The charm of fishing is that it is the pursuit of what is elusive but attainable, a perpetual series of occasions for hope. -John Buchan

May 10th 2008 - Fishing Update for Central PA's Waters - Lance Wilt, Guide TCO Fly Shop

Big Fishing Creek - Penn's Creek - Little Juniata - Spring Creek

March Browns, Blue Quills, Blue Wings, Sulphurs and Caddis to boot! Hatch season is in full swing and it seems like Mother Nature is trying to make up for last year’s lack of rainfall. With sporadic showers over the course of the past week, most of our streams are right where they should be for this time of year. With the banks being full, anglers that aren’t afraid use their chest waders are picking fish up in those spots that no one else has touched. Good flows have produced solid nymphing and streamer action during the day followed by spinner falls in the evening that will make any dry fly aficionado salivate.

Now for the specifics: Meat flies that you throw like a wet dish rag have taken the bigger fish, while small Sculpin patterns have been taking good numbers of fish with regularity. Hatch matching nymph patterns fished down and deep during the day have been the ticket while we anxiously await the afternoon dun activity followed by spinner activity that (weather permitting) has provided pure insanity.

Penn’s Creek is up and the wading is not for the faint-hearted. In spite of the above average flows, I have seen incredible bug activity (when it’s not raining) and the fish have been all over them. A Golden Stone took a bruiser on Penn’s last week on the third cast of the day! March Brown Spinners have produced the numbers of fish on top and the Sulphurs are just getting started.

I ran a trip on Big Fishing Creek yesterday with an excellent young angler that was training in preparation for the upcoming tryouts for the USA Youth Fly Fishing Team. Several nice fish were taken while fishing slow and methodically in those hard to reach places that are often passed up. Like Penns, Fishing Creek is one of our local waters that’s best suited for anglers looking for nice size, finicky fish that can be caught in beautiful places.

The Little “J” is currently at a great flow and the Sulphurs have just started! Last week’s trip to the “J” lacked dry fly activity but the streamer action made up for it! This was the first time I’ve had 3 anglers begging for 2X Fluorocarbon and my streamer box. We started small (size 4 and 6 Slumpbusters) and eventually threw some meat at them. Size didn’t matter! While I love streamer fishing, I have to admit that some of the largest fish taken last year fell on the “J” during the Sulphurs….detailed reports soon to come!

Spring Creek has been “old reliable”. Boasting one of the highest populations of wild brown trout per area in the state, Spring Creek has the potential to produce some amazing days. After last Saturday’s rains, Spring Creek was off color and the fish aggressively smacked small streamers fished off the banks and in the “fishy” pockets”. Sulphur nymphs, Walt’s Worms, and general Attractor-type patterns have been the ticket when fishing on the bottom. Today’s (5/9) trip to Spring Creek was similar. Anywhere you walk in Spring Creek holds fish and most any cast has the potential to produce a fish…as long as it’s not in the trees! Sulphurs are flying around as I’m writing.
I’ll be getting a few pictures rounded up to share!

See you on the stream!

Lance Wilt

Book a day on the water now with Lance Wilt lancew@tcoflyfishing.com 814.689.3654 Spring Creek, Penn's Creek Little Juniata, Fishing Creek more...

Book a day on the water now with Josh Day josh@tcoflyfishing.com 814.689.3654 Spring Creek, Penn's Creek Little Juniata, Fishing Creek more...