Okay, just put together the best three days I’ve had on Penns Creek in Central PA.
Penns is one of the most fecund streams on the East Coast and the hatches prove that out. Thursday was warm and sunny. Bugs, bugs and more bugs.
The fly of the day was either a grannom cripple or an emerger. One of my buddies hauled in a 22 inch fish. I had over a dozen fish per day.
Friday, the temp was down by 20 degrees and drizzle. No sun. Instead of being in the fast water, we found the fish in the dead slack. Again, grannom cripples and emergers did the trick.
Saturday started with rain showers with occaisional peaks of sun. Any time the sun came out, tons of caddis would cloud the air and the trout would start to rise. Good fishing was had by all.
Finally, late in the day, I encountered the Penns Creek Conundrum. I had 15 fish rising around me. Unfortunately, they were all very selective. One would only take grannoms, the next would be on BWOs, a third was nailing hendricksons, a fourth found pink cahills to his liking whilst a fifth would only eat red quill spinners. Changed a lot of flies before thunderstorms drove me off the water.
Frank Reid
The first PA stream report I have seen that has been updated. I used to live in Hollidaysburg, but now am outside of Pittsburgh. Ever fish Loyalhanna creek in Ligonier? Right now, seems to be clear and moderate water level. Nymphing is still working well.
Fished Spruce Creek on April 22,23,24.
Caught 30 on the afternoon of the 22nd,
20 all day on the 23rd and 7 on the morning
of the 24th(in the snow), for a total of 57!
Caught the most on grannoms durring the dounpour on the 22nd. Fish jumping like I have never seen before. Rain was washing the caddis out of the trees. Just throw your fly out there,no need for dead drift or to even see the fly. Set the hook when there was a tug on the line.Could not get
them in and off the hook fast enough. All fish averaged 14-16 inches, a few were around 20. The rain stopped and so did the fish.
On the 23rd, I prayed for rain…it came!
Same thing all over again…Down pour
and fish on.
Never had so much fun with my clothes on!
MW