A Passing to Remember

Sad news hit me last night as I learned of the passing of Russ Bowersox, gone is a friend that I have known for well over 50 years, we spent time in physics class at Sunbury High School then went our seperate ways with our lives but fly fishing brought us together again. We spent many hours fishing Penn's 40 years ago, both of us loved "Briar Patch" hole, him so much he named one of his dogs "Briar". Russ loved to hop in his old willys and go to different streams to explore, Fishing Creek in Clinton Cty. was always a good landing spot. Fot some reaon he call me "Pie" and my daughter "little pie"? In his later years he stopped fishing and just did garden and cooking at his cabin at Cherry Run, his failing health kept him for his love of fly fishing. He will be missed by many, hopefully the pain of not being able to breath is gone and he is standing knee deep in a trout stream now and forever.

Just a bit high!

Given the very nice temps we have been feeling this past couple of days it's no wonder all our streams are running high. Penn's leads the pack with 1100 plus cfs and Spring Creek at 120 plus cfs, Fishing Creek is about the only option for us now, given that it is in that deep valley the sun really does not hit it that well but you can be sure the water temp. is really down there, fish slow and DEEP! We have been seeing Olives and a good amount of Midges on Spring for the past few weeks but again not on all the sections, you have to drive and look before you comit to a section. Olives have been 18-20 with emergers being the best pattern, get your fly in the film! Midge have been 26 Black down winged along with Grif's Gnats that are not over hackled. Years ago I had a habit of over hackling my Grif's and had a heck of a time with leader twist along with my habit of using very light tippet. Now days I keep my hackle length to just a bit above the bottom of the bend and have been using 6x Trout Hunter for my tippet and have had not leader twisting at all. If you want to see a great deal of midge eating take a look under the "new" concrete bridge downstream from Paradise, what the British call smutten rises, I often hang a #26 pupa under my floating midge pattern and just watch to see if my leader moves, it is great fun and will fill you afternoon with a warm feeling. If Penn's was down the trun below Stan's bridge would be loaded with midge eaters. There have been a ton of black stones aroung and a small black PT nymph will do the trick. Still tying and cleaning out fly boxes and getting everywith in order for the spring hatches, winter fishing does not have you carry a ton of patterns, easy choice.