District Angling

Field Report - October 2024 - https://mailchi.mp/districtangling/field-report-october-2024

Fall is here and the slowly cooling days and cold nights are letting fish know it's time to put the feedbag on. This can be some of the most fun fishing of the year, but also can be a tough decision on where to fish: Shenandoah for fall brook trout? Great Lakes steelhead? Maybe striped bass or false albacore fall runs in Montauk, or the Outer Banks? How about all of the above!

Show Your Support - The Best Of Arlington Awards & Google Reviews

If you're reading this you're probably already a customer and have been in the shop and know what makes us a local favorite. You've seen us have ups and downs - from celebrations and amazing trips and film festivals, to adversity, a pandemic, and market forces that test our resolve to continue sharing what we love so much.

As a small business we're no stranger to fighting for room at the table when it comes to being seen and heard, and there's no better vote of confidence that we're doing a great job than by spreading the word about your favorite flyshop.

We're in the running for Best Outdoor Apparel & Gear in the area in Arlington Magazine's Best Of 2025 contest. Voting closes September 6th at 5pm so we hope you'll click the link and add us as your favorite in that category. In order for your vote to count you'll have to provide responses in at least 5 categories and fill out your details. Please vote only once for it to count! - https://www.arlingtonmagazine.com/best-of-arlington-survey/

You can also let the world know how swell you think we are by adding a Google Review of our business. If you do, please let us know what we're doing right. We've grown since we opened 7 years ago and have enjoyed hatching a lot of our customers grow as anglers. We've also loved watching our young anglers grow up and appreciate the sport.

Every vote and review helps make us stand out in the crowd, and helps us shine a little brighter in Arlington.

Saturday Seminars - Introduction To Fly Tying - https://mailchi.mp/districtangling/fly-tying-saturdays-introduction-to-fly-tying-fall

Fly fishing - the original artisanal sport. Not much has changed in the sport since the 1600's, including how flies are created - all painstakingly done by hand with tools, feathers and hair, a hook, and some patience and manual dexterity.

Have you always wanted to learn how this is done? Now is your chance - come in this Saturday and learn how to create your first fly. We'll get you hooked!

Tying seminars run 2 hours. Bring your vise, tying tools, and thread, and tie along with us. Learn tips, tricks, and special techniques for creating amazing flies that will help you catch more fish.

Our Saturday Seminars cover a range of topics - from regional and seasonal fly patterns, fishing clinics, casting instruction, destination and hosted travel, local guided trips, and information for fishing for everything from local to exotic species.

Space is limited, so arrive early and have fun.

Fly Tying Class Attendees Receive A 15% Discount On All Tying Materials & Tools

Attendees receive a ticket for discount at start of class for any tying materials or tools. Special orders for product not in-stock will be permitted. Discount expires end of day.

Field Report - August 2024 - http://eepurl.com/iCaSNU

Summer vacation is slowly coming to an end for most folks, but not for Ivan and I. We're up here on the banks of the Delaware with a few of our manufacturers learning about the new products that will be available for Holiday '24, and Spring '25. We can't divulge top secret information, but we're excited to bring you some great new gear.

Because of this event, we're are closed on Tuesday August 27th until we can make it back down to open the doors. We look forward to seeing everyone again Wednesday at 10am.

Fly Tying Skills Part 1 (Novice) - https://mailchi.mp/districtangling/fly-tying-saturdays-fly-tying-skills-part-1

Fly tying has been seen as essential to the fly fisherman in completing the task of matching the hatch because not only do you figure out the insect species, but you go a step further and create that imitation with your own hands and labor. Norman Maclean, author of A River Runs Through It, quoted his father, a Presbyterian minister, as saying "To him, all good things—trout as well as eternal salvation—come by grace, and grace comes by art; and art does not come easy."

Tomorrow we take the time to work on fly ting skills that will make you a better fly tyer. This is part 1 of a 2 part educational clinic. You should bring your vise and tools, and a variety of sizes of threads for these classes. Class starts promptly as 10am so arrive early, grab some coffee and a donut, and relax and learn how to make your flies better with ease and skill.

Our Saturday Seminars cover a range of topics - from regional and seasonal fly patterns, fishing clinics, casting instruction, destination and hosted travel, local guided trips, and information for fishing for everything from local to exotic species.

Space is limited, so arrive early and have fun.

Click here to see a schedule of upcoming clinics.

White Flies - The First Mayfly (Intermediate) - https://mailchi.mp/districtangling/fly-tying-saturdays-white-flies

The mayfly is a long studied and loved trout stream insect that epitomize what fly fishing is all about. Artists, fishers, and writers wax poetic about the beautiful sailboat-winged insect that you see floating down rivers en masse, having their lifecycle interrupted by a stealthy trout sitting just below the surface while sipping on the emerging insects. The first mention of the mayfly dates back to 2000 BCE in the "Epic Of Gilgamesh", a tale of the life of the Babylonian ruler, and was written on clay tablets.

Come learn how to tie our local summertime bug the White Fly, or Ephoron leukon, also known as the White Miller from 10am to noon - Tying seminars run 2 hours. Bring your vise, tying tools, and thread, and tie along with us. Learn tips, tricks, and special techniques for creating amazing flies that will help you catch more fish.

Our Saturday Seminars cover a range of topics - from regional and seasonal fly patterns, fishing clinics, casting instruction, destination and hosted travel, local guided trips, and information for fishing for everything from local to exotic species.

Space is limited, so arrive early and have fun.

Patience, Grasshopper with Ivan (Intermediate) - https://mailchi.mp/districtangling/fly-tying-saturdays-patience-grasshopper-2024

Nothing gets fish more riled up during the heat of the summer in our area than big crunchy terrestrials that fall into the water on spring creeks and any body of water adjacent meadows and grasslands. The flies don't even have to land delicately in some situations - you need to alert the fish that lunch is served! Come learn a few quick patterns that will make filling your flybox fun and both time and cost efficient.

Hop on over to the shop and tie with us tomorrow July 27th. Tying seminars run 2 hours. Bring your vise, tying tools, and thread, and tie along with us. Learn tips, tricks, and special techniques for creating amazing flies that will help you catch more fish.

Sometimes we like to think about what’s important in life. Family. Friends. Working hard. Playing hard. Sometimes you need to kick back and relax after grinding it out all week in the hot summer sun.

No better way to find that ME time than by chasing tough Bahamian permit with a new Nautilus and an ice cold Kalik. leading by example.

Jealous. 🤙🏻

Foam Poppers With Micah Dammeyer

Want to learn how to tie flies, laugh, have coffee donuts, & enjoy yourself all morning? Come hang out with guide, tyer, & life of the party Micah Dammeyer of Knee Deep Fly Fishing. He'll be showing you how to tie his super effective and fun to tie soft foam poppers that work for all species of fish from bass to snakehead and everything in between.

Come have a great time with us tomorrow. 10am to noon. Bring your vise and tools and some thread.

Bootcamp Fall '24 Schedule - https://mailchi.mp/districtangling/fly-fishing-bootcamp_f24

Fly fishing can be a difficult sport to master, & can be daunting to the new recruit, so let us help you train & learn & appreciate the sport with our intensive & detail-oriented fly fishing school. Bootcamp is split into a 2 day event: Day 1 is a Wednesday night in the shop & Day 2 is at a private trout stream 1 hour west of the shop.

REMEMBER - THIS EVENT IS FIRST COME, FIRST SERVED. We enroll our students in order of the e-mails as we receive them.

Independence Day 2024 - https://mailchi.mp/districtangling/independenceday_2024

Happy Independence Day

Enjoy your 4th Of July! It's not lost on us that we are celebrating our independence from the country that refined and perfected the sport that our entire business is founded on, so thanks for fly fishing Brits!

We hope your day is filled with rising fish, ice cold beverages, barbecue, and a little relaxation on our hard-earned holiday.

Chuck Kraft Day - Smallmouth Patterns (Novice) - https://mailchi.mp/districtangling/fly-tying-saturdays-sulphur-emergers-dries-8260265

Summer is here and the smallmouth are interested in only one thing - EATING!. Potomac River forage species include crayfish, shiners, hellgrammites, sculpins, and madtoms, and having the right pattern makes all the difference between a 15 fish day and 50 fish day. Chuck Kraft spent a lifetime guiding for these fish and creating and testing patterns that were durable and effective.

Come learn how to tie these highly effective and awesome bugs. Tying seminars run 2 hours. Bring your vise, tying tools, and thread, and tie along with us. Learn tips, tricks, and special techniques for creating amazing flies that will help you catch more fish.

Ham sammich.

In Remembrance of The Fallen - https://mailchi.mp/districtangling/in-remembrance-of-the-fallen24

Today, amidst the time spent on the water, with family and friends, in front of a grill, or on a boat casting to your favorite fish, we acknowledge the brave men and women that have sacrificed for their country and shall never be forgotten.

As we're enjoying the amazing weather we've been blessed with this weekend, we understand that freedom isn't free and we encourage you to take the time to remember those who have laid down their lives.

"As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them"

John F. Kennedy

Saturday Seminars - Carp Flies For The Canal - https://mailchi.mp/districtangling/fly-tying-saturdays-canal_carp

I like to write nice things about the fish we're tying flies for in these e-mails. Wax poetic about the beauty of the mountains that trout live in, or the adventure of searching for fish in an exotic, far-away place. And yet here I am trying to find the words to do justice for the challenge and fighting ability of the lowly carp... and the C&O Canal carp at that. What do you say about a non-native fish that eats everything in it's path except your well-placed, well-tied fly? I'll tell you what you say... you learn to tie better flies, practice your casting and present your fly better and wait for that eat, and maybe, if you're lucky, you'll be able to land and hook up to a 10-plus pound golden slime monster with whiskers and nowhere to run in the Canal. And you'll love every minute of it.

Come learn how to tie things carp stuff. Tying seminars run 2 hours. Bring your vise, tying tools, and thread, and tie along with us. Learn tips, tricks, and special techniques for creating amazing flies that will help you catch more fish.

Our Saturday Seminars cover a range of topics - from regional and seasonal fly patterns, fishing clinics, casting instruction, destination and hosted travel, local guided trips, and information for fishing for everything from local to exotic species.

Space is limited, so arrive early and have fun.

Saturday Seminars - Sulphur Emergers & Dries With Ivan - https://mailchi.mp/districtangling/fly-tying-saturdays-sulphur-emergers-dries

We're experiencing an early summer - the warmer temperatures has slowed down the shad fishing but the mayflies are hatching earlier than expected - including the sulphur mayflies that normally hatch around Memorial Day and last thru end of the summer. We rearranged our schedule to take advantage of the early hatches and a chance to show you how to make these flies your go-to pattern from May to July.

Saturday Seminars - Junk Flies For High Water - https://mailchi.mp/districtangling/fly-tying-saturdays-junk-flies

If you've been paying attention, we've had a ridiculous amount of rain in the last week... so much so that almost every river is blown out in our area. There are no falls presently at Great Falls. When the water gets high and messy, fish tend to sit in slower water, and when the rivers are off color it's harder for them to see your presentation. That's when you take out the big streamer box, or sometimes the junk flies come out.

Come learn how to tie these junk flies to catch fish in higher water like we're experiencing now from 10am to 12 noon. Tying seminars run 2 hours. Bring your vise, tying tools, and thread, and tie along with us. Learn tips, tricks, and special techniques for creating amazing flies that will help you catch more fish.

Saturday Seminars - Washington's Founding Fish - Tying Shad Flies - https://mailchi.mp/districtangling/fly-tying-saturdays-washingtons-founding-fish

Come learn how to tie patterns to pursue hickory and American shad in the Potomac and Rappahannock Rivers. Tying seminars run 2 hours, starting at 10am. Bring your vise, tying tools, and thread, and tie along with us. Learn tips, tricks, and special techniques for creating amazing flies that will help you catch more fish.

Saturday Seminars - Introduction To Fly Tying - https://mailchi.mp/districtangling/fly-tying-saturdays-introduction-to-fly-tying-2024

Fly fishing - the original artisanal sport. Not much has changed in the sport since the 1600's, including how flies are created - all painstakingly done by hand with tools, feathers and hair, a hook, and some patience and manual dexterity.

Have you always wanted to learn how this is done? Now is your chance - come in this Saturday and learn how to create your first fly. We'll get you hooked!

Tomorrow from 10am to noon.

Fly Tying Clinic - Copper & Jumbo Johns - https://mailchi.mp/districtangling/fly-tying-clinic-tying-copper-and-jumbo-johns

Bigger doesn't always mean it's better. But the Copper John & Jumbo John will make you question that adage. Come learn to tie both of these - the original Copper John for trout species, & the Jumbo John for steelhead, sea-run browns, & salmon.

Tying seminars run 2 hours. Bring your vise, tying tools, & thread, & tie along with us. Learn tips, tricks, &special techniques for creating amazing flies that will help you catch more fish.

Late start today but we’ll be open by 11am. Don’t forget your tickets and Bootcamp which can all be done online.

F3T Is HERE! - Wednesday, March 20th - https://mailchi.mp/districtangling/f3t-2024

The Fly Fishing Film Tour has returned, better than ever!

Clear your schedule as we present the 18th annual film tour on Wednesday March 20th, 2024 - the night you look forward to each year!

Event will be held at The Arlington Cinema Drafthouse - 2903 Columbia Pike Arlington, VA 22204.

TICKETS ARE AVAILABLE FOR PURCHASE ONLINE ONLY - https://shop.districtangling.com/f3t-fly-fishing-film-tour-ticket.html

New this winter - coming soon to a flyshop near you - whole bean, ground, and pouches. Now that Jack Frost is nipping at your nose, we’re brewing the Caddis Blend here at the shop for that warming boost we need. Look for it near the coffee mugs next week.

Fly Tying Clinic - Winter Stoneflies - https://mailchi.mp/districtangling/fly-tying-clinic-tying-winter-stoneflies

Dry flies in the winter? You know it. These little black stoneflies are an effective topwater pattern on freestones and tailwaters alike here on the east coast. Join us for this intermediate level class. We'll talk about small bugs that make the winter months more fun.

Tying seminars run 2 hours. Bring your vise, tying tools, and thread, and tie along with us. Learn tips, tricks, and special techniques.

Fly Fishing Bootcamp - Spring Classes. An Intensive School - Learn To Fly Fish. Book NOW!

Many men go fishing all of their lives without knowing that it is not fish they are after.” - Henry David Thoreau

You’ve probably read that quote above somewhere before. You’ve probably also read that “Trout don’t live in ugly places.” It’s true - the sport of fly fishing has an allure, a charm that transcends it just being a bloodsport. To some it’s a way to catch fish, to others it’s an art form, and to some of us it’s a lifestyle. From movies to books to our Presidents to kids of all ages, fly fishing is here and it’s cool and we love it.

Fly fishing can be a difficult sport to master, and can be daunting to the new recruit, so let us help you train and learn and appreciate the sport with our intensive and detail-oriented fly fishing school. Bootcamp is split into a 2 day event: Day 1 is a 2 hour in-classroom event where you’ll learn the basics of the sport, the history, and casting mechanics. Day 2 is an all-day on the river clinic learning about trout stream entomology and where you get to apply everything you’ve learned and catch your first fly-caught trout!


2024 Fly Fishing Bootcamp Clinic Dates:

Clinic 1 - Wednesday February 28th | Sunday March 3rd at Rose River
Clinic 2 - Wednesday Marc 13th | Sunday March 17th at Rose River
Clinic 3- Wednesday April 3rd | Sunday April 7th at Cedar Creek
Clinic 4 - Wednesday April 10th | Sunday April 14th at Cedar Creek
Clinic 5 - Wednesday April 17th | Sunday April 21st at Rose River
Clinic 6 - Wednesday April 24th | Sunday April 28th at Cedar Creek
Clinic 7 - Wednesday May 1st | Sunday May 5th at Cedar Creek
Clinic 8 - Wednesday May 15th | Sunday May 19th at Cedar Creek

Click the link in our bio to see the list@of dates and to register.

REMEMBER - THIS EVENT IS FIRST COME, FIRST SERVED. We enroll our students in order of the e-mails as we receive them.

Happy Holidays & Seasons Greetings - https://mailchi.mp/districtangling/seasons-greetings-happy-holidays-2023

There are 14 different holidays that are celebrated throughout the month of December. We hope that the holiday you are celebrating is spent with friends & family, loved ones young & old, filled with cheer, happiness, laughter, & love.

Happy Holidays from us all at District Angling