Oct. weather is perfect

  Arrive at Bald Eagle Monday about 1:00 PM and the fish were up big time, it was sunny with no wind, temp at 65. Are we sure it will be Nov. in a few short days? The fish were taking Midges both on and just below the surface, so a #26 black down winged pattern was the choice, a good float and a near perfect wade was the order of the day, I stopped at 4:00 PM and was just thrilled with the results and the fact that there was no one else around. Tuesday I was on the stream by 8:45 AM, it was cold and foggy but perfect, wanted to try and find some of the bigger guys with nymphs, Sherwin and I found a perfect hole for a big fish, deep and with a large tangle of tree roots for a hiding spot, I was armed with a #16 beadhead PT as the lead fly and a #18 rainbow head red body with silver rib Zebra midge trailer. Took a few little guys in the riffles until I got to the deep hole. Well our idea was right, there was a big guy living under the roots, a fat 18" male brown that took the midge pupa and gave me a great fight, no GoPro because I was carrying too much.  fished the riffle at Fishers and took more rainbows and browns then switched to another rod! I'm determined to learn how to spey cast, I had an 11" switch T&T rod with a Rio spey chucker line. What a btich to get used to but can you throw a ton of line, easy reaching across Bald Eagle with no problem but no one was home or bothered to look at any streamers that I was throwing, OK take a break and have lunch. Arrived back at 12:45 PM below the bridge at Milesburg to find every fish for 100 yards up and eating, again stealth and good floats were needed but oh what good time, browns and rainbows from 7 to 12" all afternoon, all on a 26 down winged midge or a #24 BWO emerger, NO one around!

  Wed morning I was to help the Spring Creek Chaper of TU with a stream side planting at the Commerce St. bridge in Milesburg and another site just above the old West Penn Power Compant site on Spring Creek. In less than 3 hours we planted and tubed/staked 310 native shrubs and trees. I was impressed with the turn out and the ease that the members both welcomed me and how they interacted, I'll be helping them with more projects in the future. Next summer they have improvements planned for Fisherman's Paradise and more bank planting. Coffee and snacks along with lunch was offered to everyone that helped and their banner was displayed during the time we were there, they are a model for other chapters to follow. Check out their web site and get involved in their work, heck they are making a difference.