New state to explore

I'll be in Maryland this Saturday so I decided to pick up a MD fishing license and head to the Gunpowder in the morning. I have no idea where to go. I'm having a hard time finding any info about the area online. I couldn't even find any Maryland fly fishing books though I know they exist as I have seen them. William H of Eastern Trophies Fly Fishing mentions on his site that between Prettyboy Dam and Bluemount Road (MD 138), it is catch and release, flyfishing only. Sounds like where I ought to be. Hopefully I'll have some luck this time and I won't completely freeze. I ordered some stuff today that will keep rod guides and lines from freezing. William mentioned using Spam, but that sounds awful.

Ice on Stoney Creek 1-05 

Kevins first trout of the day on Smith Creek 

Bridge over Stoney Creek at Lutz Mill 

Stoney Creek 1-2005 

Passage Creek 

Smith Creek 

Rapidan Chapter of Trout Unlimited - Home

Rapidan Chapter of Trout Unlimited

Just joined the Rapidan TU chapter. I'm looking forward to getting involved in TU again and meeting some new fishing partners.

Desktop Backgrounds : Pictures of Trout and Underwater Photographs

Some nice Desktop Wallpapers that anyone can use. My wife really likes the cased caddis larvae background... kidding.

Desktop Backgrounds : Pictures of Trout and Underwater Photographs

Skunked and way cold

I keep forgeting that fishing involves water and water freezes below 32 degrees F. I got all ready to head out to Passage Creek outside Front Royal Monday morning at 5:30AM. It was so cold (around 20 with 15 to 20 mile per hour wind gusts) that I could hardly gas up my car. I guess I thought that I could handle it as soon as I hooked up with the first monster stocked trout of the morning. I was wrong. I made it out to Passage right before sunrise. The water looked a little fast, but it wasn't too high or discolored or anything so I slipped into my waders and pulled out my new Fly Logic rod. The rod cast beautifully... until the line froze to the guides. There just wasn't a heck of a lot I could do other than knock the ice off with my bright red numb fingers every cast and retrieve. I tried some bh nymphs and a Murray streamer that I tied. After about an hour of pure misery, I packed it in and drove over to Murray's Fly Shop in Edinburg. I asked Harry if it was even worth fishing now and he said "sure, fish eat in the cold too." He recommended a white size 10 Murray Strymph and a black maruader. I went ahead and bought a few and asked about the best location on Stoney Creek. Harry said to go to Lutz Mill about 2 miles up the road. So I did. The temp was up another couple of degrees to 22 and there was a little sun showing so I jumped back in. No luck again unfortunately. I actually froze to a rock while I was casting, it seemed very comical at the time. The water in my felt soles froze my feet to the rock I was standing on.

I took a bunch of pictures that I'm getting developed now. I don't think I'll have them online until Thursday or Friday, but I will post them. The additional Smith Creek ones will be on there too.

BTW, take a quick gander at the eBay listings on the right. I have some work to do on the formating, but it's pretty cool to get live eBay listings on your site.

Must be insane

I have decided to fight the elements again and go fishing in some of the coldest weather we have had so far. I plan on hitting Passage Creek, east of Edinburg on Monday AM. The forecast is snow overnight tonight, windchills of -5 and 10 to 15 mile per hour winds. Sounds like perfect fly fishing weather. There are only a few situations where I wouldn't go fly fishing. High winds would do it for me. I hate casting when it is windy. I'll bring a camera and post some pictures later. Can't believe that the days I have off are always frickin cold.

FlyLogic Rod arrived!

I got my new FlyLogic rod yesterday and my first impressions are very favorable. I went out in the rain last night to cast it. It felt great. I think my cast has been suffering from bad rods. I'll blame it on poor equipment. One of these days, I need to try a really expensive rod and compare it. The FlyLogic 4-5 wt really feels miles better than my other rods.