Here is a super easy blue winged olive pattern from Orvis News. The thing I love about this video is how simple this fly is to tie. After having entertained myself with a lot of complicated fly tying recipes, I’ve definitely settled on the less-is-more approach. The basic steps in this video are similar to how I tie just about all of my dry flies now, the exceptions being Royal Wulffs, Patriots and Stimulators. Basically, if it’s a Catskill type of dry fly, this is how I do it. I even “cheat” on things like an Adams. Instead of using some feather tips I just use some synthetic material like Z-Lon or whatever I have lying around that will be visible when the fly is floating in the current — much faster to tie and I don’t think the fish have any idea it’s not a “textbook” pattern on the top.
The latest trout stocking info from Virginia. The Jackson, notably. I mentioned Hogue Creek in Frederick county (not too far a drive for me) quite some time ago and still have not been there. Passage Creek is another recently stocked stream in the area if you live in Northern Virginia and consider anything up to an hour and a half drive “in the area.” It was just stocked last month, too.
- Amherst Co.
- Pedlar River (Lower) (02/29)
- Albemarle Co.
- Moorman’s River (North Fork) (03/01)
- Sugar Hollow Reservoir (03/01)
- Bath Co.
- Jackson River (Hidden Valley) (02/29)
- Floyd Co.
- Burkes Fork (03/01)
- Little River (03/01)
- Frederick Co.
- Hogue Creek (02/28)
- Grayson Co.
- Hales Lake (03/01)
- Henry Co.
- Smith River (Lower) (02/28)
- Roanoke Co.
- Glade Creek (02/29)
- Tinker Creek (02/29)
- Rockbridge Co.
- Maury River (02/27)
- Mill Creek (02/27)
- Shenandoah Co.
- Tomahawk Pond (02/27)
- Passage Creek (03/01)
- Smyth Co.
- South Fork Holston (Lower) (02/28)
Best I can tell, these are the streams Maryland stocked with trout this past week. For some reason, the dates are out of order. I suppose they didn’t fully update the site last week so some of what’s below may be as of a week ago…
| County | Location | Date | Map |
| Garrett | Casselman River – (945 RB) | Feb 28 | GO > |
| Cecil | Octoraro Creek (2 fish/day) – (300 RB/GN) | Feb 22 | GO > |
| Allegany | Town Creek – (1000 RB) | Feb 24 | GO > |
| Charles | Myrtle Grove Pond – (475 RB/GN) | Feb 22 | GO > |
| Calvert | Hutchins Pond – (480 RB/GN) | Feb 22 | GO > |
The latest trout stocking info from West Virginia. Includes Opequon Creek, not far from my neck of the woods. The West Virginia DNR has more info about where and when Opequon Creek is stocked. I wouldn’t call it the pristine trout fishing experience compared to the North Fork of the South Branch of the Potomac or others listed below, but it may be a lot closer depending on where you coming from…
March 1, 2012
- Boley Lake
- Buckhannon River
- Glade Creek of Mann
- Laurel Creek of New River
- Left Fork of Right Fork of Buckhannon River
- Mason Lake
- Mill Creek of New River
NOTE: Westover Park Lake is closed to fishing until April due to construction .
February 29, 2012
- Clear Fork of Guyandotte River
- Cranberry River
- Pinnacle Creek (upper and lower sections)
- R.D. Bailey Tailwaters
- South Fork of Cranberry River
February 28, 2012
- Burnsville Tailwaters
- Camp Creek
- East River
- Mash Fork
- Mash Fork of Camp Creek (Children & Class Q)
- Paint Creek
- Pond Fork
- Stonewall Jackson Tailwaters
- Sutton Tailwaters
- Williams River
February 27, 2012
- Clear Fork of Tug
- East Fork Greenbrier River
- Horse Creek Lake
- Little River East Fork Greenbrier River
- Little River West Fork Greenbrier River
- South Fork of Cherry River
- West Fork Greenbrier River
February 24, 2012
- Blackwater River
- Bullskin Run
- Cacapon Park Lake
- Chief Logan Pond
- Evitts Run
- Fitzpatrick Lake
- Glade Creek of New River
- Glady Fork
- Laurel Lake
- Little Beaver Lake
- Marsh Fork
- Middle Creek
- Mill Creek of Opequon Creek
- North Fork South Branch
- Opequon Creek
- Rocky Marsh Run
- Shavers Fork (Bemis)
- Shavers Fork (lower section)
- Shavers Fork C&R (Stuarts Park)
I’ve updated the resources page to include the Washington DC area. Most notably, the Tidal Potomac Flyrodders, which is a large and growing group devoted to fishing the Potomac River right in DC. I am a member and you should consider joining, too, if you fish anywhere near the DC metro area, Northern Virginia and Maryland. Also, one of the TPFR members recently posted a Google map showing good fishing spots on the Potomac around Fletcher’s Cove.
See when the campgrounds, visitor centers and other facilities are opening this year at Shenandoah National Park.
Note also that there will be some prescribed burns near Big Meadows and at the park headquarters on Rt. 211. This could affect things for you if you’re fishing places such as the upper Hughes River, upper Hazel River, the South Fork of Dry Run, Pass Run, Jeremy’s Run and possibly other places, all depending on the weather conditions. No word on when these burns will occur. Check www.nps.gov/shen or call (540) 999-3500 for more details.
I ran across this blog today, Devin’s Fishing Reports. This guy is 15 years old and he’s out fishing pretty often. His site has lots of good info about trout fishing around Thurmont, Maryland, including Big Hunting Creek and nearby streams. Check it out!
UPDATE: I got this from a comment on Devin’s blog – Frederick County Maryland At-A-Glance is a great resource if you’re planning on bushwhacking around Catoctin Mountain Park, Cunningham Falls State Park or Frederick Municipal Forest for some brook trout. Shows property lines and other information on an interactive map. I’ve updated the Resources link on this site.
A light week for stocked trout in Virginia. With all this great weather there may be more pressure on these streams than normal in February. Still, might be worth checking out Back Creek if you’re up for a drive…
- Bath Co.
- Back Creek (02/23)
- Buchanan Co.
- Russell Fork River (02/23)
- Craig Co.
- Potts Creek (02/22)
- Dickenson Co.
- Frying Pan Creek (02/23)
- Russell Fork River (Haysi) (02/23)
- Frederick Co.
- Clearbrook Lake (02/22)
- Wilkins Lake (02/22)
- Henrico Co.
- Dorey Park Lake (02/23)
- Richmond (City of)
- Shield Lake (02/23)
- Rockingham Co.
- Briery Branch Lake (02/23)
- Dry River (02/22)
- Hone Quarry Lake (02/23)
- Russell Co.
- Big Cedar Creek (2/22)
- Scott Co.
- Bark Camp Lake (02/22)
Words associated with Maryland stocked trout this week: stillwater, rainbows, Prince George’s County… plus the North Branch of the Potomac.
| County | Location | Date | Map |
| Baltimore | Patapsco River @ Avalon – (1000 RB/GN) | Feb 23 | GO > |
| Garrett | North Br. Pototomac River – Kitzmiller – (500 RB/GN) | Feb 23 | GO > |
| Worcester | Shad Landing Pond – (475 RB/GN) | Feb 22 | GO > |
| Wicomico/Worcester | Beaverdam Creek – (475 RB/GN) | Feb 22 | GO > |
| Howard/Montgomery | Patuxent River – (Catch & Return) – (2000 BR) | Feb 22 | GO > |
| Howard | Middle Patuxent River (Delayed Harest) – (500 BR) | Feb 22 | GO > |
| Prince Georges | Tucker Pond – (375 RB/GN) | Feb 21 | GO > |
| Prince Georges | Melwood Pond – (400 RB/GN) | Feb 21 | GO > |
| Prince Georges | Lake Artemesia – (600 RB/GN) | Feb 21 | GO > |
| Prince Georges | Greenbelt Lake – (550 RB/GN) | Feb 21 | GO > |
| Prince Georges | Cosca Lake – (700 RB/GN) | Feb 21 | GO > |
| Charles | Wheatley Lake – (960 RB/GN) | Feb 21 | GO > |
| Charles | Hugesville Pond – (350 RB/GN) | Feb 21 | GO > |
| Calvert | Calvert Cliffs – (300 RB/GN) | Feb 21 | GO > |
| Washington | Antietam Creek – (500 RB/GN) | Feb 21 | GO > |
West Virginia stocked trout all over this past week, including the South Branch of the Potomac at Smoke Hole, Elk River, the Greenbrier and Lost River.
February 23, 2012
- Anawalt Lake
- Back Fork of Elk River
- Clear Fork of Guyandotte River
- Desert Fork
- Gandy Creek
- Laurel Fork (Randolph)
- New Creek
- North Fork of Patterson Creek
- Pinnacle Creek (lower section)
- South Branch (Smoke Hole)
- Spruce Knob Lake
- Sugar Creek
- Summit Lake
- Williams River
February 22, 2012
- Anthony Creek
- Beech Fork Tailwaters
- Big Clear Creek
- East Fork Greenbrier River
- East Lynn Tailwaters
- Elk River
- Lick Creek Pond
- Little Clear Creek
- Little River East Fork Greenbrier River
- Little River West Fork Greenbrier River
- Lost River
- Shavers Fork (upper section)
- Trout Run
- Waites Run
- Wallback Lake
- Watoga Lake
- Wayne Dam
- West Fork Greenbrier River
- West Fork Twelvepole
February 21, 2012
- Hills Creek
- Kings Creek
- Knapps Creek
- South Branch (Franklin)
- Tomlinson Run
- Tomlinson Run Lake
February 17, 2012
- Berwind Lake
- Buffalo Creek (Logan)
- Clover Run
- Dry Fork (McDowell)
- Fall Run
- French Creek Pond
- Indian Rocks Lake
- Laurel Fork of Holly River
- Left Fork of Holly River
- Middle Wheeling Creek (delayed harvest)
- Newburg Lake
- Summersville Tailwaters