Potter County Fishing Report, 11-13 May: Trifecta

 April fishing in Potter County can be a crap shoot.  When good friends Clare and Bery Edmonston visited the West Branch Tavern for the 2024 opening dayof trout season, the weather more favorable for eating and drinking than fishing, and especially catching.

This past weekend they returned to the WBT to give the trouts another go.  By early May we finally saw warmer temps, the trees leafing out, and Hummingbirds on the feeders.  But even in May weather can be fickle.  Two days before their arrival we saw over an inch of rain.  The weekend pointed to temps in the 50s to mid-60s, cloudy to partly cloudy skies, and intermittent showers.  

Not ideal, but certainly fishable.  And the rain came down slow and steady, so when they arrived the streams got what WVa fly-fishing legend and good frend Dave Breitmeier would have described as a "good level bounce."

Mary and I had scouted some potential spots the week before.  Saturday we settled on the First Fork of the Sinnemahoning, about 45 minutes from the WBT.  We first parked at the picnic section at Sinnemahoning State Park and geared up.  But within a half hour it was clear we needed to move.  Nothing going on on the water, and too many anglers on the stream.  So we drove up a short way, and parked in the lot where Logue Run empties into the stream.  Only one truck there; an older gent waiting on his grandson and a buddy who were fishing.  We crossed paths with the youths, who said they hadn't caught anything.  But I overheard them saying that they saw fish rising.

And they were!  Water was up, but a nice greenish color.  Air temps in the upper 50s with cloudy skies.  Bugs coming off the water, and fish consistently rising to them.  We started with Caddis's, and picked up a couple of fish.  But then we noticed Sulphurs coming off, so we quickly re-rigged and it was game on. 

Everone tagged fish.  Stockie Bows and Browns, all around 10-12 inches.  And Clare hooked her first trout on a fly rod!

The plan for Sunday was to fish Kettle Creek, hoping that this iconic Pennsylvania freestone stream wouldn't be mobbed.  It wasn't, because the water was too high and fast.  So I called an audible and we fished Little Kettle, a stocked stream, which also holds good numbers of wild Browns and native Brook Trout.  When we first hit the water we got doused with a couple of showers.  But eventually the clouds parted and the weather warmed up, and with it came a decent hatch of Sulphurs, Cadddis, and March Browns.  Not much in the way of catching.  We missed some Brookies, I netted a 12 inch stocked Rainbow.  Fish of the day, though, went to Mary, who landed a pretty 6 inch wild Brown on a Caddis.

Of course, the Pavilion Hole on the west branch of Fishing Creek is a good place to get the skunk off, and enjoy the amenities of the WBT.

Bery makes a helluva fire

On Monday the ladies decided to take a field trip to the Kinzua dam.  So Bery and I headed to Upper Kettle to search for native Brookies.  Cloudy skies and intermittent rain greeted us when we got to the parking area on the lower stretch.  To make matters worse, the stream was also up and moving fast.

So, we moved upstream, looking for fishable water.  We finally found some about a mile or so further upstream, where Leetonia Road crossed the creek.  By now the skies had cleared and temps rose into the high 60s-low 70s.  And, as I looked down from the bridge, I saw the welcome sign of a fish rising.

For the next hour and a half we enjoyed consistent action fishing Sulpher dries.  Bery worked the run below the bridge and picked up several nice Brookies, including one that went about 6 inches.  A nice fish for this stream.

Meanwhile, I spotted some soft water downstream, and hooked 4 fish in rapid order. 

No pics of the fish, but you can tell this was a great holding spot.

We finished at a beaver dam a bit further downstream.  Despite the mucky bank, we managed a few more trout to the net.

What these fish lack in size they more than make up for in aggressive takes and beautiful colors.  

Despite some challenging weather and water, we found fish and hit the trifecta of stocked, wild, and native trout.  Gotta love May in God's Country.  It almost makes me forget Old Man Winter.  .

Almost....

Tight Lines,

Mikey D Fishing

200 Posts and Counting... A Mikey D Fishing Video Retrospective 13 May 2024

It started with two guys, a passion for fishing, a boat, and a few tales to share with family, friends, and fellow anglers.  Nine years, 200 blog posts, 63 videos later, Mikey D Fishing has grown from a couple of followers to.... well, at least it has grown.  And if the adage that the good Lord doesn't count the days you spend fishing rings true, then we look forward to hundreds of entries and dozens of fishing adventures in the years ahead! Thanks to all who have supported, subscribed, fished with, and shared the moment when we shouted, "Fish-On"!

                                                                        Tight Lines, 

Mikey D Fishing

Potter County Fishing Report, 07 May: Hat Tip to Tackle Shack

 I'm as guilty as most of using online companies for my fly-fishing needs.  Mostly, it's just convenient.

But ... whenever I can pop into a mom and pop, I'll do it.  And for two reasons.  First, it's the best place for intel. (try asking the Caeblas customer service rep where the best fishing is on Pine Creek).  Second, brick and mortar stores will have the flies that work on local waters.

Case in point; Yesterday I was scouting water for a weekend visit by some out of town friends.  I've never fished the section of Pine Creek between the towns of Galeton and Wellsboro.  It's impossible to miss if you're driving along Rte 6.  There's a lot of fishable water.  It also gets a good stocking preseason.  And I always see anglers on the water.

Fortunately, there is a great resource near the town of Wellsboro.  I stopped into Tackle Shack (https://www.wellsborotackleshack.com/index.php.  You can also follow on FB) yesterday morning for some supplies and the scoop.  

The store has everything you need, whether fishing for Crappies, Bass, Trout, or any other kind of fish.  A most excellent selection of fishing/fly fishing gear, and one of the best fly selections I've seen.  And the staff  had the answers to my questions.  

So, after loading up on some flies, trout lures, leaders, a new wading staff (they haven't figured out a way to make them resistant to car doors), and especially intel, I headed to a spot they recommended.

Parked at the Pine Creek Trail access to fish Darling Run.  Easy to get to, just a few miles west of the shop in Ansonia.  It's a delayed harvest/Keystone Select section of Pine, which means (1) it gets a healthy stocking, (2) it's C&R until the middle of June, so the fish are there, and (3) some big trout get put in the water.

Got on the water around 1030.  No one else fishing.  Caddis's coming off, and fish were rising (if you look closely enough, you'll see the rings)

I tied on one of the Caddis flies I bought at the shop, and within 2 casts had a 12-inch Rainbow to the net.  I subsequently lost the fly in a tree, which was a good excuse to try something else.  Picked up a Rainbow on a black with purple flash Wooly Bugger, and a Rainbow and a Brownie on a Fegg.  No monsters, but all the fish were healthy and put up a good fight.

After the 4th fish I decided to head home.  Mission accomplished.  Weekend weather is not looking as nice as yesterday, but we need some rain and cooler temps (can't believe I'm saying that).  And, any day on the water is a good day.

Thanks again Renee and Tackle Shack!!!

Tight Lines,

Mikey D Fishing

Brown and Blue 6 May 2024

 On the Delaware coast, it did not look like the best of conditions for surf fishing.  Temps in the low 60s, but a persistent east wind made it feel cooler.  There was a 4 - 6' surf with overcast skies.  A further bad omen was the sight of a beached fin whale about a mile north of the Indian River Inlet.  From the looks of her at the scene, the odds of recovery looked slim.  Undeterred, I grabbed some frozen mullet at Old Inlet Bait and Tackle and thought I would give the surf a try if the weather improved.  

With a few house chores completed and winds shifting more to the southeast, I decided to cast into the surf with about an hour to go before sunset.  It has been some time since I wet a line in Bethany Beach.  There are some passing stripers and reds in the fall, but without a lot of structure, the fishing is generally hit or miss.  

There was little to no action for the first 30 minutes or so, but a dolphin in about 100 yards out soon grabbed my attention.  Generally, dolphin is usually no bueno for fishing.  As he was cruising south, he suddenly made a turn toward the beach.  It looked like he was chasing a meal.  Thirty seconds later, the rod doubled over, and line began stripping from the reel before I could pull the rod from the sand spike.  As I took and gave line, I just hoped that I wasn't dealing with a dogfish.  The flat tail that emerged from the surf was relief, and the 30" bluefish that I landed was a personal best.

 Meanwhile, a few hundred miles north....

Finally scored on dries.  The weather has jumped from warm and sunny to cold and dreary.  But today the clouds broke and the temps warmed.  But, despite 6.5 inches of rain in April, the trees have been sucking the ground water out as they leaf out, bringing down water levels. 

May is prime for dry flies in Potter County.  Gray Foxes, March Browns, Green Drakes, and Sulphurs all make their appearance this month.  This evening I lit out to the Pavilion Hole to see if I could entice a trout on a dry.  Not much bug activity; a few March Browns and Gray Foxes.  But the fish didn't seem to mind.

I tied on a size 10 March Brown.  Fish started rising around 5:45.  And, keeping to form, I missed and lost the first couple of fish.  Fortunately, the trouts humored me, and I knocked the rust off on a wild Brown and a stockie Rainbow.

I moved down to the Lower Hole (haven't figured out a name for it) to give the Pavilion Hole a rest.  The hole doesn't have much in the way of character, with two exceptions.  The middle of the run has decent depth.  And a suken tree sits off the far bank, providing some decent cover.  

A few days earlier I'd noticed a fish rise between the tree and the far bank.  So this evening I figured I'd give him a shot.  Casts to the inside of the sunken tree went unnoticed.  So decision time.  If I cast to the other side, and the fish takes the fly, chances are he's going to dive under the tree and break me off.  But it had to be tried.  First cast on the far side and fish rises.  I pulled the fly away, not wanting to lose it.  But then the itch was too much.  Another cast and he attacks the fly.  Again I chickened out and pulled away at the last second.  I decided to go for broke, and on the third cast I let the fish take the fly.  And, as luck would have it, his momentum took him over the tree and into open water.  A nice Rainbow, which spit my fly as I tried to get him into the net.  

Back to the Pavilion Hole for a few more casts, and was rewarded by a 15-16 inch nicely-colored Rainbow.  No photo, as this fish put up a fight and and I needed to get him back in the water most scosh.  In fact, after I released him, he went belly up.  Not good.  So I got in the water (no waders) close enough to nudge him fins up with my net, and he swam off to fight another day.

Soaked socks and shoes will dry out.  Worth it to keep a fish like that around to fight another day.  Unless a Mink or a Heron gets him....

Tight Lines,

Mikey D Fishing

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