***UPDATE FOR 3/2/10***
On February 16,
the Pennsylvania Fish
and Boat Commission stock truck arrived at the designated meeting
location in Boiling Springs. WCO David Hurst formulated the plans
for the float stocking of the Run, a connector from Children's Lake
to the main stem of the Yellow Breeches, and the upper Catch and
Release section on the Yellow Breeches. Cumberland
Valley TU Chapter (CVTU) members were on hand to float stock
the approximately 700 robust trout allocated to the day's stocking
effort. The effort by Cumberland Valley TU Chapter (CVTU) members
to float stock trout has resulted in improved distribution of trout
and angler satisfaction. If an area on the stream looked like it
should hold fish it did! Those CVTU members knew where to place
the trout for optimum food and cover and released trout accordingly.
Special thanks to Jim Siedlarczyk, CVTU member, who shoveled a path
of well over fifty yards from the Run to the main stem of the Yellow
Breeches for those volunteers that were carrying buckets of fish.
We seniors especially appreciated his work by not having to post
hole through two feet of snow to stock the trout.
Just a reminder
that we will soon be in the time frame when many streams, lakes,
ponds and reservoirs in the Commonwealth will be closed to all fishing
from March 1 to 8:00 a.m. on the opening day of the trout season.
Pennsylvania has two trout openers, April 3 and April 17.
However, there
are Special Project Waters that are open to fishing year round (no
closed seasons) If in doubt about fishing a particular water area,
consult your nearest Fish and Boat Commission office. Information
for those offices is provided on page 40 of the 2010
Pennsylvania Fishing Summary booklet.
***UPDATE
FOR 2/10/10***
My boss, in my
working life, was very active in the outdoors and he was fond of
saying that there was no such thing as bad weather only bad gear.
He was right as usual because, with the advancement in breathable
inner and outer wear including waders, there is no compelling reason
to stay indoors during inclement weather unless you are unable to
afford the sometimes high prices for good gear or cannot enjoy winter
fishing due to health reasons. Read on and make the necessary purchases/adjustments
and enjoy winter fly fishing.
I fish four seasons
of the year and am often asked how I fare in the coldest winter
months. My response is "quite well" and honestly, when
fishing to the early morning Trico hatch in August when the weather
is hot and humid I prefer the winter fishing. A high number of January
winter days in the Cumberland Valley boast an average temperature
of 37-38 degrees F. and coupled with sunshine and early afternoon
midge activity and occasional Little Blue Winged Olive activity
make for an exciting fly fishing experience. Besides, I have yet
to experience crowded stream conditions in the winter! Sunshine
on my shoulders in the winter is most enjoyable. Add that to fly
fishing to trout sipping midges and LBWO and you have a perfect
fly fishing experience.
This is how I
dress for a winter day's fly fishing. Close to my body I like good
quality hydrophobic briefs and undershirts that do not absorb moisture.
Next a base layer of heavyweight wading underwear of polyester stretch
fleece. Both of the above mentioned under garments provide excellent
layering and wick off perspiration in cold water conditions (the
secret to winter fishing comfort). Add a layer of heavyweight fleece,
200 or more weight. wading pants and equal fleece weight pull over
shirt. Like the briefs and long underwear, both items assist in
wicking away moisture from the skin. The walk-in to the stream may
consist of a short distance or in the case of remote streams like
Penns Creek, a half mile or more walk may be required. I then layer
with a breathable quick drying fleece jacket. Often I fish in deep
water so my final outer layer is a hooded angling jacket for waterproof
protection. The important /vital part is the waterproof sleeves
because one can only hold arms up so long when casting and fishing.
Eventually the arms become fatigued and the elbows sag into the
water and it is at that time a waterproof wading jacket is of value.
Now that the body is well ventilated and insulated what about the
head and hands? Windstopper type fleece gloves, with or without
full finger coverage, is great for comfort and the resulting warmth
fleece provides. A ball cap under a hooded wading jacket is sufficient
especially if one relies on a flip down magnifying glass for ease
of tying on tippet material or flies. However, for those that have
sharp eyes, a fleece watch cap type of hat that is comfortable and
warm is hard to beat. Now for the waders. I prefer breathable boot-foot
waders, but they can be hard to find. Evidently the technology of
securing the boot to the uppers has not been perfected and leakage
is a possibility around the seams. Also, most breathable boot-foot
waders contain less than the desired amount of insulation. The average
insulation consists of about 200 grams of Thinsulate, which may
be adequate for non-winter fishing trips. Neoprene waders are rugged
and, with 600 grams or more of Thinsulate in the boot, is a good
choice but the waders can be a bit bulky for us senior citizens.
However, neoprene waders do not have the important breathable feature
and moisture tends to build up, resulting in eventual cool, then
cold clammy feeling that can mitigate time on the stream.
All of that information,
if utilized, will make for a comfortable day of fly fishing regardless
of the weather. Saturday, following weekend of the heavy snow, found
two feet + of the white fluffy stuff in my backyard. I made my way
out to the stream with the aide of snowshoes, which I removed at
stream edge, and was able to enjoy several hours of top notch fly
fishing. Even released two nice brown trout for my effort. Don't
give in to cabin fever and the winter doldrums. Don the appropriate
winter wear and go out to you favorite stream for a fantastic day
of fishing. That puts Punxsutawney
Phil in the proper prospective
.six more weeks of winter
who
cares?!
***UPDATE
FOR 1/25/10***
The 2010 fishing
season is starting to crank up with improvements in the weather
and trout stocking in the Yellow Breeches Creek. The weather has
been brutal the past two weeks with daytime highs well below normal
and nighttime lows also several degrees below normal for this time
of year, combined with 40 mile per hour winds. This is not a good
recipe for wading into a stream and it is down right unappealing.
This is farm show week and weather is traditionally ugly in the
Harrisburg, PA area. However, the weatherman is predicting an upturn
and daytime temperatures may hit the 40 degrees F. mark, something
we have not seen in the past two weeks. Anglers are looking forward
with anticipation to a weather pattern that will bring the Yellow
Breeches watershed area to above freezing. We may finally reach
normal day and night time temperatures before the farm show grand
finale! Could this reprieve be the January thaw?
Now, to the fishing
segment. I started the New Year off with my traditional day of fishing
and did not catch a fish. I worked the surface with midge patterns
that have proven effective during winter weather conditions and
not one lean and hungry fish looking for a Happy Meal (pardon the
commercial fast food endorsement) opted for my offerings. Oh well,
Penn State was about to play in the Capital One Bowl against LSU
so thumbs down to the fish as I headed for the warmth and wide screen
of a football day during Bowl Season. However, those of us fortunate
enough to live in the Cumberland Valley, and those anglers that
live within a two hour driving window of the famed Yellow Breeches,
have known for years about the highly anticipated, highly participated
first weekend in January when the Yellow Breeches Anglers and Conservation
Association stock trout, weather permitting. The Yellow
Breeches Anglers and Conservation Association, Inc. performs
its annual winter stocking of trout along an approximately 13-mile
stretch of the Yellow Breeches. Traditionally, Childrens Lake,
the Run, and the Yellow Breeches Catch and Release areas are stocked
the day prior to float stocking other reaches of the creek. There
just arent enough day light hours to complete the job in one
day. This is the ultimate win-win situation for anglers and the
best way to take the edge off of winters predictable cabin
fever. Somehow, seeing the flashing amber light atop the green truck
with the yellow aeration tanks and large YBAC stenciling moving
through the Boiling Springs area, summons the urge to go fishing
and provides fresh insight that winter should not mean the disappearance
of the angling spirit. The YBAC is a significant driving force displaying
a spirit of determination to maximize fishing opportunities for
all anglers residing in and outside the Cumberland Valley. Its
members volunteer for extra work and demanding assignments that
go beyond what is expected to operate a Nursery that annually raises
and stocks over 36,000 trout. A 2010 membership, at a cost of $12
adult and $3 Junior (under 16), maximizes the four season fishing
opportunity for all anglers!!
On Friday, January
15, the cooperative weather finally allowed the stocking of trout
in Childrens Lake, the Run and the main stem of the Yellow
Breeches Catch and Release section. On Saturday, January 16, the
open water above and below the catch and release area was stocked.
Some nice fish in the 15 to 20 inch range were strategically placed
where those anglers that ventured from the cozy confines of the
parking areas would be pleasantly rewarded.
Interesting,
after the trout stocking, a few of us did some kick sampling of
the Yellow Breeches bottom utilizing a D Ring net and were
astounded at the number and variety of bugs collected. The bugs
consisted of an inch and quarter size stonefly, Hendrickson nymphs,
Sulphur nymphs, Blue Winged Olive nymphs, one Trico nymph, Scuds,
and an impressive number of free-living caddis larvae. Ken Okorn
took an interest in the free-living worm like caddis critters that
really cant swim but can move about by use of the front legs.
These caddis larvae are found in and under riffle rocks where they
move about searching for the food that the fast moving water pushes
by. Ken noted that he was going to tie up a few of the worm like
critters and fish them the next day. We then moved about 40 yards
downstream, into quieter water, and retrieved a short piece of waterlogged
tree branch. There we found numerous cased Grannom caddis attached.
The rich combination of Hendrickson nymphs and cased Grannom caddis
will provide some interesting and exciting roll over hatch activity
in late March and early April.
Well, Ken made
good on his promise to tie up a few free-living worm like caddis
and was on the creek the following morning along with fishing buddy,
Jim Ritter. Now, Ken had surgery on his right thumb and wrist in
December and just recently had the cast removed. He is working on
regaining the dexterity he once had so Kens fishing consisted
of utilizing the Czech Nymph style of fishing by extending the fly
rod with one hand and literally fishing a short line under the rod
tip. The reason Ken was Czech nymphing was because he was not allowed
(doctors orders) to use his right hand. The orders were to
not lift more than eight ounces and not to push or pull anything.
So he improvised by holding the rod in the left hand and tightening
the drag all the way down. Thus he did not have to cast, which would
have required reeling with the healing right hand. The positive
was that Ken was out fishing but the negative was the occasional
loss of a hefty trout because he could not allow the fish to run
with the set drag. The normal Czech nymphing technique and flies
used are expertly covered in the book entitled Czech Nymph by Karel
Krivanec and Friends. Jim Ritter summed up the morning of fishing
by saying that Ken out fished him with only one hand! See fly of
the week for Kens version of the free-living worm like caddis
critter.
***UPDATE FOR 12/16/09***
Early Wednesday
morning of my five day hunting and fishing trip, the 30 to 40 mile
per hour winds awoke me from a deep sleep at Camp Shanty which is
located on a ridge in NY about eight miles from 20 Mile Creek. My
plan was to hunt that morning for deer and then break camp and drive
the 278 miles home to Boiling Springs, PA. Hunting time was limited,
as I needed to be at a Cumberland Valley Trout Unlimited Board meeting
at 7:00 p.m. I turned on the battery-powered radio and learned that
the winds would continue for the next twelve plus hours, with gusts
reaching 65 mph. More importantly, a lake effect storm was approaching
the area and I know from past experience that can mean sudden snow
fall that is measured in, not inches, but feet. I decided against
the hunting and soon after first light, headed for 16 Mile Creek
for steelhead fishing. Access to the creek from the parked vehicle
was optimal in the event I needed to leave the area quickly as a
result of the building storm front. I was hopeful that I could fish
for several hours and then leave for home on my terms. This plan
has worked in the past because lake effect storms seem to die out
after reaching inland 20 to 50 miles. I would simply outrun the
approaching weather hazard. Gayle always cringes when I make such
plans.
Sunday through
Tuesday, when not deer hunting in the early morning and late afternoon
hours, I had fly fished several of the east side of Erie tributaries
with moderate success as the water was low and gin clear. The cooler
temperatures seemed to be thinning out the number of fair weather
fishers resulting in more open water to fish. The majority of anglers
were taking steelhead using live Emerald and Golden Shiners. I suspect
the main food item in Lake Erie for steelhead is the shiner minnow
and that may have contributed to the angler's success. I had won
a box of Muddler Minnows tied by well-know fly tier Andrew McNeillie
of New Bloomfield, PA at the 2008 Fly Fisher's Club of Harrisburg
banquet and caught several steelhead using the various sized minnows.
However, I tucked away the thought that when home, I needed to do
some research on flies that patterned the shiner minnow.
16 Mile Creek
was off color and the water level was increasing from the borderline
winter mix of sleet, some hail and some snow but the majority of
precipitation was rain. I had the lower end of the creek to myself.
Great!! I suspected that a fresh run of steelhead had entered the
creek and set about to fish certain portions of 16 Mile Creek that
normally hold resting steelhead. Unlike fishing the low and clear
water of the past few days, the steelhead were not interested in
the Muddler Minnow and a modified Pumpkin Picker, see Fly
of the Week number 37, was well received. The modification consisted
of the addition of florescent chartreuse lead barbell eyes to the
fly. Perhaps the extra color zip was not necessary but the extra
weight probably got the fly lower in the water to where the steelhead
were holding. I lost my supply of standard tied Pumpkin Picker's
earlier in the trip and only had four of the modified versions on
hand. I caught and released four steelhead trout in rapid succession.
The fresh run steelhead were strong fighters and rapid succession
translated into about a total time of 40 minutes to catch and release
those four zestful steelhead. Leaves, twigs, limbs, grapevines and
large tree sections were floating downstream from the results of
the menacing winds. As the morning fishing progressed, I lost several
of the hooked steelhead when the fly line and tapered leader would
tangle with the floating debris while the steelhead zig-zagged the
creek. Soon all of the modified Pumpkin Pickers were gone. Coincidentally,
I did not catch another steelhead and it was now 9:30 a.m. I tried
several other patterns that had been productive in the past but
with out success. Either the steelhead only wanted the modified
Pumpkin Picker or the feeding frenzy was over for the morning. Interestingly
I have found steelhead tend to enter short windows of feeding frenzy
from daybreak (this time varies as fall and winter seasons unfold)
to about 9:30 a.m., again from 11:30 a.m. to about 12:30 p.m. and
around 3:30 p.m. to dusk. Again, this time varies as we progress
into the fall and winter seasons.
Next trip to
the Erie area I will have an adequate supply of hand tied Pumpkin
Pickers in regular and modified versions and a good supply of hand
tied Emerald Shiners. Here is what my research uncovered. CVTU's
Favorite Flies book contains a write-up and tying instructions (page
84) for the Emerald Shiner contributed by well known fly tier, fly
fisher and fishing guide Tom Baltz. Also by coincidence Scott Douglas
another well traveled fly fisher who ties great flies sent me an
email
well, just see the current Fly
of the Week and then read Stream Tippets
to see the results.
I made the CVTU
Board meeting on time even though the 278 mile trip home covered
the gamut of weather conditions but I did outrun the bulk of the
storm.
***UPDATE FOR 12/1/09***
It was early
November and the weather was perfect for steelhead fly fishing.
However, the Lake Erie tributaries around Erie, PA, were experiencing
low and clear water conditions. The steelhead were gathered in the
small pools and hordes of anglers (mostly bait fishers) were hovering
around the pools and yanking out the corralled steelhead. Now remember,
these fishers with the bait do not practice catch and release and
they reminded me of the Great Blue Heron that is found along almost
all of our trout streams. If you watch them you will see them spearing
fish after fish. What is the point you say? The Great Blue Heron
does not practice catch and release but does utilize these fish
for sustenance. The majority of bait fishers in the Great Erie Steelhead
Alley may or may not use the fish they catch and keep. Overall,
watching the glutinous taking of the steelhead from the shallow
pools was disheartening!!
I left and headed back to my camp in nearby NY for the evening archery
deer hunt. Later I received a call from a friend, Thom Livingston,
who was bird hunting in the area west of Erie near the Ohio line,
and he asked if I wanted to meet up and fish Chautauqua Creek in
NY. Thom had a NY fishing license and, since my NY Super Sportsman
hunting license included an annual fishing license, I was legal,
so the plans were made. Thom had fished the Chautauqua Creek previously
and was impressed with the volume of water flow that resembled 20
Mile Creek in PA. Also, he stated we would fish the Catch and Release
section of the Chautauqua Creek. The thought of a Catch and Release
steelhead and salmon section caught my interest. You bet,
I said.
The next morning, about 11:00a.m, we meet near the PA/NY line and
drove the approximately 11 miles to Chautauqua Creek. We parked
in an area near the open water fishing along Chautauqua Creek and
talked to several fishers that were coming off the water for a lunch
break. We found out that enough steelhead trout were present to
keep the attention of the fishers. Interesting that one of those
fishers was the person that initiated the Blood Dot Egg Fly and
Blood Dot Sucker Spawn craze. The last name of this individual was
none-the-less Blood. He created the Blood Dot addition to the flies
while living in the Pittsburgh area. Jeff Blood was generous in
that he gave Thom and me several flies with the dot and we told
him that we would not fish his hand tied flies but would use the
gift flies as patterns for our tying at home. Amazing the quality
fly fishers one meets on trout streams!
We fished the open water of Chautauqua Creek below the Route 5 Bridge
and then decided to drive upstream to the town of Westfield and
fish the Catch and Release section. The C&R section begins at
the bridge (South Gale Street) in Westfield, NY. Then upstream 1.3
miles to the upper dam used by the Village of Westfield for water
intake.
Accesses are limited along the C&R section but the NY DEC has
a large parking lot with access to the C&R section about midway
along the C&R. The trail from the large parking lot is steep
and one should be in good shape to access the creek. At the base
of the steep access the waters are inviting and that is where I
met the young lad that had moved to the area from Oregon. He had
a steelhead trout on when I saw him and after he released the fish
I asked him what he was using. Astonishingly, he was catching steelhead
on a subsurface size 20 elk hair caddis presentation! We talked
and he related that the C&R section was the only section of
steelhead water that he fished. The other tributaries were crowded
and he had experienced some callous behavior from other anglers.
I told him I understood his feelings and expounded on some of my
unfortunate experiences on open water. We parted agreeing that more
C&R sections were needed on PA and NY Lake Erie tributaries.
Ill close this update with a request that you contact the
PA Fish and Boat Commission (www.fish.state.pa.us) and stress the
importance of C&R steelhead sections on Lake Erie tributaries
East and West of Erie. DO IT NOW! Remember, tomorrow may be too
late!
***UPDATE
FOR 11/4/09***
It is encouraging
and refreshing to talk to younger fly fishers that are enthusiastic
about the sport, especially when it comes to steelhead trout fishing.
Such was the case on a recent Saturday when I entered the Yellow
Breeches Outfitters to talk to Gary who was working at the time.
I haven't seen Gary in a week to ten days and I wanted to update
him on a recent archery hunting and steelhead fishing trip that
Gayle and I enjoyed. I told Gary about the harsh weather we encountered
on our way across Interstate 80 between the State College, Clearfield
and Dubois areas. The snow was impressive and the driving required
full attention on the road conditions. Needless to say, many drivers
of vehicles passed us with one arm pasted to their ear engaged in
cell phone conversations.
Anyway back to
the fishing. A young lad by the name of Jason Bubb, from the Dover,
Pa, area overheard our conversation and began to ask questions about
what flies Gayle and I were using on the steelhead trout. I suggested
he read the October 14, 2009 Recent News and Happenings and corresponding
Fly of the Week postings on my website because the flies we used
were the same type of flies that my son-in-law, Glenn Klinger, used
on our October 1, 2, 3 and 4 steelhead trip. I informed Jason that
I would be using that batch of flies for an upcoming early November
steelhead fishing trip. Jason had just returned from the Erie area
and fished Elk Creek while there. Ironically, Jason was on Elk Creek
while Gayle and I were there but fishing the Mile Creeks on the
East side of Erie. Jason said after the rain event the steelhead
trout were higher upstream on Elk Creek. He took steelhead trout
on a white egg fly with a blood dot and a bead head Prince nymph
combination. More steelhead trout were caught on the Prince nymph,
when used as a dropper, than on the egg fly. Since Jason wanted
to expand his repertoire of flies for an upcoming return steelhead
fishing trip to Elk Creek, I provided him with the tying ingredients
to put him and a few friends in good stead for that upcoming trip
to the Erie area.
***UPDATE
FOR 10/14/09***
The daylight
hours have noticeably decreased in recent weeks and the water temperature
in most streams in PA has dipped to the cool, if not cold, category.
Throw in the arrival of high school, college and professional football
action and, as is common this time of year, most anglers have given
up fly fishing for the season. But hold on. The steelhead, as well
as the noticeable increase in big brown trout, in the Lake Erie
tributaries east of the Erie area have sparked the excitement to
fish for LARGE WILD TROUT!
I need to reemphasize
that the combination of seasonal light variation and the cooler
Lake Erie water temperatures along with recent rain events have
triggered the annual migration of steelhead and a sprinkling of
large brown trout into the East side tributaries. Lake run browns
have been present for many years but not common. According to a
fishing buddy, he has seen brown trout caught over the years. He
speculates this increase is probably the result of stocking in the
tributaries that are approved trout waters and further noted that
the recommended PFBC trout strategy plan provides for the stocking
of brown trout in Lake Erie in an attempt to add diversity to the
tributary fishery, create a near shore springtime fishery and enhance
the offshore summer boat fishery.
My early season
steelhead fishing formula is simple
..in early
October the migrating fish arrive at the mouth of the Lake Erie
East side tributaries and stack up awaiting a significant rain event
that will blow out those shale dams that lake waves have formed
over the summer. These dams, when present, prohibit the upstream
migration of fish. A check of the extended weather forecast, coupled
with good onsite stream conditions from a reliable source and a
flexible fishing schedule (I'm retired) and the stage is set. A
significant rain event occurred at the end of September and another
rain event was forecast to follow in a few days. I was on my way
to the Erie area!
On October 2,
I was on one of the tributary streams east of Erie, fishing during
a steady rain that continued for the remainder of the day and well
into the night. I fished for several hours and left the stream at
noon. I returned at 3:30 p.m. and, in spite of the increased water
flow, I was able to wade to my favorite spots. Three hours later,
with an ever increasing water flow and discoloration of the water,
I felt that crossing the stream to access my vehicle would be hazardous.
I decided to make the circuitous two mile walk through the woods.
This entailed climbing a few cliffs in route to the vehicle, thus
negating the need to wade the stream. I was somewhat tired when
reaching the vehicle but felt I had made the correct decision. Those
of you that have felt the power of water while wading a torrent
flowing stream will understand my reluctance and wisdom in not wading
across at that time.
Returning the
next morning after the rains had subsided, I found the water level
had dropped significantly, a trademark of the tributaries in the
Erie area, and I was able to wade and fish my favorite locations.
Since I knew where the fish were holding prior to the rain event,
the discolored water that resulted from the heavy rains was not
a significant problem. Also, I knew that the fish from the previous
day would have migrated upstream and that the traditional holding
areas would be replenished by fresh fish from the lake. Numerous
hookups and releases followed with the Wooly Bugger as the primary
offering. See Fly of the Week for further information on fly selections.
My thoughts on
early season steelhead fishing in the Erie area tributaries are
as follows: The Lake Erie frontage in the Erie area is known as
the Central Basin and averages 70 feet in depth and provides cool
water, a good combination for lake living trout. The area east of
Erie toward Buffalo is the Eastern Basin and has deeper and cooler
water, some areas as deep as 200 feet. I had received reports of
steelhead trout off the shore and in the Chautauqua Creek in New
York seven to ten days before the fish were spotted at Twenty Mile
Creek, a distance of only about twenty miles apart. It seems reasonable
that the colder water holds the steelhead trout and when the spawning
urges are triggered by light and water conditions the tributaries
around Northeast, PA and Westfield, NY are some of the earliest
to receive and hold fish.
Several of the
fish caught had the raspy suction-cup like scars from the mouth
of sea lampreys. Sea lamprey, an eel like fish, entered Lake Erie
from Lake Ontario via the Welland Canal about 1921. This canal provides
the fish a way of bypassing the Niagara Falls. Some tributaries
in Lake Erie provide spawning and nursery waters for sea lamprey.
The larval sea lamprey may remain in those tributaries for several
years. This could explain why the Wooly Bugger is effective on steelhead
trout and brown trout that migrate into Lake Erie tributaries for
spawning purposes. While in the lake, the steelhead and other fish
are susceptible to mature sea lamprey and their debilitating and
even deadly parasitic ways. The host fish often is killed due to
loss of blood and other body fluids or because of infection in the
resulting wound. Control measures consist of mechanical weirs and
electrical weirs, use of lampricide (costly approach) and sterilization
of the male sea lamprey. Overall, the sea lamprey population has
been greatly reduced.
Steelhead and
brown trout, upon entering the tributaries in preparation for spawning,
do not actively feed. The size of the fish indicates an adequate
storage of life sustaining bio while they are in the tributaries.
So why do we catch these critters on flies like the Wooly Bugger
and egg fly? The egg issue may be the easiest to answer as steelhead
trout eat the eggs of the November spawning brown trout and the
brown trout eat the eggs of the later spawning steelhead trout.
Basically a territorial issue. What about the Wooly Bugger fly?
The easy answer is the larval sea lamprey in the Lake Erie tributaries
are available to the spawning steelhead trout and brown trout and
instinct overrules the biological non feeding necessity and the
survival instinct unleashes the predator instinct embedded in the
fish. However, I cannot locate research that states young sea lampreys
are a significant food source for steelhead and other fish in the
tributaries or in the lakes. The Wooly Bugger simply catches fish!
Thus you have two good flies to present to the spawning fish
.the
Wooly Bugger and the egg fly. Pretty basic but effective fly pattern
choices.
***UPDATE FOR 9/10/09***
Labor Day passed
and the White Fly hatch is showing a decline in the number of bugs
that appear at pre dusk. The Hexagenia continue to appear in heavy
numbers and are currently providing the bulk of the pre dusk mayfly
hatch fishing. Hexagenia should be active on the Yellow Breeches
until mid September.
However, the
morning Trico and mid morning Micro Caddis bugs continue to serve
up a platter of excellent fishing opportunity. The latest Fly of
the Week (FOW) is unique in that it catches fish on many freestone
and limestone streams across the Commonwealth but has become invaluable
to me as part of a tandem rig for morning Trico activity. The Para
CIA (Cover it All) fly as described in the FOW has a fluorescent
orange post that is more than adequate to spot even when tied on
a size 24 hook.
Tom Baltz and
I have often discussed the problem some of our clients have when
fishing the small mayflies, known as Tricos, to rising trout. I
have to admit that at the age of 66, I often lose sight of the minute
fly on the stream's surface resulting in a slower reaction to the
splashy rise of the fish resulting in NO hook up. I tried tying
a Trico pattern with a high visibility post but fish seem to lose
interest in the fly. I now do the following when light conditions
are not favorable to my eyesight: I tie on a size 24 Para CIA with
the orange buoy like post as the point fly and then attach a 10
to 12 inch piece of 7X or 8X tippet material to the bend of the
hook. Next, I tie on a size 26 hackled Trico as the dropper. After
making a cast to a targeted rising fish, I can easily follow the
bright post fly as the tandem rig of flies make its way to the feeding
fish. The Trico is usually the first fly to reach the feeding fish,
and with the aid of the vision enhanced posted fly, hookups are
dramatically increased. An added bonus is the occasional hookup
on the point fly and the possibility of a double hookup.
***UPDATE
FOR 8/13/09***
The 2009 August
issue of the Mid Atlantic Fly Fishing Guide (page 7) featured an
article written by me entitled Yellow Breeches-Hexagenia. Some of
that article and some new stuff follows for those that do not have
access to the magazine and may fish the Hexagenia and White Fly
elsewhere.
The premier roll-over
hatch on the Yellow Breeches in mid August to early September is
the appearance of the Hexagenia and White Fly. Fly fishers equate
the arrival of the White Fly hatch with as much anticipation as
they do the opening day of trout season but many ignore the Hexagenia.
The Hexagenia appear about a week to ten days prior to the White
Fly and are present about a week to ten days beyond the White Fly.
The first sighting
of Hexagenia mayflies was August 5 at 8:00 p.m. (this year the first
sighting by Gayle and me was August 7) as Gayle and I were sitting
on our swing near the South bank of the Yellow breeches about fifty
feet upstream from the lower end of the Catch and Release area.
The Yellow Breeches Catch and Release stretch begins just below
the stone bridge in Boiling Springs and ends about a mile downstream
on our property. The Catch and Release area is well known nationally
and internationally by anglers and the focal point is the Allenberry
Resort Inn and Playhouse area. Many anglers plan their trip
around the fishing access at Allenberry and the excellent lodging
and meal accommodations at the Inn. For some unobvious reason, the
Hexagenia tends to take a back seat to the popularity of the White
Fly hatch. The Hex, as many locals call the big bug, provides excellent
fishing weeks before, during and after the White Fly hatch. For
example, by August 12, 2008, the Hex had provided seven days of
great late evening fishing and would provide another six days of
great fishing before the first sighting of the White Fly hatch.
However, on August 12, I entered one of our local fly shops and
was immediately asked the status of the fishing on the Catch and
Release section of the Yellow Breeches. I gave a summary of the
previous days early morning fishing which consisted of a good
number of Tricos, followed by mid morning to mid afternoon Micro
Caddis and Terrestials, and later in the evening an abundance of
Hexagenia. Unfortunately NO White Fly Activity! The reply was that
the shop had about 25 calls that day alone regarding the status
of the White Fly hatch. I asked if any callers were inquiring about
the Hexagenia activity and the reply was negative.
Regardless, the
Hex does have a bleacher bum following of fly fishers. It is heartening
to see a few serious fly fishers show up late in the evening at
this time with LED headlamps or smaller LED lights clipped to hat
brims. The light is a sure sign of the serious Hex fly fisher because
they know that the large mayfly, about 1 to 1.5 inches long, dun
and spinners phases are about to appear. Add the tail length and
the Hex looks immense. The tail is paramount in determining if the
dun or spinner bug is a Hexagenia or Brown Drake. The Hex has two
tails and the Brown Drake has three tails and is usually much smaller
in overall body size. Fortunately, the Yellow Breeches Catch and
Release section has two prime areas that provide superb bottom conditions
for Hexagenia development and adaptability. A significant area immediately
upstream of the Still House at the Allenberry Dam provides excellent
Hex fishing as does a sizeable area upstream of the lower end of
the C&R. The Hex nymphs are burrowing critters and well equipped
for the task of forming U-shaped tunnels in the soft mud like bottom.
Upon emerging at dusk, the huge bugs are joined by the spinners
that have emerged previously. The combination of duns and spinners
provides an excellent amount of fish eating goodies for the evening/night
fishing.
About fifteen
years ago I caught several duns and spinners to examine prior to
tying the patterns I use for fishing the Hex hatch. The body color
of the dun is greenish yellow with distinct yellow ribbing while
the spinner is a brownish yellow. I then tied several patterns and
placed a natural among the patterns. The visual result was encouraging
and later that evening, after numerous hook ups and releases, I
had the dun and spinner patterns that I continue to use to this
day. However, after years of fishing the Hex hatch the dun pattern
has emerged as my ace fly. My eyesight has lessened over the years
and changing flies at dusk or after dark is a challenge so I favor
tying on a fly that will catch fish during the dun and spinner activity.
Also, during the roll-over hatch with the huge number of White Flies,
this versatile Hex dun pattern continues to account for frequent
hookups. My rod preference while fishing this pattern is a three-weight
rod with a 7.5 foot 4X tapered leader. While fishing flat water
a 5X tippet is added to the tapered leader and, for ripply water
fishing, I use the 4X tippet material. When guiding, I advise clients
to bring a rod they have confidence in and give them a window of
3, 4, or 5 weight.
The dusk and
early night fishing plays out as follows: On the stream and set
up for the Hex appearance at 7:00 p.m. However, into the third or
fourth week of the six weeks of Hex fishing, trout will take a Hex
dun pattern about an hour before the first naturals appear. I suspect
we are fishing to the trouts memory bank. All too often fly
fishers leave the stream prior to the arrival of the Hex. I can
only surmise they are not aware of the vigorous Hex hatch that is
about to unfold. The first Hex to appear streak up the stream, at
times smacking into rods and often the fly fishers hands and face.
These critters are on a mission to mate and later deposit eggs.
Five minutes or so later the newly emerged duns can be found clinging
to ones shirt drying wings. The trout are up taking the duns that
have not escaped the water. Splashy takes begin to pop around the
fly fisher as the trout grab the meaty morsels. The action continues
to dark. Hopefully by this time several trout have been caught and
released because the fishing is about to get tougher! During the
spinner phase of night fishing one hears the sound and perhaps sees
the whitish remnants of water and foam as the fish recovers for
the next surface take of a Hex. The casting distance is mentally
calibrated and after one or two trial casts your fly is in the feeding
zone. That zone after dark is usually a casting distance of about
10 to 20 feet.
Sight and sound
senses are on high alert attuned to the feeding fish. Surprisingly
and with much satisfaction, the fly fisher catches and releases
fish. After dark, fish working the surface, coupled with the night
sounds of the crickets, katydids and other night insects overhead
and on the surrounding stream banks, make the fly fisher one within
the eco-system. The feeding frenzy subsides about thirty minutes
into the night and now it is time to carefully work ones way
to the parked vehicle. The light that was a must to assist in changing
flies, untangling line messes and at times releasing the occasional
bats that get caught up on your fly, becomes invaluable. Sage advice
is to carry a spare light or batteries just in case of an emergency.
At this time of the night, after successful Hexagenia fishing, it
is hard to fathom that we are in the doldrums of summer fishing!!
think so!
See Fly
of the Week for current information on the Hexagenia hatch activity.
***UPDATE
FOR 7/28/09***
In the past few
weeks, early morning Trico fishing has been good to excellent. Trico
spinners brought the trout to the surface and fly fishers have been
catching a fair share of the surface sippers. In a past update regarding
Tricos, I noted that trout are less wary during the early stages
(first one to two weeks) of a new hatch season and, over or under
sized flies, improper tapered leader and tippet matches and less
than perfect presentation can result in a moderate number of trout
caught. But remember, as the hatch moves into consecutive weeks,
the trout become aware of bad presentations, inappropriate sized
flies, leaders and tippet material. Trout learn to recognize the
real deal from the decoys and will come up within inches of the
surface and actually drift a foot or so with the fly only to turn
away at the last heart stopping moment. The gin clear water and
white throat of the trout combine to offer a front row seat to fly
acceptance or fly rejection.
My last morning
outing for Tricos on the Yellow Breeches was mildly disappointing.
Trout were coming up and drifting with the well presented fly but
would turn away at the last moment. I removed the size 24 light
colored hackled Trico and tied on a size 24 dark hackled Trico with
the same results. Next came the size 24 male spinner Trico followed
by a size 24 female spinner Trico. No luck. I found a size 26 male
spinner Trico in my fly box. I then downsized the 7X to 8X tippet
and attached the size 26 male spinner Trico. The change resulted
in more hookups but not quite the number that I expected based on
the surface activity in the pool. A further change was necessary.
I remembered
what I had written in an August 2008 article on Tricos for the Mid
Atlantic Fly Fishing Guide. The additional advice was to add floatant
to the Trico! I did and the results were a definite bump up in the
number of trout caught. Now, during my morning Trico outings, I
carry a supply of size 26 and 28 flies representing the male and
female spinner phase, light and dark hackled versions and most importantly
floatant. A light coating of liquid floatant is applied to the fly
and reapplied after each caught and released trout. Observe a Trico
as it lands on the waters surface and you will note that it
is riding high. Often the Trico has one wing up and moving as it
floats on the surface. Tricos, that have been on the surface for
a period of time, become flush with the surface. Trout seem to prefer
the newly spun out Tricos. The addition of the floatant evidently
makes the fly more representative of the newly spun out natural
Trico spinners. Makes sense and it does make a difference.
***UPDATE FOR 7/3/09***
During the 2009
Rivers Conservation and Fly Fishing Youth Camp, which began
on Sunday, June 21, and ended on Friday, June 26, an interesting
bug formula unfolded in the morning and in the evening. Fishing
was an integral part of the Camp curriculum and the day began at
pre-dawn with the students heading down to the Yellow Breeches to
fish. After a day of classroom and streamside educational classes,
they would fish from 6:00 p.m. to dusk. Not a bad way to spend a
week. The Allenberry
Meadow Lodge was the residential housing for the students and
conveniently located near the Catch and Release section of the Yellow
Breeches. Fish were up the first morning of the camp and surface
activity lasted until about 7:00 a.m. A search of the waters
surface did not reveal any obvious bugs. That evening I called Scott
Douglas, a friend that lives near Leesburg, Virginia, and regularly
fishes the Yellow Breeches the four seasons. I asked him his thoughts
on the pre-dawn and dawn surface activity. He suggested that, with
the recent rain throughout the previous week, the Blue Winged Olive
Spinner might be on the water. I tied a dozen # 20 BWO Spinners
and the next morning several of the students were casting them to
the rising fish and with success. Good advice, Scott.
The next encounter
was with the size 20 Black Caddis in the evening. Fish would leap
out of the water to try and catch the tiny morsels that were bounding
up and down about 3-4 inches above the waters surface. Surface
fishing with a size 20 dry fly black caddis pattern was fruitless
and frustrating. After consultations with Clark Hall, Rivers Camp
Chief Gillie, and Ken Okorn, another knowledgeable fly fisher, who
was volunteering as a morning gillie, it was decided to tie a soft
hackle black caddis and fish it on the swing a foot or so under
the surface. This approach would mimic the emerging black caddis
and hopefully prove effective. It did! The soft hackle, fly when
wet, profiled the black caddis pupae nicely. Interesting that the
soft hackle pattern also caught rainbow trout that tend to favor
colorful fly patterns. See Fly of the Week for
general tying instructions.
Pheasant tail
nymphs were moderately successful during the Camp week, fished the
usual high sticking approach and utilizing a strike indicator. A
few days after the Camp ended I ran into Don, another friend of
mine, who fishes the Yellow Breeches from March to September. He
fishes almost exclusively with a special blend olive muskrat nymph.
He fishes the nymph down and across and has phenomenal success.
Unfortunately, I did not think to have the students in the morning
cast the pheasant tails down and across to effect the lofting of
the fly as the current caught the fly line and caused the fly to
rise. It would have been exciting for the 14 to 17 year old Camp
students to have a fish hit the pheasant tails on the swing and
feel the jolt as the tippet material is stressed to breaking capacity.
I plan to have a good number of Dons olive muskrat nymphs
on hand for the 2010 Rivers Camp.
Another fly pattern
that caught the attention of the students was the Y2K. That fly
will be the basis of a future Fly of the Week!!
***UPDATE FOR 6/15/09***
As noted in the
3/15/09 Recent News and Happenings Update, the Flymph fly was to
receive a test on Pine Creeks large German brown trout. The
following is an account of the results.
Our Cumberland
Valley TU group of sixteen arrived in the Slate Run area under
weather conditions that warranted the wearing of rain gear while
out and about. Fortunately, the rain remained light and intermittent
through the remainder of the fishing trip. However, the conditions
did bring out a better showing of hatches than I have seen on Pine
Creek in many years. The Delayed Harvest Artificial Lures Only section
of Pine Creek, from the confluence with Slate Run downstream 1.2
miles to near the confluence with Naval Run, is big water and often
reminds me of a western stream found in Montana. The scenery surrounding
the project water is impressive for both the mind and the spirit.
In April, this section of water received a stocking of 250 German
browns that ranged in size from 15 to 20 inches. The fish were purchased
with funds donated by visiting anglers and corporate interests in
the Pine Creek Valley.
While inquiring about the big trout stocking process with project
coordinator, Tom Finkbiner of Wolfes
General Store and Slate Run
Tackle Shop, Ken Okorn and I did not hesitate to each donate
$20 to the fund. We felt that we received full value from catching
and releasing several feisty German brown trout.
It was time to
give the Flymph fly a workout! Early Wednesday morning, several
of us were on the creek and along with the light rain, Blue Wing
Olives, Gray Fox and March Browns were visible on the water surface.
Fish were favoring the middle to further bank near the paralleling
bike trail and wading to about mid chest level and THEN a long cast
were necessary to reach the surface feeders. It was obvious that
some huge fish were working the surface and an accurate cast with
the Flymph fly resulted in a hookup or a miss. Patience after a
miss was necessary to allow the fish time to gain confidence and
resume surface feeding. Often another fish was surface feeding outside
the feeding zone of the put down fish and casts could
be made to that fish. Standing in moving water that is mid chest
high is a challenge. Then add long distance casting to the equation
and some talent and luck are necessary. The resulting casting is
not generally artful, resembling more of a heave or fling, but what
is lost in art form (style, grace and technique) is made up in efficiency
and effectiveness when the Flymph fly softly rides through the feeding
zone and the surface boils with the take. The resulting hook up
hisses the fly line across the surface as the huge and powerful
German brown torpedoes its way downstream and then, as the line
backing begins to show, the fish suddenly turns and zooms toward
you! At this time a larger than traditional arbor reel is worth
having. In short, the German browns on Pine Creek are hard-running
game fish that have similar fighting qualities as some of the fall
steelhead in the Lake Erie tributaries.
I noticed that
the Flymph fly takes were aggressive even when the trout appeared
to be sipping at the surface. At the terminus of a long distance
cast and float through the feeding zone, the take at the surface
was easily seen as the undisturbed surface disrupted into highly
disturbed water!
Yes, the Flymph
fly was effective and Ken and I tied up several while at Pine
Creek to give to other anglers in our group. When nearby anglers
asked what fly we were using we would tell them the Flymph and the
usual response was, Whats that? We would explain
that the Flymph was a floating nymph type fly pattern and not difficult
to tie. There was no need to tell them the fly was effective because
the results were obvious!!
***UPDATE FOR 6/1/09***
The rain swept
through the Cumberland Valley on a late Saturday night and had moved
out by sunup Sunday. The call from the local fly shop came in at
about 9:20 a.m. inquiring about stream conditions and, from my house,
the Yellow Breeches looked off color and about medium high. The
creek had been running above normal for past weeks but wade fishing
was still comfortable. I ventured outback to check the concrete
wedge, which is my fishing gage, just below what a few anglers call
the Gene Pool. The water level on the wedge was about two inches
from the top indicating tolerable wade fishing levels. I relayed
this information onto the fly shop and as the day progressed the
water turbidity improved and the level went down a few inches.
At 11:00 a.m.
a fishing buddy and his grandson arrived at the house to try their
luck at catching a few fish. Bob has been tutoring his grandson
in the mechanics of fly fishing and the progress was noticeable.
I ventured to the stream to take a few pictures of the duo hoping
to get a good photo for my website. The day before, I had been on
Clark Creek with my son-in-law and grandson and had taken a few
photos. I thought that my grandson and Bobs grandson fly fishing
tutorage would be appreciated by viewers of my website.
While standing
on the bank with my camera, about to take my photos, I noticed bug
activity that was characteristic of the Tricos. Sure enough, there
they were. Numerous Tricos, several feet away from me and about
8-10 feet above the water doing what I call the Trico Dance. The
photo op was on hold as I headed to the garage to get my expandable
handle net. Several swipes through the undulating oval produced
enough Tricos for positive identification. Trico normally appear
in late June to early July but a few years ago I netted Tricos that
appeared in early May. INTERESTING! Unfortunately the trout seem
not to recognize the early Tricos as an added food source. I did
get the photos of Bob and his grandson as noted on the home page
of this website update.
About noon I
received a call from a friend, that is a guide, inquiring if the
Sulphurs were hatching on the lower end of the Catch and Release
section. Up to this point, I had not seen enough Sulphur activity
to respond in the positive. He planned to take his two clients upstream
into open water (outside the project waters of the Yellow Breeches)
for possible Sulphur evening action. Later in the day I noticed
some surface activity. Sulphurs! The random surface activity continued
until about 6:30 and then increased. I donned my fishing gear after
dinner and walked out back. It was obvious that a good number of
Sulphurs were emerging and the fish were up, also in good numbers.
Seven trout later my CIA Sulphur was disheveled and the evening
light fading. I decided not to tax myself with tying on a replacement
CIA because my eyes are not good in dim light and besides, my goose-neck
light that affixes to my chest pack was back at the house. I made
a mental note to add the light to the pack for future late in the
evening/dusk/dark insect activity. For now, the Sulphur activity
would provide many more evening to dusk fishing adventures and I
wanted to be prepared. Want to tie up a few CIA Sulphur flies? See
Fly of the Week link for general tying instructions.