Four Mile took a major beating during that August deluge. This was the worst storm damage to the tidal section I have seen in the decade since I've been fishing there.
The banks below the Mt. Vernon Bridge were eroded several feet back and about two feet of vertical spaces was removed.
The bottom was scoured clean for a few weeks before algae could re grow on the rocks and sand. It was rather nice to fish on a pool bottom white stream for a few weeks.
Several holes were filled in with new sediment, mostly around the northern (Arlington) shoreline which includes the outflow with filled in with about four feet of gravel. At low tide through the end of summer was mostly shin deep. The flow has carved out a bit of a depression but not much.
Other spots were completely scoured out. Where there was flats (why carp don't frequent those flats for clams is a question I've been pondering for years). There are now holes that are several feet deep at low tide. I've told clients to follow my exact foot steps to turn around and find they walked a step to the right and have filled their waders. I would not recommend you wade through there unless you've been out several times at dead low tide. I watched two anglers today walking around and one fell into one of these new holes. If it was colder it would have been a problem. I went out or an hour or so today and only saw a few largess and one sunfish. I walked the entire loop from Mt. Vernon to Rte 1 and back with not even a nibble.
Most of these spots don't hold fish at any tide. and have filled in with garbage.
The area around the fallen tree was filled in while being carved out in other spots. Fish will old at the tree at low tide, we sight cast to a pair of catfish there for several weeks with no luck.
The end of summer drought also prevented water from coming downstream. The top section from the bridge to the power line was mostly brown and stagnant all summer. No yellow perch or stripers which is normal.
Any plant life that attempted to grow was wiped out. There hasn't been any plantlike along the fallen tree section in three years across from the outflow. Three years ago you could find several juvenile largemouth in the plants that would strike a fly drifted along the edge.
The shorelines still remain covered in garbage. The Four Mile Run Conservancy does several stream clean ups but seems to neglect shore. If anyone wants to walk the shore an pick some up one day let me know. Wish we had a plastic deposit here.
Additionally, the hole on the Alexandria side where the short canal is located was also filled in. There remains a deep scour part right in front of the metal gates but that's about it.
One of the things I find so charming about 4MR is that it is always changing and you never know what may swim up there or what you may see. One of the cooler things Ive seen in years was this northern brown water snake (Where is Turbine Blade when I mention snakes) taking an American eel out of the water. The eel held on as long as it could and eventually lost its battle.
Bruce, I hope this helps you in your next outing out there.
|  | Northern Water Snake Eating American EelThis water snake exited Four Mile Run (Arlington, Va) today next to us. The snake had an eel in mouth and the ee... |
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