Caddis & Hendrickson's

Fished last week, Wed. found me on Big Fishing Creek, the water level was perfect just a bit on the high side but given the fact that Penns was over 800 cfs I'll take the level. Arrived around 9:30 AM to a great hatch of Grannom's and rising fish (you had to wait and target each one), water temp was 49.3 and rose to 51 by 1:30 PM, took fish on a new bubble back caddis dry, it's nothing more that a Sid Neff style tie but with a CDC bubble under the deer hair with some of the fibers sticking out to simulate legs, it works but only floats till you take two fish on it- so you need a butch in your box. Decided to go back the Fishing Creek Thursday and arrived early, no caddis in the air but decided to use a new Grannom pupa imitation, Tiemco 2487 size #14 with a black nickle bead head and a cream green mole body ribbed with black organza and a hackle behind the bead of black hen, that was the bottom fly under a light Hendrickson nymph. All the fish that I took and there were several really nice ones ate the caddis! This might be another caddis folly, we seem to come up with patterns that might work one year then the next- nothing, here's hoping this might be that answer. About 1:00 PM the Hendrickson's started and one by one they cam not heavy but nice- no fish where I was, jumped in the car and drove to the SIG Center, they were eating them there but only a few, must have been the very start because the fish have not keyed on them yet. Friday found me on Penns, water was up but with careful wading not a bad fish, used the same caddis pupa and light Hendrickson tandem rig and they ate it! I thought I video taped some of the better fish but never had the dam thing turned on correctly, did take several fish in the 16-18" class, all in great condition. The Hendrickson's should be on like crazy this week and look for a good spinner fall each evening.
  Here's an update to the flour. tape that I took out of the trees on Penns, seems as if some guys are having competitiona and laying out beats to see who can catch the most fish in a given area while someone watches them- the bucket with a seat on it! The PA Fish & Boat Comm. gives them permission to do this but never comes back to check and see what they have left behind, what a crime by the very people who are chartered to protect our resourse and environment. Next up we'll have the NASCAR crowd handing out stickers and PBR beer- what a shame we have come to this shit, it's bad enough when a company sells a fish counter to keep score like you do in golf- what the hell.

Trash 2013, take some home

Our local TU Chapter completed our annual Penns Creek clean up Saturday April 20, just what we needed "a day no one could fish due to high water"! As shown in the attached picture we had a very good day, please note that not all the trash is shown due to late arrivals and one generous fellow taking his finds home with him. It is worth saying how much any group of people can help by just going out and tackling an area, any trash that is picked up is like a breath of fresh air. If everyone would just take a few pieces with them as they leave an area what a huge difference it would make, please do not use the excuse that you did not put it there, take it out! Next time out look around and see what you could take with you.

It Will Make You Feel Good

The other day when I fished Penns every time I looked around all I saw was trash, plastic bottles- clear and green like little beacon lights. I have no idea how the heck all of them end up in the stream but they are there this year in big numbers, there was also two trees that had red. flour tape hanging from them! Yes you could just fish but that is not all it is about, it's about seeing everything that nature has to offer and taking it all in for the total experience. As I made my way upstream the amount of trash just became to much to bear, well right before me was a 5 gal. plastic bucket with a nice board on top and 4 rocks in it, a home made seat- who the hell does that, well that was taken down ASAP and I used the bucket to put the plastic in it. In less that 10 mins the bucket was filled and the red tape was taken off the trees, a bit better but still not pristine. At this time of year everyone needs to take some trash with them as they leave the stream, yea I know you did not put it there but you can take it out- let's all take a bag out every time we fish.

Spring 2013

Fished Penns today, water at 42.2  degrees and 542 cfs flow, just a bit on the high side to fish nymphs effectively without using a ton of weight. Found good numbers of trout holding in the softer riffles in about 3-4 ft. of water and could get the Copper John down in their zone easily but used an across and down drift, none of that bobber or upstream stuff. Weather was nice till the WIND came and did it ever, could not get any drift without it putting a big belly in the leader, oh well had enough. There were tons of midges flying around but not one rise, just too early this year. Today was nice and that is part of the problem, trout don't have eyelids and really don't care much for the sun, fish early or late when it's out. We are about 7-10 days away from a solid rise, keep watching it will happen hopefully in the week days not the weekend.
  This past month every bad weather day has been a 10 on Spring Creek with the Olive emergence, good days none bad weather they come all day, also not many people when it's bad.
  Hey Bruce it's the tunnel not the bridge, stop giving people bad advice. The tunnel at Poe Paddy will be close due to rocks falling off the ceiling until the DEP can come up with a fix. Count on the road near Swift Run getting over run with cars if everyone has to part there to get to the top of the FFF area, you Lewistown and State College guys will have it rough for 2013 and beyond it the can't fix the falling rocks!!!!!!