[SteveL]

Got the winter fishing itch? I know I do, so consider attending this meetng next week in Bethesda MD to help prepare for shad fishing in a few months. I hope to see you there!

I worked with Jim Cummins on this project in the mid 1990s for my MS thesis research. The Potomac river American shad restoration project is a modern day fisheries management success story. Recent surveys suggest that the Potomac river is the biggest shad producer among all the Ches. Bay tributaries; this is a direct result of restoration effots that have been led by Jim Cummins and ICPRB, with the help of the US Fish and Wildlife Service and a number of other partners, over the past 15 years.

WEDNESDAY, February 11. National Capital Chapter of Trout Unlimited monthly meeting presents Jim Cummins with an "Overview & Update on The Restoration of the American Shad on the Potomac River." Jim Cummins, fisheries biologist with the Interstate Commission on the Potomac River Basin, has been the primary mover and shaker behind the successful restoration of the American Shad to the Potomac. Please join us for what promises to be an interesting and informative seminar about the status and prospects for one of our most beloved local fishes. Also shad fly tying and fishing techniques to be shared in anticipation of the April-May shad run. Dial up National Capital Chapter - Trout Unlimited - Angling Fishing Show - Argentina Fishing - James Prosek - Mike Lawson for specifics on time and location.:thumbup:

 

[Salmo trutta]

I'll try to be there. I want to pick Jim's brain a bit.

But I'm not sure where it is. The web site below looked like it was missing something. Here's what I copied:

Our monthly meetings are open to the public and are held at the in downtown Bethesda. Doors open at 7:15p for socializing. The meeting starts about 8:00p and usually ends about 9:30p. Join us for dinner with our speaker at 5:30p at McCormick & Schmick's Seafood Restaurant. Please contact George Gaines to reserve."

So is the monthly meeting at McCormick and Schmicks after the dinner?

 

[spilunkr]

Unless they have recently changed their meeting location it is at the Bethesda Government Center next to the metro stop in "downtown" Bethesda. You can get the specifics from the NCC-TU website.

Guy

 

[HJS]

I will try to make the meeting to. I found this in the NCC-TU web site:
=======================================

Monthly Chapter Membership Meetings

* * Visitors are welcome to join members at Chapter Meetings with featured speakers held on the second Wednesday of the month during October, November, January, February, April, and May. We usually have no meetings in December, March, and June - September.

* * For our full speaker's schedule, click here.

* * Place: Chapter meetings are held at the Bethesda-Chevy Chase Services Center, 4805 Edgmoor Lane, downtown Bethesda, MD (right behind the Bethesda Metro station). Public parking at 75 cents per hour is available in the County parking garage below the building. You will find directions and map below.

* * Time: Social hour begins at 7:15 p.m., followed by a brief business meeting and a speaker program starting at 8:00 p.m. In addition, books and clothing sales and video rentals are available.

NCC-TU - Meetings

 

[Salmo trutta]

It's free parking in Bethesda after 10pm till 7am (I think). Just an FYI in case there is alcohol at this event.... The police in that area are notorious for pulling people over for no reason and sobriety check points are common.

 

[SteveL]

Thanks for the location info, I am not a member of TU and I have never been to that meeting location. I plan to attend the event, HJS and Salmo it will be good to see you again. Guy I am not sure if we have met, lets make sure to meet each other.

I am really looking forwad to the fishing season. I picked up several cool yaks for fishing over the past year and my 10 yr old son is doing extremely well paddling his whitewater kayak so he is very solid in a fishing yak. I am thinking of some trips to fletchers for shad, the Pax at Waysons and some Eastern Shore trips during the perch runs. Spring can't come soon enough!

 

[spilunkr]

Steve,

I retired from Montgomery Co. Gov'n't in 2006 and moved to here to Fort Collins, CO. The trout fishing is great here, but I do miss seeing a lot of friends from back in the D. C. area.

Guy

 

[SteveL]

Guy,

It sure is pretty out there, I hope you are enjoying retirement!

 

[Andy Spence]

Fellow Anglers:

The meeting location is the Bethesda-Chevy Chase Services Center, 4805 Edgemoor Lane, Bethesda, Maryland. Directions are available on our website under "Meetings." Go to National Capital Chapter - Trout Unlimited - Angling Fishing Show - Argentina Fishing - James Prosek - Mike Lawson. There is plenty of cheap parking below the building in county lot. The meeting starts with a social hour at 7:15 PM. Jim Cummins will speak at 8 PM. The dinner beforehand is just down the block at McCormack & Schmick's. After dinner we just walk up to BCC Services Center. If you want to go to dinner, contact George Gaines (sorry don't have his cell # handy) or call me (703-969-3463), and we'll reserve spot for you at dinner.

Andy

 

[Bend-Lure]

A big thanks to TU NCC for a great event last night. I learned a lot about fishing for shad on the Potomac, and the current restoration efforts in the Chesapeake drainage and along the east coast. The event went longer than I expected and I caught hell from the wifey when I got home, but that’s ok.

Salmo Trutta – Your questions and comments were great. Thanks for the report on the current hatch.

Andy – I hope I sold enough raffle tickets to help the coffers.

I will certainly attend these events in the future.

 

[SteveL]

I agree, it was a great event, very informative and it was well attended. I had warned the wife I would be late and luckily she knows Jim and knows how much we enjoy BSing about fish. Before the talk I asked him if it would ba an hour, he said no only about 20 minutes--yea right! I live south of Frederick and I did not get home til 11 pm and was back at work in Silver Spring at 7 this morning.

I enjoyed meeting and chatting with everyone last night, esp. fishing friends that I have not seen in several years like Flying Fish, HJS, Salmo, Sebastian and others.

I guess I should have spoken up last night about the Potomac walleye--the seasonal timing, water temps and river level and clarity are primo right now, even with a colder spell coming. I saw two 4 lb class fish caught new years day from the MD shore below Great Falls, and the recent warm up should get them very active--check out the water temp graph below, its up to 45 degrees at Little Falls. There is no question in my mind that fishermen could catch a walleye or two below Great Falls right now, I may have to break out a rod and try it over the next few days.

For non ww kayak paddlers, I would sugget casting from the MD or VA shores below Rocky Isl or from Fishermen's Eddy at GF VA (within sight of "shad rock") in low light if possible using 3-4 inch soft plastics (twister or shad tails) in chartruse on 1/8 oz jigs or possibly with crankbait plugs (I tend to do better on plugs in warmer water).

The surfing wave below the VA observation decks is at a primo level today, if by chance anyone is out this evening watch for me in a white and purple kayak, I will be at GF VA and launching with several friends at around 4 pm today, wave me over if you happen to see me.

USGS Real-Time Water Data for USGS 01646500 POTOMAC RIVER NEAR WASH, DC LITTLE FALLS PUMP STA

 

[Salmo trutta]

The talk was excellent and informative. I even got to pick Jim's brain a bit when he finished because he sat down right in front of me. Hahaha. Poor guy.

Thanks for the info Steve. I meant to pick your brain a little after the show too but it was a little crazy. I wanted to get some information for the kids about elementary schools raising shad first and the next thing I knew, most people were long gone.

 

[HJS]

It was a good meeting. Great to see folks I hadn't mer for years.

About Potomac walleye fishing. Don't forget the slot limit for Potomac walleye is in effect now, January 1 to April 15. Which means that all walleyes less than 15" or over 20" MUST be returned to the water. This is to protect the youngsters and the spawners.

 

[SteveL]

HJS, thanks for the reminder. I don't eat any freshwater fish so its not an issue for me. The ones I saw caught on Jan 1 from MD were bagged, and the guy was very uncomfortable with me asking about them. There is so much illegal fishing along the Potomac that I mostly turn a blind eye, sad but true...

 

[SteveL]

Saw a few walleye caught at dusk yesterday, see:

http://www.tidalfish.com/forums/che...ngler/253811-potomac-walleye.html#post1279925

 

[Andy Spence]

Thanks Bend-Lure for selling those raffle tickets. Big help. Hope to see you and everyone else at our Angling Show on March 14th and at our next Chapter meeting in April.