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This Limestone Stream Is a Gem
After seven or eight minutes of this sort of give-and-take, the adversaries reached a standoff. "I still have to get him set up just right to fit in the net," Coburn said. But every time he raised the rod high and bent down to net the bruiser head-on, the trout summoned another burst of energy and shot back into the deep.
On the sixth or seventh try, Coburn made his move and the big fish was secure. He scrambled up the bank for the requisite high-fives and photo opportunities, then eased the trout back in the water and waited anxiously for it to swim off, which eventually it did. "You don't want to lose 'em," Coburn said.
  Larry Coburn nets a rainbow trout on snowy Beaver Creek near Hagerstown. The stream makes for good fishing in winter or summer. (By Angus Phillips For The Washington Post) |
And that was our Feb. 21. Anyone have something better to offer?
The good news is, limestone streams such as Beaver Creek are not just productive in winter, they're good all year. When the dog days of July and August roll in with searing heat, chalk streams stay cool enough for trout to thrive, just as they remain warm enough in February. That's thanks to the natural spring that feeds them, gushing up 3,500 gallons of cool water a minute, and the limestone in it that fosters insect life.
Washington area trout anglers are familiar with the fabled limestone streams of south-central Pennsylvania -- the Yellow Breeches, Falling Spring and the Letort. And Virginians know about limestone waters in the Shenandoah Valley such as Mossy Creek, Smith Creek and the North River.
But closest of all is Beaver Creek, just over an hour's drive from downtown. Last week we saw one other angler there and just one set of footprints in the snow. It's a puzzlement.
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National Capital Chapter of Trout Unlimited had its annual fly-fishing show at Bethesda-Chevy Chase High School yesterday, featuring international fly-fishing legend Lefty Kreh of Cockeysville, Md., who just turned 82. Happy birthday, Lefty.
Fly-rodders who missed that session may want to check out a free series of seminars from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. today at the Bass Pro Shop in Hanover, where local experts Jim Gracie, Jay Sheppard, Brady Bounds, Charlie Gougeon and Coburn will offer tips and advice.
