairly calm. Well something had changed because the fish were not as eager to take the black nymph fly. I did get several crappie, a decent bass and a couple of bluegills - but they were spread out in time duration to catch and across the lake more.
I used the Barclay Glass 3wt lined with a RIO Perception WF3 line. A bit more reach than the Scott F2 6533 I used yesterday - nothing but pure sweet casting goodness!
There was a steady breeze that made casting a RIO Perception 3wt line a bit challenging. This rod is super soft and pretty demanding technically (it doesn't forgive timing mistakes), but it is so rewarding when you have everything dialed in.
The other thing that comes with early spring - the fish here at the local lakes start to come out of their winter slumber! Fly fishing does not necessarily require a long drive anymore and I can start working on my tan again.
These were the first willing tug of war participants out of Lake Newport! I had to fish a jighead leggy nymph to get them to take - but catching is better than not catching. The surface hits will come soon enough.
I was using the loaner Epic 580 (8'0" 5wt) rod made by George M of Tight Lines Custom Rods. This rod casts my 5wt RIO Perception line really well. It does so with machine-like efficiency - so much so that it does not feel like it has character. This is not a bad thing, but in comparison to the 686 Epic that I have, this just seems a hair bland. I have ordered a 480 build it yourself kit, so I'll be able to have hands on that as well - but that is a topic for a future post. In summary, the 580 Epic is a great rod, but it is not one that feels 'sweet' to me. But it does hammer largemouth....
If this is a sign of things to come, this is going to be a great spring fishing in the Northern Virginia area!!!
Yesterday (Sunday) I got out to fish the dropping tide at 4 Mile Run. Barclay Glass 3wt, RIO Perception line and a Killer Bug (with red crystal flash eviscerated innards tail and a tungsten bead head) fly, some quiet time and focus on making good solid casts - yielded a ton of hook ups and fights, with Bluegill. I probably caught 50 of these guys - and each one was a blast. I did manage to mix it up and brought some greenies and pumpkinseeds to hand as well as a couple of other surprises, but that for the next few posts. What a nice way to bring about some serenity (I've said this before - the meditative effects of flyfishing are not as intense as surfing, but it is very fulfilling in a much different way).
Not. The water was high from the runoff and it wasn't too clear either. BUT the Mighty Bluegill came through and delivered action packed adventure. I brought the Barclay out and fished it with the RIO Perception line - I love this setup more and more as I keep on fishing it - and bonus points for me that I've had to improve my casting to get the most out of this rod (and oh how rewarding it is).
Back to the bluegill - I caught 5 or so near the 4MR outfall, then I thought I'd try my luck at the Route 1 bridges. Only 1 bluegill. I also tried using my ultralight St Croix setup and even used Gulp - no takers. Still a great time (casting a sweet rod - love that Barclay Glass)!
I lined the Scott F2 6533 with a RIO Perception line - if you recall, I used a RIO Gold last time. The Perception worked well with the F2 6533, but I think my casting got more out of using the Gold. I was having too much fun casting to swap out the line. When I am not distracted by the piscine antagonists, I might see fit to just cast and swap lines to get a more objective take on the line performance.
I did walk down to the Route 1 bridges and cast to the power pole island. Bunches of sunnies in that water, but what I was really hoping for was a shot at the goldfish that traverse that area. No goldfish, but I did get to meet "Todd" - a member of the TPRF group here in the DC/NorVa/Maryland area - he's the guy who has inspired me to tag one of these huge "Free Willy" fish (not flushed upon disposal, but dumped in the river to grow into an invasive species new to the river - heck with airplanes flying everywhere and all our modern conveniences, this will all be one world soon enough). He was nice enough to fully explain his technique and lures - now I just have to spend the time out there to get my shot. Todd asked about the Scott in my hand and I let him cast it - he was pushing really long, nice loops - yet another person to make me feel like a crappy caster (more incentive to get better). I can't wait for spring to arrive... not that I don't appreciate being able to still fish in the middle of winter, but variety is a good thing and there is only so much you can do at 4 Mile Run. I still don't like winter...
I brought out the Barclay Glass 7'2" 3 wt with a RIO Perception line and had a BLAST!!! I was at a point where I was having just as much fun casting as I was with catching fish. Owning this rod has forced me to improve my casting - but the payoff is nice loops sailing through on both forward and back casts and the smooth, progressive feeling of the rod loading and unloading. Casting the Barclay has taught me a lot - that I sucked casting before I got this rod; that the joy in flyfishing is not the fishing; and that there is a lot I have to learn still. I never understood this with graphite. I probably still suck, but I am getting better. It has taken me a while to refine my casting to enjoy this rod - but man was it worth it!!! I looked up the reports of some of the other guys in the area who had to wet a line - the guys fishing further downstream of where I was were able to hook up some giant goldfish (google Tidal Potomac Fly Rodders, 4MR). I might just have to go back AGAIN...
Beautiful weather today - 54 degrees, 10-15 mph wind from the SW and nothing but sunshine in the sky. I headed back to Four Mile Run to see if the water conditions were better for catching and not just fishing. I brought the Barclay Glass 7'2" 3 wt rod (I love this rod more and more with each passing day - who'd thought the first fiberglass rod I bought would be one of the best lightweight rods I've ever used), an Abel Creek 1 spooled with a RIO Perception WF3F and the small flies I tied up earlier today.
Well - it all came together and I got to play tug-o-war with several fish starting with this guy. A handsome Large Mouth Bass. Here it is - the first fish I've caught in 2014!!! I hope to catch plenty more!!!
