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Troutnut Forum > Fly Fishing Discussion > PA contingent, Page 2

WbranchAugust 26th, 2007, 7:37 pm
Starlight PA

Posts: 230
Hello Lam, Welcome to this Forum! So you fish Donegal? I used to fish it all the time and liked the water from the quarry down to the little bridge where it flows under the roadway. How is it fishing these days? I've not fished there in quite a few years. It used to have more water about ten years ago but many houses were built within a few mile radius of the creek and I think it really altered the water table as the creek now has far less flow than it did a decade ago.

I had some great days there though on those balsa bugs called "Corker's" and can remember one day in a pool on a bend in the creek when I caught about ten preety browns from 12" - 15".
West Branch & main stem fly fisher for forty-two years.
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Replies:
LamAugust 26th, 2007, 9:47 pm
Posts: 76I haven't actually fished it since about June. I have been up to Potter County a few times and have gone to Clark's the last 3-4 times i have been out.

In general, there is always something to be had. There has been excellent sulpher hatches the last few years that seem to last for ever. I (and others) have caught both wild browns and rainbows. I hear that wild rainbows are rare but they are in there. I think it's great that this stream has rebounded so far. It is still stocked but some of the fish are definitely reproducing as evidenced by 3-5 inch browns and rainbows that are occasionally caught.

I fly fished as a youth and took Joe Humphry's class when I went to Penn State but then got out of fishing for a while. I have been back into it for about 3 years now. When I was getting back into it I went to the Donegal a lot. I was amazed that there were fish rising in February. When I talked to the guys at the local fly shop, they told me it was probably BWO's. I purchased a bunch and soon started landing some nice fish on dries in the winter. I didn't think that was possible. I have learned and relearned a lot over the last three years and most of my lessons have been on the Donegal.


Since you are near York, you probably fish the Codorus, don't you? If I go to Hanover on business I usually try to leave enough time in my trip to hit the Codorus for a half hour or so.
WbranchAugust 26th, 2007, 10:47 pm
Starlight PA

Posts: 230
Actually I seldom fish any of the York, Cumberland, or Dauphin county streams and creeks. I have a cabin on the West Branch of the Delaware and normally fish there, or the main stem of the Delaware, three mid week days from May 01 through the third week in June. Then I spend two weeks on the Missouri in MT and start going to the West Branch every other week through the end of October.

Occassionally when the Delaware is high in the Spring, or after June, I do fish the bait stretches of the lower Yellow Breeches and once or twice a year go to Clark's Creek. Every couple of years, in the Spring, I go over to the Codorus in Porters Sideling during the Hendrikson emergence and catch a couple little wild browns.
West Branch & main stem fly fisher for forty-two years.
MartinlfApril 8th, 2008, 9:56 am
Palmyra PA

Posts: 908
Ok, PA guys, don't let those WI folks get all the glory. Let's hear from you. Are you tying? Fishing? As for me, I've fished olives and nymphs every chance I've had for about a month, and am now working on a new (to me) method of nymphing without shot as described in other posts here and on the Flyfisher's Paradise board. You use weighted nymphs and nothing else to get the fly down. What have you been up to?
Louis

Is it not an art to deceive a trout with an artificial fly? A trout! that is more sharp-sighted than any hawk . . . and more watchful and timorous than your high-mettled merlin is bold!

--Izaak Walton The Compleat Angler
FalsiflyApril 8th, 2008, 12:00 pm
Hayward, WI.

Posts: 108
I'd be curious to hear others' olive observations, and the states they come from.


Louis,
The only olives I’ve observed of late have been emerging from perfect gin clear conditions in a state just below tipsy.

As for me, I've fished olives and nymphs every chance I've had for about a month, and am now working on a new (to me) method of nymphing without shot as described in other posts here and on the Flyfisher's Paradise board.


Louis,
It appears to us WIguys that you haven’t caught a fish for about a month, or you wouldn’t be working on a new method. Speaking for myself, at least I have an excuse.
Falsifly
Designated by Troutnut as the heir to Pat McManus
GONZOApril 8th, 2008, 12:35 pm
"Bear Swamp," PA

Posts: 876
The only olives I've observed of late have been emerging from perfect gin clear conditions in a state just below tipsy.


In the interest of encouraging both Louis and Falsifly in their respective olive encounters, I would add that olives often emerge with even greater frequency in the states above tipsy. However, the fishing becomes more challenging in direct proportion to the frequency of the emergence.
FalsiflyApril 8th, 2008, 1:55 pm
Hayward, WI.

Posts: 108
I'll try to rub my wings together more frequently


Gonzo - It appears as though the frequency of your wing rubbing has got you flying higher than a kite.
Falsifly
Designated by Troutnut as the heir to Pat McManus
GONZOApril 8th, 2008, 2:42 pm
"Bear Swamp," PA

Posts: 876
Yeah, I just flew in from the state of Reality. Boy, are my wings tired! ;)
MartinlfApril 8th, 2008, 5:41 pm
Palmyra PA

Posts: 908
Falsifly, I'll just have to say that your surmise is false, and that the new method produced several nice fish today. The air was in the mid 50's and fish were very active. How's the weather up your way?
Louis

Is it not an art to deceive a trout with an artificial fly? A trout! that is more sharp-sighted than any hawk . . . and more watchful and timorous than your high-mettled merlin is bold!

--Izaak Walton The Compleat Angler
Shawnny3April 8th, 2008, 7:19 pm
Pleasant Gap, PA

Posts: 541
I think I can speak for all of us in PA when I say that we catch so many fish with traditional methods that we and our educated fish get bored and have to try something new. I gave a few a graduate-level survey course in nymphs, emergers, and dries just this past weekend. They were eager learners.

I understand that things go at a little slower pace in the Midwest, which is fine.

-Shawn
Jewelry-Quality Artistic Salmon Flies, by Shawn Davis
www.davisflydesigns.com
FalsiflyApril 8th, 2008, 9:10 pm
Hayward, WI.

Posts: 108
Louis- Its reassuring that your new method is finally producing fish. However, we slower paced Midwesterners (as Shawn puts it) find it difficult to define the phrase (several nice). We don't use subjective terms in describing fish caught. We prefer objective terms as in actual number caught and size in length.

As to your question on the weather here. That should be self evident. I'm stuck here behind the computer with nothing to do but babble. My working days are fast approaching and my fishing days disappearing exponentially.

All kidding aside I envy your several nice fish for I have non.
Falsifly
Designated by Troutnut as the heir to Pat McManus
KinzuaApril 8th, 2008, 10:41 pm
W. PA

Posts: 10
Another member of the PA contingent here. Hail from New Kensington. Have made a few day trips this year to Spring for the blue wings. You guys in the limestone belt have it made - there's nothing in my area. Hope to make it to the Big D this year in August.

As for tying, I'm about 1000 flies short, but will focus on midges, Grannoms, Henrys, quills, and cranes for the near term. 99% dryfly.
MartinlfApril 8th, 2008, 11:23 pm
Palmyra PA

Posts: 908
Shawn above alludes to some fine fishing he did the other week on Spring. I too have made the pilgrimage several times for the olives. Like Kinzua I'm behind on my tying, but it seems the night before I always knock out enough flies to get me through the day. Tight lines here in the Keystone state,
Louis

Is it not an art to deceive a trout with an artificial fly? A trout! that is more sharp-sighted than any hawk . . . and more watchful and timorous than your high-mettled merlin is bold!

--Izaak Walton The Compleat Angler
LVflyguyApril 9th, 2008, 12:15 pm
Allentown Pa

Posts: 1
First post but had to say hi to all of my other Pensytuckieans. I currently fish and live in the Lehigh Valley. Just got into fly fishing over this past winter seriously.
MartinlfApril 9th, 2008, 12:22 pm
Palmyra PA

Posts: 908
Welcome LVflyguy, there is a strong contingent of PA guys who post here and help each other out. If I can offer any assistance, please let me know, and you might hear some questions from me about Lehigh Valley trout in the future.

Falsifly, thanks for the kind words and the kidding, both are welcome!!
Louis

Is it not an art to deceive a trout with an artificial fly? A trout! that is more sharp-sighted than any hawk . . . and more watchful and timorous than your high-mettled merlin is bold!

--Izaak Walton The Compleat Angler
GrannomApril 9th, 2008, 5:11 pm
Northwest PA

Posts: 53
Fellow Pennsylvanians, any Tan Caddis showing up yet?
"Be calm - you're there..." "...Tell yourself there's no rush, even if there is."

-John Gierach
Shawnny3April 9th, 2008, 5:25 pm
Pleasant Gap, PA

Posts: 541
We don't use subjective terms in describing fish caught. We prefer objective terms as in actual number caught and size in length.


Well put, Falsifly. And I share Louis's sentiments - a little ribbing is good for the soul. I'm just glad Louis didn't share the gory details of my latest excursion - I may have overstated my acumen slightly.

I will have to hide my comments about the Midwest from my wife, an Ohioan. She'd probably get all sensitive about it.

-Shawn
Jewelry-Quality Artistic Salmon Flies, by Shawn Davis
www.davisflydesigns.com
FalsiflyApril 10th, 2008, 12:29 am
Hayward, WI.

Posts: 108
managed to catch 3 or 4 fish for a total of 24 inches(that's martell for you).


A quote from Getyourbone on the WI contingent. Louis do you see what I mean?

Falsifly
Designated by Troutnut as the heir to Pat McManus
GONZOApril 10th, 2008, 12:41 am
"Bear Swamp," PA

Posts: 876
Falsifly, I'm afraid you Midwesterners just don't appreciate the subtle metaphysical nuance of the PA posts. Witness this fly-tying suggestion from Shawn:
...a little ribbing is good for the soul.
FalsiflyApril 10th, 2008, 12:45 am
Hayward, WI.

Posts: 108
Typical PA BS. Beating around the bush.
Falsifly
Designated by Troutnut as the heir to Pat McManus
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