Henk et al,
Since you seek a lively fishing experience stateside and are one of the cutting-edge crew of the new age of fly fishing, I have come upon a great idea for you and many others to come!
What fish has made all the news, is a great fighter, tears after anything that moves including big flys, would not offend any government or private agency if "too many" were killed, would improve international relations, is good to eat AND is an almost untouched resource of fly fishing potential for sport or even COMPETITION fishing. As a matter of fact, this could be the northern equal of the peacock bass in a watershed that is quite large with a population that is booming in a prime bass breeding ground.
By now, you HAVE to know the fish is the NORTHERN SNAKEHEAD. Delicious but hated, unprotected yet unwanted, predacious and ecologically dangerous, agressive game fish with no limits or rules except YOU MAY NOT CATCH & RELEASE this fish as they must be dispatched upon landing. What a way to take out aggression and be applauded for it!
All we need is the NY to DC shuttle info or the commuter train schedule, figure out how many vehicles/licenses/drivers, hire a guide since I don't know anyone who fishes for these except those teenagers who caught 100 the other day while drinking beer under age (shows my network, eh?), etc.
The one downside is that you won't hear "my, that's a pretty fish and look at those colors!" but you will know your international efforts will reach the White House and probably get President Bush to come shake your hand for a press opp (maybe gift you a Hemmingway rod from some museum...more likely a Samuel Clemons feeshin pole) to take away from today's politics. Danged Henk, you might be named ambassador to the USA unless Hans jumps in and creates an EU level post ahead of you. Let's see, how about the "EU Snakehead Fly Fishing Program for World Peace"?
Sure some of this post is in fun but I could finally get to try out those really sweet deerhair bass bugs you tied and gave me years back at Morgan Run and I could make up for a short day of fishing. Or.....
Another idea would be for you to fish PA below Harrisburg. There is a shuttle to Baltimore-Washington Internatianal (BWI) airport which is only an hour from me and we could be on the water in an hour or two depending on whether to fish the Gunpowder in MD or my secret stream in PA just a bit north which happens to have something in common with the Gunpowder.
Decisions, decisions. Key are time & transportation issues I suppose. Depending on desired species, you could hop to Buffalo, Erie, Harrisburg, DC, others, to fish for steelhead, salmon, trout (or snakehead if you wanted to do something new), all within an hour or so. My cabin is below Harrisburg if you want to fish limestone, freestone and tailwater.
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