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 Troutline Graphic by Gary Visgaitis |
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The Right Stuff for the White Fly The
Right Stuff for the White Fly Whether you're interested in fishing for bass or trout, the White Fly hatch is a special time of year. The Northern Virginia chapter of Trout Unlimited wants you to be ready for success when they come off. To get you ready, the Aug. 1 chapter meeting will feature Orvis-endorsed fishing guide Tom Baltz, who guides in the Central Pennsylvania region. He will talk about the White Fly hatches, show you the proper gear to have on hand, presentations and even tie few flies as well. And you won't have to wait long to try out your new knowledge on the water. On August 10, the first Fish with a Member trip for the month will be to the Potomac River. The George Paine-led trip will leave from the Fairfax County Government Center. The following week, August 17, chapter president Jay Lovering's Tune-up series continues in Boiling Springs, PA. The White Fly Tune-up will begin around noon at the Yellow Breeches Outfitters Fly Shop, right next to the lake in Boiling Springs. The Tune-up headquarters will be in the parking lot that sits adjacent to the short run that goes from the lake into the Yellow Breeches. Food and beverages will be available, as always. Lovering says if you want to claim a spot on the water for the evening's White Fly hatch, you better show up in the early afternoon to stake your claim. The Breeches can get pretty crowded on Saturdays. Experts from the fly shop will be on hand to check your gear and get you properly outfitted to catch some trout.
Chapters
to Celebrate Anniversary of Joint Conewago Venture Twenty years ago, Conewago Creek near Gettysburg, PA, was a degrading meadow stream with a variety of problems for supporting trout. The some visionaries from the NVATU and Adams County (PA) chapters banded together to transform Conewago into the excellent delayed-harvest fishery it has become today. Planning for a 20th anniversary celebration to commemorate the chapters' project and progress continues. This event, which promises to be one of the true highlights of the area's social season, will take place at the stream beginning at 11:30 a.m. on Saturday, September 21, 2002, on the landowner's farm. Work continues on compiling the guest list which should include: special friends, landowners, donors of materials and services, charter members and past presidents of both chapters, National TU and other conservation officials, county commissioners and other political representatives. The celebration will receive broad coverage by the media. Members of both chapters are invited to attend, and may bring one guest. A lunch adjacent to the creek is planned. The guest speaker will be Ed Koch, one of the Mid-Atlantic's true fly-fishing icons and a celebrated author. Those who have fished Conewago Creek or participated in work days on the stream over the years will certainly want to be in attendance. For more information, please contact Burt Weisman or Suzanne Malone.
What:
Potomac River The first trip will be to the Potomac River for Bass on August 17. I'm not sure where on the Potomac, but I'd guess Point of Rocks or White's Ferry for smallmouth bass. Wade wet, as I suggested for last month's Shenandoah River trip, or wear chest waders if you want to stay dry. Hip boots will simply not do. Take a trout rod and plan on staying until dark to fish the White Fly hatch. The White Fly, Ephoron leukon, is a very unusual mayfly. The female never molts from a dun into a spinner. If you have never seen a blizzard-like hatch of mayflies, this will be your opportunity. The hatch doesn't really get going until dusk, and by dark the whole shebang, including the spinner fall is over. Refer to your printed newsletter, available to members only, for detailed fly recommendations and how to fish them. If you use a 6-weight rod, you will be able to use it both for the dry fly action and to fish some of the smaller bass flies during the day. There was a misprint in last month's Troutline and it read that you didn't need an 8-weight to pull in 1-inch bass (it should have read 10-inch bass), but that it would help for casting some of the larger underwater patterns. The dry flies won't be much fun on an 8-weight. Also, on the average, you might expect a little lower water than there was last month (unless you go after a hurricane). Use a 6-weight and keep your underwater flies on the small side. Also use the smaller poppers during the day. My 6-weight handles stuff as large as weighted dragon fly larva in a size 8 or 10. Don't stand next to me when I am casting these things unless you are adept at ducking. The bowling pin shaped dragon fly larva, in a dirty olive color is good around weeds in the Potomac. During the day, small Wooly Buggers (so I hear, because I don't fish with Buggers of any sort), Patuxent Specials (a good crayfish pattern for rocky areas), or Soft hackle streamers are all good patterns. Letort Spring Creek, PA The second trip will be to the Letort Spring Run near Carlisle, PA, on August 31. Hip boots and a light trout rod will suffice. You fish from the bank. Beware of Letort quicksand (muck up to your chest) if you foolishly attempt to cross the stream in the wrong place. This stuff can be deceptively firm to the first tentative step. If the Letort quicksand doesn't get you, the muskrat holes along the bank may. Be careful where you step. You could see a sulphur mayfly or two on almost any day of the year on the Letort. That may be why these patterns sometimes work when there are no sulphurs around. For the end of August, I would take a few small ones, #18 or even #20. Most of your fishing will be during the day and that means terrestrials. I have fished the Letort for many years, but usually for no more than a few hours at a time. If I pick up two or three fish I am happy. I've been skunked more times than I will admit in print. I have some excuses for this. At times, I must fish a new pattern I've concocted, even if I know it is not the right time to do it. Other times I'll sit and watch the water and neglect my angling. I have nothing to prove to anyone, so I don't worry about how many fish I catch. This is a helpful attitude for those times when I fish my butt off and still come up empty. Refer to your printed newsletter, available to members only, for detailed fly recommendations and general observations about fishing Letort Spring Creek. Let me know what works for you on this trip and we will share the information with our readers. If that is just too generous for you, let me know what works and I'll keep my mouth shut! Tight
lines! Fly
of the Month
Alternatively you can just watch and contribute your observations to our discussions of the great mysteries of angling. See you there. Hook:
dry fly, #12 for Anthopotamus Volunteers
in the Mud The next workday on this stream is not expected to be scheduled until early fall, in order to take advantage of the more favorable planting season. Weekday
Activities If
your schedule permits you to be available on weekdays, please notify Burt
Weisman at 703-255-2579 or d-bweisman@erols.com.
Fee
Policy on Tune-ups and FWAM Trips One-day
Flyfishing Classes NVATU
membership
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This
classic Catskill tie, from Art Flick's Streamside Guide,
was first tied as an imitation of Potomanthus distinctus (now
Anthopotamus distinctus). In different sizes it can imitate
other light mayflies as well. Join me around 6:45 with your
tools and some yellow thread if you wish to tie along.