Inspiring Action

I'm not sure how many are familiar with the Letort in PA, but if you are, you'll know how difficult it is. Its taken a stubborn winter and already a long spring to realize that only masters like Charlie Fox and Vince Marinaro could effectively master dry flies here. But the water is so clear, you can look down ten feet away and see thick schools of wild browns. The problem is that a beginner like me can't seem to get them interested. They seem too far down to be interested in dry flies (and they rarely rise) and I've also tried nymphs and streamers, but nothing seems to work. I thought an obnoxious wooly bugger might be enough to set them off the take out of aggravation, but again - I was wrong. Any suggestions?

Dude,
This may come as a shock but those thick schools of wild browns ae probably suckers...

wild "brown" suckers can be a challange for sure

If they are big browns, and they are in a large group together, there is a good chance they have been spooked and are in cover. If this is deep water or near an undercut bank or some other type of cover this is a good chance what they are doing. If they are spooked they won't eat anything, they are in survival mode avoiding prediders.

Well, you sound like ya know your stream, and your trout, so I won't try to steer you other wise. Have you tried useing a weighted nymph? Or adding more weight to the weighted nymph you have? Is your tippet on dry's lite and long? Do you have a smooth presentation?
(Forgive me, but I don't know the stream at all) are you sure the trout you are seeing are not stocked? I'v seen stocked trout do as you have said. Just trying to help...

Tim

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Spelling and Grammar not subject to judgement... ;)

LetortRun:

The trick to the Letort is to be patient and spend most of your time watching not fishing. . I usually spend at least 30 minutes when I first arrive just observing. I fish it often and do well, (by Letort standards). I was there last week and managed a few fish on midges and Blue Winged Olives. You also have to willing to crawl into position and wait until the perfect opportunity arises. That means sitting or kneeling in the muck and mire. If you walk along the bank and are impatient you are wasting your time. If stalking isn?t your thing go someplace else.

The fish you are seeing are probably some of the carp or suckers that have made fools of many of us. The browns by day are usually hanging under the elodea or cress pods. You won?t see them often unless you scare them. By waiting and observing some the daytime risers will show themselves. The trick then is to get as close as possible without spooking them and making a perfect cast.

Cress bugs, scud or shrimp patterns can be effective for non-risers but frustrating to fish. Fishing the water can be tough but it does work. Look for open channels and drift your nymph through. Normal nymph fishing techniques work here too. You also can look for fish working the weeds for scuds. They will move into the weeds; shake; then drift back to intercept the scuds. Mr. Fox himself taught me how to deal with this situation, his advice was to cast and strike when you see the white of the open mouth of the fish. I owe him for quite a few nice fish taken that way. Streamers also work but I stick to them on overcast days or early in the morning or late in the evening.

You may get your best opportunity to catch a Letort brown in the next few weeks when the Sulphurs appear but be prepared for about 30 minutes of frustration if you never experienced it before. The hatch starts about 8:30-8:40 and ends at dark, about 9:00 but for the non-die hard Letort fisherman it can bring results although the last few years the hatch has been very disappointing. Daytime fishing on the Letort is for the die hard only, it can be slow and frustrating but often times you have the place to yourself which is why you?ll see me there at those times.

You have chosen a very difficult stream to be successful on but if you stick with it you should get lucky. Most fisherman I know don?t have the patience for the place so discount it as overrated or fished out but anyone who is willing to do what is required knows better what lurks in these hallowed waters.

Good luck!

Hey there Capt. Gordon.

"TOUCHE" in french that's tooosheee.

Been there too often too many times. Your suggestion also could have been " try doughball flys"

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I'd rather be in Wyoming!

once i was fishing and some guy said "damn, i cant get those fish to take my fly no matter what i throw at them. there are about a dozen fish right in front of me." i looked over, sure enough suckers. im sure all of us at one time have been fooled by suckers http://www.flyanglersonline.com/bb/smile.gif