fly fishing for trout at river bend

[striper42]

I'm planning to head to river bend in mid february and I was just wondering about what type of flies trout would take this time of year. Anything is appreciated.

[Jeffrey Rasband]

what type of stream/river will you be fishing? Is it a spring creek, tailwater, or freestone stream? I like to nymph with a strike indicator in the winter. You can't go wrong with beadhead nymphs, egg patterns, and san juan worms in winter. Add split shot and and indicator if needed and you should be good to go. If the water is near freezing the fish will be sluggish and youll have to drift the fly right on their nose and hope they decide to take it. On the other hand with water temps into the forties like you would find on a tailwater or spring creek the will be more aggressive and streamers are a great way to catch big fish, especially if its overcast. In fact for streamer fishing the crappier the weather the better!

[chesapeakeblend]

darn double post

[chesapeakeblend]

Are you referring to River Bend Park on the VA side of the Potomac? I don't think you will catch any trout there. I would not suggest wading around anywhere near there in the winter either. If you use a boat, you are required to have the PFD on (as you should anyway), not just in the boat.

[djamieson]

I know just what you're talking about. River Bend Farm is a private section of the North River (rod fee applies) that I've always wanted to fish but never got around to. I hear great things. Like I said, never fished it, but I imagine the game this time of year will be dark streamers, nymphs and stoneflies. I'd bring some heavy woolly buggers and some beadhead nymphs for the quicker water. Who knows, the stream is fed by local spring creeks, so depending on what the temps are like, you might even find some action on top with tiny bwo's. Please give a report, I'd love to hear about the water. I'd be shocked if you didn't have it all to yourself. You might want to check in with Colby at Mossy Creek Fly Shop, he'll know exactly what you'll want to bring.

dave

[Jeffrey Rasband]

Take some pics and post a report too! Sounds like a great fishin hole.

[dpost2]

Back in the 70's my brother was fishing a spinner at River Bend Park on the Potomac for smallmouths and caught 2 browns, - 14 and 18". Was he surprised! Those are the only trout I've ever heard of caught there but over the years I've heard of 1 or 2 trout caught at Fletcher's whille shad fishing.

[Salmo trutta]

I've caught trout below Great Falls while walleye fishing. They must be 4 mile run fish or Great Seneca Creek stocked trout because I can't imagine they'd make it in there for very long.

[OneMoreCast]

Jon and Dave... Carlos caught a rainbow while shad fishing right in front of Fletchers maybe 3 years ago.. I wouldn't have believed it if I didn't see the picture.

[spilunkr]

There are a number of Potomac River tributary streams that are stocked with trout in the early spring and some of those fish do eventually make their way down to the Potomac. During shad season at Fletcher's about three years ago, I saw two rainbows caught (one by me) during the half dozen times I fished the Cove.

As there are stocked tribs from D. C. all the way up into the North and South Branches of the Potomac and the Shenandoah it would not be surprising that trout would occasionally be caught pretty much anywhere but I don't think it would be worth the effort to try for them specifically in the Potomac much below Kaiser.

Guy