You never know what you're going to get on the opening day of trout season in Pennsylvania. The weather may be great, or not. The fish might cooperate, or they might go on strike.
Joining us for the High Holy Day were Captain DiPaola and Lesley Sneeden, and Clare and Bery Edmonston. Weather-wise, our West Branch Tavern guests were treated to all four seasons over the course of three days; cold, rain, snow, and moderating temps by Sunday. Gotta love it.
As to the fishing, well, let's say that the social aspects of Opening Day salvaged some pretty mediocre fishing. On Friday we warmed up our casting arms and hook sets at Rainbow Paradise, the pay-to-fish operation just outside Coudersport. A great opportunity to "feel the tug," and even with cold temps the trout did not disappoint. Mary was the big winner with a mix of Rainbows, Browns, and Goldens.
That and a tour of the hatchery on the property made for a good visit.
We were rigged and ready when Saturday morning came around. The campfire and Bloody Marys were absolutely necessary, as morning temps hung in the low 30s. The water was up from about 2 inches of rain early in the week. But the stream levels were coming down, flows were up but not unfishable, and the water color was perfect.
Unfortunately, water temps were still very cold, probably in the low 40s. Air temps never got into the 40s. And the trout proved reluctant to eat, despite throwing just about everything in the arsenal. Although both the state and a local club stock Fishing Creek, I'm not sure our stretches got fish. I even put in some Browns and Tigers on Monday, but for all I know the high water might have pushed those fish to the Allegheny River.
Fortunately, Capt. DiPaola kept the skunk off, netting a nice Rainbow at the Beaver Hole on a Fegg.
Sunday temps climbed into the low 40s, so Bery and I tried our luck on the east branch of Fishing Creek. While the number of anglers was surprisingly low (fine by me!), the guys fishing around the bridge reported catching some fish. For us, though, catching wasn't in the cards. I got a brief hookup on a Wooly Bugger just upstream. But that was it. Again, the trout just would not cooperate.
Of course, as the story goes, the fishing always picks up after your guests leave. Determined to get a fish to the net, I prospected both the east and west branches for a couple of hours Monday afternoon with the spinning rod. Yeah, I know, it ain't fly fishing. But sometimes you gotta do what you gotta do. And the Mepps spinner on a light spinning rod at least brough some trout to the net.
This morning around 1100 I headed out again, this time with the 3 wt. The weather had warmed considerably, with temps in the 70s on Tuesday, and in the mid-60s this morning. Some clouds and rain had moved in; good conditions on a small stream where the fish can be spooky.
I began upstream of the EB bridge to chase the fish I'd missed on Sunday. Sure enough he was there, but I missed the take. But ... over the next hour and a half, and working from the bridge downstream, I managed twelve hookups and netted five. Not a great percentage; in some cases the 3 wt didn't have enough backbone to get fish out of the current before they spit the Wooly Bugger. The stream is also pretty brushy, so getting the rod tip up was challenging. But just seeing fish take the fly makes it all worthwhile. And a few trout did surrender to the net, including a Brook Trout, which I haven't seen on Fishing Creek in a couple of years.
We've fished different types of water over the years, but small streams are my favorites. It's not A River Runs Through It. If you're casting over 15 feet you're in the brush. And it never ceases to amaze me that decent sized trout hang out in skinny water. But they're there, at least until the meat hunters move in. Hopefully, as we normally see fewer anglers after opening day, and more rain coming in tomorrow to mess up the weekend fishing, we'll have another great season!
And maybe those Browns and Tigers will wake up.
Tight Lines,
Mikey D Fishing
