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

Mikey D Fishing's newest operating base in the heart one of the world's best fisheries

 

Potter County Fishing Report, April 6-10: The High Holy Day

 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

Cape Charles, VA Fishing Report, 16-18 November: More Please!

Conditions remained perfect for  wade-fishing.  Sunny to partly cloudy skies, air temps in the mid to upper 60s, calm winds, and clear water.

I headed back out Thursday about the same time as the day before to catch the outgoing tide.  Began casting out into the deeper water beyond the breaker, figuring the bite wouldn't turn on for an hour or so.  But after a few casts I heard noise back toward the beach.  I turned and noticed some commotion in the shallow water, like fish chasing bait.  Tossed my gold spoon into the area and BAM!  Hooked a solid Redfish.  But what happened after was truly impressive.  As I was reeling the fish in, I noticed the entire school was following along.  With the clear water I could see dozens of Reds, and as I worked the fish to me they just kept hanging around.  An angler in a small skiff nearby estimated the school at a hundred fish.  I released my fish, and proceeded to hook up on the next cast, another slot Red.  The guy in the skiff hooked up as well. Unfortunately, the treble on my spoon was all bent up, and by the time I managed to tie on a new spoon, the school had skee-daddled.

And so did the catching ... for awhile.  I had brought the 8 wt with me, and since things had quieted down I figured a few casts couldn't hurt, especially with no wind.  Started off just blind casting a white/chartreuse Enrico Puglisi baitfish pattern, and within a few casts found my self fighting and landing a decent 15 inch Red, first on the flyrod.

Was ready to call it, but kept casting for a bit more.  Then I saw disturbed water about 30 feet in front of me.  Put the fly in front of the boil and had a big Red eat and take me back and forth for about 5 minutes before he broke me off.  

Capt. DiPaola had cleared his Friday work calendar and rolled in to take advantage of the action.  For awhile it wasn't looking good.  Still sunny and warm, but the winds had picked up to about 10-15 kts.  For a couple of hours we just flailed away.  But checking Nautide, the forecast was for the winds to die down around 2:30 in the afernoon.  They did, and the bite turned on.  Fishing a gold spoon, and a popping cork with Berkley Gulps (nuclear chicken), we managed 14 Reds (3 at the upper end of the slot), and a small Flounder in about an hour and a half.  

Stringing together three great days on the water was a first.  So when we headed out Saturday morning, the pressure was off.  Which was a good thing.  Winds had shifted to the NW, and were still blowing a bit.  Still, we'd brought both fly and spin gear, and decided to give the long poles a try.  Low tide had been around 6:30 AM, so when we got out there about 8:45 the water was coming in fairly fast.  A lot of area to cover with a fly rod.  But like I said, the pressure was off.  And with the winds from the north, we looked like pros sending long casts down wind.

(Following two photos courtesy of Marina Pierce, a local photographer who was out taking pics of an eagle, and spotted us on the water)

                

And for the 4th day in a row the fish gods smiled on us.  Three Reds that went 15-18 inches, and surprisingly two Speckled Trout that went 20 and 24 inches.  All hooked in knee-deep water.

A phenomenal four days in an amazing fishery.  And some great video to boot!

Happy Thanksgiving, and Tight Lines,

Mikey D Fishing

Cape Charles, VA Fishing Report, November 15: Epic!

 You don't get many days like today.

It's been on the cool side since we got down to CC last week.  Temps in the mid to high 50s.  Water temps hovering around 60 degrees.  By this time the only fish that should be hanging around are the Speckled Trout.  Managed a few fish over the last few days, and a couple of keepers.  But overall kind of slow.

Today we enjoyed temps in the 60s with calm winds.  Went out to our usual spot near the mouth of Plantation Creek.  On the water around 1200.  Conditions were great.  Water was cool but the sun was out, and the water calm and aquarium clear.  Tide was heading out.

I've been fishing a Dyne XL in purple with a chartreuse belly, and have had reasonable success with the trout.  But for the first couple of hours all I was doing was casting.  A few baitfish popped the surface, but no bite.

About 2:00 I was ready to call it a day, but figured I'd toss the lure a couple more times.  That's when the magic began.  A fish slammed the lure; I knew it wasn't a trout.  Turned out to be a Red that easily went 26+ inches.  I looked out and saw Reds slashing the surface chasing bait.  A school that extended a couple of hundred feet.

A pleasant surprise, and for the next hour it was absolutely stupid.  The fish kept slamming the Dyne, eventually bending the trebles and finally bending the lure, rendering it unfishable.  I must have hooked and lost another 6 fish before the lure gave out.  Tied on a gold Clark's Spoon and kept hooking fish, until one broke me off at the leader-line connection.

I quickly tied on new leader, and decided to try a topwater.  It's really cool watching a trout hit a dry fly.  Even cooler is when a big Redfish hits a topwater.  It was my first action on top, and I managed to land three fish; an 18-incher and two that went 26+ inches.  I was actually tired fighting the last fish. A good problem to have.

Apologies, no photos, as I was alone and it's tough trying to get a shot while you're working to get a fish loose.  

Weather is forecase to continue to warm for the next few days.  Hoping today was not a one-off.  But if it was, I'll take it.

Tight Lines,

Mikey D Fishing

West Branch Tavern Casting and Blasting Report, 23-29 October

 It was a busy week at the WBT last week.  On Monday, Bob Volkmar (AKA "The Trout Whisperer"), on an extended trip to PA, visited for a couple of days of WBT hospitality.  The weather was absolutely perfect; sunny skies and temps in the mid-60s to low 70s all week.  Very uncharacertistic for late October.  But then, given it could've been in the 30s with snow, I'll take it.

Along with fellow angler and neighbor Frank Weeks, we tried the Upper Allegheny delayed harvest section Monday afternoon.  Water was extremely skinny, and few fish moved.  While Frank and I got skunked, Bob picked up a couple of small wild Browns at the "Beaver Complex."

Since we had a full day of fishing available the next day, we decided to head to Kettle Creek, about an hour south of the WBT, in the hopes of finding some decent holding water.  Kettle is one of Pennsylvania's iconic freestone streams.  Known for its Green Drake hatches in the spring, the stream boasts an extensive catch-and-release fly-fishing only section.  More improtantly, it holds trout ... a lot of trout.

We parked at the bridge near the lower section of the C&R section around 11:00.  Water was low, but fish were rising under and upstream of the bridge parking lot.  While Bob and Frank moved upstream, I stuck to the adage that you don't leave fish to find fish.  Over the course of the day we all caught fish on a variety of flies; "Feggs," foam beetles, Stimulators, and Griffith's Gnats.  

Bob departed on Wednesday, and that afternoon Capt. DiPaola rolled in, the first of 5 former HSL-42 "Proud Warrior"" squadron mates arriving for our annual Man's Weekend.  The weather held firm over the next few days, allowing us to take advantage of the best of God's Country...

Fishing at the Pavilion Hole and the Kiddie Pool, which is still holding a lot of trout, including some of the Tiger Trout (now nicely colored up) that I stocked this summer:

Followed up by another great day on Kettle.  Gnats, beetles, and ants did the trick.  And we didn't move more than 50 feet from where we entered the stream:

The rest of the crew arrived Thursday and Friday, with outdoor activies set for Saturday.  Joe, Steve Malloy, and Jamie Pierce headed to God's Country Upland Preserve (https://www.gcupreserve.com/) for an upland Pheasant shoot.  Once again, owner Loren ("Fitz") Fitzgerald took great care of our crew.  Under the supervision of guides Eric Potter and Taylor Hand, and thanks to the superstars of the group, Colt and Ripper, the gents had a phenomenal day busting through the sorghum fields, going 10 for 10 on the birds.  Not bad for two first-time shooters!

While the hunt was on, I took Tom Cosgrove and Bill Flannigan to Rainbow Paradise (https://rainbowparadisetroutfarm.com/) for a Fly Fishing 101 course.  For newbies, it was a pretty decent outing.  By the time we left their casting was solid, and we enjoyed several hookups and a few fish brought to the net.

And plenty of comraderie, sea stories (helped by copious Old Fashions ... thanks Joe!!!), great meals, and shuffleboard:

Of course, none of this would have been possible without WBT President and CINCHOUSE Mary Felker, who's flies were not only very successful on the waters, but put together superb meals for the crew.  Thanks Babe!

A great weekend, and an important weekend.  Somehow we slipped from our devil-may-care days as 30-40 something year old lieutenants and lieutenant commanders, to retired senior-officer duffers heading to Medicare territory.  I'm not sure how it happened so quickly.  Doesn't really matter.  Because for a brief period we found ourselves "back in the day."  I don't thing we're ready to hit the senior citizens blue plate special just yet (although the 0030 and 0130 last calls this weekend put a bit of a hurt on me).  So we keep these going, enjoying bonds of friendship and comradeship that go back three decades.

Tight Lines,

Mikey D Fishing