The Wrist Chronicles

Two handed trout...

Still in a brace for my injured wrist, my fishing opportunities were relegated to fishing left handed, or using a two handed rod. With it being spring, I had no problem bombing streamers with a skagit head and trying my hand at catching some local trout. For a few weekends in March I got out alone, with Ryan, or my father. As the wrist slowly felt better, I even got out on the oars a little bit. I considered it my own form of physical therapy. Little did I know at the time, but I actually needed wrist surgery. The doctor wanted it performed immediately but I opted to wait in order to take advantage of the fishing season. Sometimes, you have to have your priorities in order...

and I ran back to that hollow again...

A beautiful Maryland tailwater...

The Gunpowder River in Maryland is a gem of a wild trout stream just north of the city of Baltimore. I have fond memories of fly fishing with my brother Matt on these waters. When he started fly fishing, the Gunpowder was his playing ground. When he lived in the city, I would often make Friday night runs after work to fish the sulphur hatches in the spring. At night, I would crash at my brother's house and hang out in the city. On the weekends, we would always make sure to fish the river for a day. With the river being chock full of beautiful eager brown trout, we always had a great time. Despite the large populations of small trout, there are some big fish in the Gunpowder and those moments are permanently entrenched in my long term memory. Those recollections will always bring me back to this little hollow to find some fly fishing vibes on any day of the year.