Re: {Tidal Potomac Fly Rodders} North, Middle, Jennings Creek advice

So my trip was a success; caught four trout!  Thanks again for all the advice guys!  If you're interested in a write up of the trip or want to see some pictures, I've posted them here:

http://bonvivantva.com/?p=23959

On Wednesday, March 22, 2017 at 8:53:25 AM UTC-4, Greg Feder wrote:

Rich -- 

This is super helpful.  Thank you!  

Cheers, 

-- Greg 

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From: Richard Farino <rfa...@gmail.com>
To: Tidal Potomac Fly Rodders <tidal-potoma...@googlegroups.com>
Sent: Tuesday, March 21, 2017 10:48 PM
Subject: Re: {Tidal Potomac Fly Rodders} North, Middle, Jennings Creek advice

Rusty,

When you add split shot, it drags the flies down quickly.  The indicator on the surface is initially ahead of the rig as the shot ticks on the bottom because water on the surface travels faster than the bottom, and the flies are dragged behind it.  Sometimes the flies drift in front of the shot depending on the current and how much the shot gets hung up (and if you mend hard enough and move the indicator).

Because the split shot is the highest part of your leader ticking the bottom, that's where you measure the distance from.  So in essence – you're fishing a 9 foot leader, with a bead head prince on the end.  You attach a dropper 12 inches from the lead fly.  You now have a 10 foot rig in total.  You put your split shot 6 inches from the lead fly.

If the water depth is 3 feet, your indictor should be 1.5x the depth of the water – so 4.5 feet up from the split shot, since that's on the bottom.

If you didn't have any split shot or you weren't fishing a tandem rig, you would 4.5 feet up from the lead fly, since that's what on the bottom.

Hope that helps.

R

From: Tidal Potomac Fly Rodders <tidal-potoma...@googlegroups.com> on behalf of Rusty Shackleford <rusty.sha...@gmail.com>
Reply-To: Tidal Potomac Fly Rodders <tidal-potoma...@googlegroups.com>
Date: Tuesday, March 21, 2017 at 8:55 PM
To: Tidal Potomac Fly Rodders <tidal-potoma...@googlegroups.com>
Subject: Re: {Tidal Potomac Fly Rodders} North, Middle, Jennings Creek advice

Just to clarify, you said I should tie a tandem rig, flies about 10 inches apart, split shot 6 inches above that, and then the indicator 1.5 times the stream depth above the split shot?  So I'd have 1.5x the stream depth, plus 16 inches?  That seems like a lot, especially if the stream is fairly shallow.  That said, I'm not catching on nymphs, so what do I know...  Just want to make sure I'm understanding the advice.

On Monday, March 20, 2017 at 10:56:47 PM UTC-4, Rusty Shackleford wrote:

Thanks for the advice!  I read a couple articles and watched a couple videos about wet fly fishing so I think I understand the method you were explaining.  I have a couple quill gordon wet flies to try out.

On Monday, March 20, 2017 at 11:05:58 AM UTC-4, Richard Farino wrote:

Couple of things to keep in mind:

• 
  

To answer your questions in order:

1. Yes.  You can catch fish along side them.  Just practice good etiquette.  If you put yourself along side them, you're crowding them.  Common courtesy is 2 full casting lengths away.  If you're a beginner caster, keep yourself 100 feet away from someone else.  You have no control on whether or not they crowd you.  Believe it or not, the catch & release stretches might be more crowded than the main section you're talking about.
2. Don't compare nymphing in trout rivers to Holmes Run.  Night and day difference.  But your plan is good, except for keep the nymphs a little closer together.   Maybe 10-14 inches max.  Put split shot above the fly about 4-6 inches, and put your indicator the 1.5x depth of the water from the split shot up.  Keep your casts shorter, keep your rod tip high, and watch for that indicator to do ANYTHING.  Pause, dip, bump, tick, jumps upstream – if it does ANYTHING other than float normally, set the hook!  The early season mayflies are clinger nymphs that hug rocks in faster, more oxygenated water.  Use #12-16 Hare's Ear, or any bugs looking nymph patterns.  Quill Gordon's emerge below the surface and swim up and bust thru the meniscus and then fly away.  If you have Quill Gordon wet flies in a #12-14, use them and swing them.  Let the fly hang below you for a second and slowly lift the line before you start your new cast – sometimes the fish will hit your fly on what's called "the dangle."
3. Spring streamer fishing is a great thing and can be lots of fun.  Most folks know dark days, dark flies, bright day, bright flies.  One of the things I like to tell people about fly choice – browns and brook trout will destroy big white streamers, but rainbows won't.  Not sure why it works out that way but it always has for me.  Olive, black, and brown take all 3 species.  I maximize my catch with those colors, unless I'm specifically targeting big browns, like on Mossy Creek.  As for other flies, bring your Quills - Gordons, Blue, and Black if you have some, as well as smaller caddisflies in tan and cream.  Leave the March Browns and Sulphurs (may hatches) at home.

Regards,

Richard

From: Tidal Potomac Fly Rodders <tidal-potoma...@googlegroups. com> on behalf of Rusty Shackleford <rusty.sha...@gmail.com>
Reply-To: Tidal Potomac Fly Rodders <tidal-potoma...@googlegroups. com>
Date: Monday, March 20, 2017 at 9:24 AM
To: Tidal Potomac Fly Rodders <tidal-potoma...@googlegroups. com>
Subject: {Tidal Potomac Fly Rodders} North, Middle, Jennings Creek advice

I'm headed to North Creek (and Middle and Jennings) this weekend.  I'm camping with friends, spin fishermen, who go every year, and enticed me with photos of their catch.  I've never been, but I read up on some blogs, and the Hart and Beasley books about Virginia.  

I've got some March Browns, Sulphurs, Quill Gordon, Blue Quill, Cinnamon Caddis, etc.  I also have some terrestrials it might be too early for, but it sounds like nymphing is most productive generally.  I have a pretty broad selection of nymphs to choose from based on what I read can work out there.  My questions are as follows:

1.)  Do you think I can catch anything with all the cheese, eggs, and other bait the spincasters will be throwing in my proximity?  I know the northern part of the creek is take and release/fly only.  Maybe I should venture up there if I'm getting shut out?

2.)  I've never had a ton of success nymphing.  I'm still more or less a beginner.  At my home creek, Holmes Run, I've tossed a nymph upstream, watching it hit a trout in the face, and then float away unscathed.  Not sure if the trout weren't feeding, or I'm doing some wrong, but like I said, nymphing is not my strong suit.  I've caught at Holmes on drys and streamers, but never a nymph.  My very basic plan for North Creek is to gauge the depth of the creek.  Tie on a couple nymphs 12-18 inches or so apart.  Affix an indicator about 1.5x the depth of the stream where I'm fishing.  Then I'll toss that setup upstream, mend a few times, and home for the best.  Anything glaringly wrong with that plan?

3.)  Any other advice or secrets?

FYI - Weather looks variable this weekend.  Mid 40s Thursday warming to Mid 60s Saturday.  Sunny to cloudy to rain expected.  Thanks in advance guys!

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