It was HOT!
Jin was in town and with most streams in near flood condition from the heavy rain that hit Northern Virginia two days ago we decided to fish Holmes Run to see if there were any trout left after the catch and keep season opened two weeks ago.
It was uncomfortably HOT! We began fishing and sweating at the big pool at the third crossing. The water was colored and moving very slowly. And it was 80 degrees. I tied on a size 14 prospecting nymph (orange flash, peacock herl head) and picked up four very small sunfish in four casts. I was surprised that they could even fit that fly into their mouths. Jin was also slaying them but unfortunately they weren't trout. I downsized to a size 18 gold wire nymph and continued to pull in lots of sunfish but no trout.
We moved up to the second crossing and began fishing the deep pool. Again, lots of sunfish but no trout. After awhile this became a bit boring so we decided to head down to Chambliss Street to fish a deep spot that always held trout. On our way downstream we fished at several pools and Jin spotted the only trout of the day, a brown that was holding in very shallow water in the middle of the stream just before the third crossing. With water pegged at 80 degrees and the air temperature pushing 101 degrees, this fish was not going to last much longer.
Our lousy luck held for the rest of this hot and miserable day and we continued to catch sunfish but no trout so we called it a day and took off for a bit of lunch in an nice cool restaurant.
EQUIPMENT: We used 3-weight rods and various nymphs. These are stocked fish so no need to get too technical. With the water in the 80's and the temperature expected to hit the low 100's, the remaining trout won't last. They're probably huddled in the deepest run on Holmes--waiting.
DIRECTIONS: The upper section of Holmes Run Stream Valley Park is located just off Columbia Pike (244) amid apartments, residential housing and strip malls. As you drive on 244 towards Leesburg Pike (Rt. 7) the road will slope downhill. To your right you will see a large apartment complex and on your left will be the face of the Lake Barcroft Dam. You will cross a bridge with a covered pedestrian walkway. At this point slow down and get in the right lane. The road will begin to slope uphill. To your right is a small, paved road that looks like a bike path. This is the entrance. It's a sudden right turn so make sure the car on your tail knows you're turning. Park and follow the path to Holmes Run.
