Nemacolin Brookie

Before my fishing focus turns exclusively to striped bass, I had the opportunity to head to the Laurel Highlands in Western PA to Nemacolin Lodge to experience a four star resort, restaurants, relaxation, and a sense of normalcy compared to the last few months.  Nemacolin also boasts access to incredible fly fishing through their guide center.  Within reach of the lodge, there are a number of classic freestone streams, spring creeks, and tailwater.  

I was fortunate to be posted with Mike Steiner who runs the fly fishing operations out of the lodge.  Mike asked all the right questions from the outset to understand my level of experience and goals for the day.  After a few minutes heading toward the river, we were swapping fish stories and tactics.  I could tell it was going to be a great day of fishing with Mike.  Our destination was the Youghiogheny river.  Near Confluence, PA, the water is a tailwater fishery.   Ph is near neutral with caddis and midges being the predominant insects near the dam.  It was a short wade down river just past a bridge with a single deep unobstructed channel that caught my attention with trout intermittently slurping bugs from the surface.  A quick glance a Mike revealed that this could be on of those double digit fish days.   

The slaps on the water and dimples from slurping fish were deceiving.  Our first caddis / midge dropper combo produced a false strike and several looks.  A pattern developed where we would change the size or color of the caddis, get a look, a refusal or a single strike to be followed by several casts of nothing.  Persistence and Mike's experience paid off with two nice takes.  Unfortunately, both fish went into the weeds and escaped the net.  When the next pattern induced a strike, I did not hesitate to aggressively turn the fish from the grass on the bottom and eventually landed the brookie who fought much stronger than a typical 12" fish.

Other than the two fisherman who failed to follow the unwritten rules of fishing etiquette and spent an hour or so casting into my drift directly across from me, it was a very pleasant and rewarding afternoon.  More than any other kind of angling, the rewards of fly fishing are not counted by the number of fish in the creel.  A healthy fishery, a great guide, unravelling the mystery of feeding fish, and a strong tug on the end of the line are more than this angler can ask for during a day on the river.

Tight Lines,

Mikey D Fishing