A wonderful time of the year

OK Penn's is just way too hot to fish for trout but smallmouth are good to go, anywhere below Glen Iron will work well- streamers of poppers will get them going! I have about every size popper one could want and find that if you cast across and near the bank and let it sit before giving it a pop your on with any size bass that is in the area.
  This time of year it's Trico's for me, you will see pods of fish rising to them or just one lonely really good fish to try for- I like a downstream float if I can possibly get that to work if not upstream is fine if your tippet is long enough. I us a #22- 24 straight big eye hook with "2" long splayed tails of clear material and a dark olive mole fur body with a down wing made of macramé clear (white) yarn that is not thick- your fly needs to be in the film not on top! If it's low humidity the spinner fall with be en mass and the bugs from upstream will feed our targets but if it's high humidity the fall will be over time and not large numbers at any given time- they get picky in this hatch.
  After the fall and the rises stop it's time to go find some good beetle and ant water- either plop a #12 black foam beetle or float a size #16-18 black of red ant under some over hangs- then get ready! Both takes can be really soft and almost not seen- pay attention.
  Both of the above can result in some really great fish for this time of year- if you go and have a great day- go home a write it down because those days are getting harder to remember or even have because there are just too dam many of us out there.
  Oh for my Trico tippet I have been using TroutHunter 6.5x and have had no problem getting them to eat unless your drift has drag!

He Won

My long time fishing friend died of Pancreatic cancer and his wife is dealing with the after effects- 100+ fly rods, 130+ fly reels and over 22,000 flies. In the past couple of years Paul became withdrawn and hesitant to fish locally because of over crowding, he preferred salt water and the Missouri River along with 1000 yard shooting. I have never fished with anyone who could cast as well as he could and was totally willing to help in any way he could. He would never become involved in any local or national organization other than the NRA, hell he never voted in any election, never wanting to crowd his mental focus on fishing. He also was a OCD guy who would clean his line after every day he fished. I tied 1000's of flies for him and we were always looking for another angle to fool the fish. We fished for the past 40 years in some of the very worst conditions you could imagine but always managed to have a great time. When we fished we would take turns casting and either hooking or screwing up a fish then letting the other guy take over but the only time in recent history did we fish apart was the 17 year locust fall on Bald Eagle- there were just too many really big carp to catch! I think that you might have one true fishing companion in your life and if you do remember the time spent. Never did we have this shit of someone going around the corner then telling the other one how well he has done but never when your together. I miss the coaching and kidding it makes for a far more enjoyable experience. It's fun sometimes to just enjoy the environment  but if you can share it, sure makes if better.
  He will be missed. Remember the saying "He who dies with the most win's" well he won

Hot hot

Penn's is getting to the point of being safe to fish during this time of year, temp's are getting close to 70 and that is just to high for us to stress the trout, try going lower below Glen Iron on down for smallmouth bass. Give the Susquehanna River a try for bass but the river is still a bit on the high side so be careful. If you want to get really nasty get a small boat with a trolling motor and launch at the Mouth of Penn's Creek/Middle Creek & Susquehanna Rive and go upstream to the Route 15 bridge and fly fish for muskies- so really big guys live here!!!
  Trico time is coming this next week and Spring & Bald Eagle have them, heck Fisherman's Paradise on Spring has a really great spinner fall and you can enjoy them from shore never getting your feet wet! Early morning on clear days with low humidity are the best, it forces them to egg lay fast before they dry out and the enmass falls really bring the trout up. Also now is the time to fish #16-18 lt. tan caddis, ants both black and brown (red) wet or dry and of course a #12 BLACK beetle plopped near the banks in shallow water- hold on!
  It's time to get creative with our time early and late are the key now but make sure you keep an eye on the water temps, lets not kill any fish by over stressing them. It's Art's Fest week in State College so it will be full of guys in the morning and evening so find a secret spot!