Are we safe yet from Old Man Winter's surprises? I want to believe it is so. Memories of snow on the cherry blossoms may be real, but the water of our Potomac hit 54 degrees today and fishing productivity is now in the fast lane to bountiful. Fletcher's Cove has now opened like the magnolia trees flowers. a heady fragrance of Spring is in the air. Driftwood swirls in the river's eddies and along the shoreline. A seasonal ritual of mother nature brings lots of lumber along with an unfortunate collection of human trash down the watershed to make pit-stops here, there, all along the way. It is something we are used to here at the Cove. We push the natural stuff aside, or back out into the river to be delivered to unseen associates downstream. The nasty man-made trash we pass to our park service friends or volunteers, to be disposed of properly. Do the river a favor and on your next visit, take a few extra pieces of trash with you!
After marking the sentries of weeks past, we now see waves of the jet black cormorants moving up the river to dive on a moveable feast of herring. Popping up from the depths, a silvery flash signals success for an amazing swimming bird. Local fishermen know, where there are herring, so go the rockfish. I suspect that in the next week some lunker striped bass will be caught and (hopefully) released with great care. The store at Fletcher's now has the D.C. fishing permits required for those between 16 and 65 years of age. $13 for non-residents and $10 for residents of D.C. proper. Cash or credit cards please, no checks. We have bait, terminal tackle and a small, carefully chosen line of spinning rods and reels appropriate for the types of fish caught here. Fletcher's also has one of the best selections of shad darts and spoons to be found anywhere. Refreshments are available and bikes, canoes and kayaks are for hire at most times. Call for confirmation on rentals. As I write this, the river is too high for fishing boat rentals, but there is hope for the weekend. Unlike last March, the Potomac has LOTS of flow this season. In all likelihood there will be frustrating periods with no boat rentals due to swift water. On the positive side, that same flow is what attracts the fish to our fair realm. As always, it's a balancing act. You are reading this, so you are on the right web site for Fletcher's Cove, the new name attached to the old institution of Fletcher's Boat House. Please do us a favor. Tell your friends that the web site is www.fletcherscove.com Google-ing "fletchers boat house" will not automatically get one to this correct site. You may also want to visit the parent company's site at www.guestservices.com. Both sites have links to much useful information. We hope to see you soon at Fletcher's. Getting here can be tricky, but then most good things in life require a little work. The folks at Fletcher's think you'll find it worth your while. Dan  operated
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White Perch made their 2007 Fletcher's debut on the 14th of March. A lady fisherperson named Cryshon of Suitland, Maryland fished with her companion along the chilly bank of the lower cove. On the next day (a Thursday) the couple reeled in a good number of the delectable fish using night crawlers for bait. Friday the 16th brought sleet, snow, cold rain and wind. Water temp plummeted 10 degrees and fishing was "put on ice" until this weekend past. Now the hard-core regulars who know the drill are hooking up with good sized perch and the vanguard schools of hickory shad. Mike Bailey worked hard to snatch four shad yesterday morning and regular visitor Gordon finessed the warmer afternoon tide to land about twenty fish. Now, each cycle of the tides should bring forth more fish to their natural spawning area around Fletcher's.