Fletchers Cove Fishing Report, April 28, 2005

Now that the season has caught up to the calendar, I am happy to report that fishing activity is in high gear at Fletcher’s Cove. Many good forays on the river and shore have been made by anglers seeking Shad, Perch, and the soon-to-be in season Striped Bass. The first week of April saw the flip-flop from a high, cold torrent, to a fishable river teeming with anadromous occupants seeking life’s renewal. There are those anglers who will wait till the eleventh hour and then wonder what they missed, and there are those who already assume they must have missed it all, but in reality we are just getting into the swing of things along the pastoral Potomac.

If you are a native Washingtonian then you know that average is the exception when it comes to the weather (and river conditions) around here. Indeed the river flow and water temperature is right on the average this week after spiking earlier in the month and during last weeks hot spell. If you plan on fishing this Spring, you best act soon. All the spawning fish are together right now like a giant piscatorial convention on our shoreline. The school-bell is ringing… come to class!

This past Monday was the annual Congressional Casting Call at Fletcher’s Landing. We were visited by members of the Congressional Sportsman Foundation, trade reps, fisher people extraordinaire and two very special guests, Lewis Harley and Jim Cummins. Jim is the “Shad savior of the Potomac” and Lewis is a tough old waterman of a bygone era. Together they set up a shad planking demonstration early Monday morning and by mid-day the results were fascinating AND delicious. Biologists from U.S. Fish and Wildlife had live Sturgeon and Shad fry to see and yes, there was even a bit of angling going on. The fish were a bit reticent, but there were some successes and a fun day it was for all.

I want to thank the folks at Lockett Industries of Pennsylvania for helping to make Fletcher’s Cove “shad dart central” in the region. We order darts from several wholesalers but Locketts, being a small, family business is close to our hearts. They produce a quality product, presented very nicely at a fair price, and respond to our fickle needs with alacrity and understanding. If you like to shad fish and there is a little bit of kid left in you, come get some Lockett Darts to add to the collection. Ask any serious shad fisherman… you can never have too many darts of different colors and types. This week I have a few very unusual ones coming in from Locketts.

By the way, Fletcher’s cove is now open for bike rentals and canoes on the C&O Canal. Come see the verdant landscape in the Park before Summer closes in on us.

Dan