The fishing this past week or so has been fairly consistent. Not in numbers, but the skunk tally has remained at zero. I've mostly hit the usual holding spots on Fishing "Crick," picking up a trout here and there. Wolly Buggers and "Feggs" were the go to flies.
This past weekend temps began to warm, and the first of the spring hatches began. Good numbers of Caddis's, and a few gray-ish mayflies to boot. On Sunday afternoon, after flailing away on the PavilionHole, I decided insanity had taken hold, and took a seat to just listen to the water. Skies were sunny andbright, so I figured what trout were still in the hole were probably hiding under the rock ledge. That's when Nature stepped in. I heard some rustling on the opposite bank, and saw a mink running around. The rodent proceeded to head to the water, poked his/her head down through some brush along the bank, and immediately came up with a fish. No cast, no fly, no license, no problem. It then ran back and forth on the opposite bank, certainly taunting me on my failed efforts. Not to be outdone, I gave him/her the hole, went down to the next hole, and landed a 14-inch Rainbow. Touché rodent!
On Monday Mary decided to join me on an afternoon outing. We lit off for the delayed harvest section of the upper Allegheny, a few miles north of Coudersport. When we got to the parking lot, skies were clear, temps were in the low 60s, and not a soul was on the water. The river was a bit low, but running well. Water temps, according to a gent standing on the bridge staring at the water, was 45 degrees. I didn't notice a thermometer, so perhaps he was some kind of seer or something. Or maybe he was just making it up.
We started below the bridge at a spot that always holds a fish or two. Mary got first honors, and on her first cast was rewarded with a 12 inch Rainbow. A bit on the skinny side, but the skunk was off.
We moved further downstream, but didn't move any fish, so decided to head above the bridge. There are two decent holes; the first is rather tight due to overhanging brush. The second is long and deep, but you're casting from a high bank. But both hold fish. When we got to the first hole, however, access was no longer an issue.
Beavers had deforested the banks of the stream and beyond. It was an amazing site. But, it also opened up the water, and allowed us to fish from both sides of the hole.
Fishing was not too shabby. The water was clear, and you could see the fish swimming around. We each picked up trout on Feggs and Wolly Buggers. Mary threw a Squirmy Worm and had some follows.
After an hour or so, we moved up to the upper pool. Or, what used to be the pool.
The aquatic rodent construction company had obviously decided to subdivide the pool into three sections. Aside from smaller areas to cast, the fish were there, and seemed happy to at least chase out flies. I did manage one decent Rainbow in the uppermost section, which took my Fegg and immediately darted toward the submerged cuttings. There wasn't much I could do except keep some pressure on the rod and hope that the fish wouldn't break me off. Fortunately, the trout backed out, and a nice 18-incher came to the net.
All in all some quality time on the stream, made more so by Nature's demolition experts.
Tight Lines,
Mikey D Fishing
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