krayfish2
Well-known member
Imma vote the Neversink in the Gorge.
Oh my, forgot all about that place. That's a 1/8 scale Lehigh
Imma vote the Neversink in the Gorge.
Agree with you 100% n ur analysis.I fished a lot in South America for 10 years when I lived and traveled and fished from the Orinoco(Venezuela) all the way to the Patagonia.Nothing comes close to the LR.For whatever reason it is highly deceptive visually....and it has a strong"push" even at lower flows IMOLehigh River. Mods can just lock the thread.
In PA, there isn’t really a close second in terms of size/danger/gradient. Yough maybe, I guess.
Then after that IMO is a big drop off to streams like Penns, LJR, and BFC in their respective “Narrows” or “Gorge” sections. Outside of those areas they’re a lot more manageable.
If the Lehigh is a 10 in terms of wading difficulty, the Yough would be a 9. Then it would drop to like a 6 IMO for the above mentioned grouping of streams.
Small, steep streams can be dangerous too (like Black/Hayes mentioned above) but they’re much easier to stay out of and find ways around obstacles by keeping both of your feet on dry land.
In all of the above it’s important to recognize when flows are too high and unsafe. They’re all dangerous if you’re fishing them when it’s unsafe to do so.
+1 for the Lackawaxen, my home water....surprised it took so long for someone to mention it. Even at low flows, it's a tough river to wade and I would never step a foot in it without my wading staff. Lots of really deep holes, greasy rocks, etc. ....and then there is that dam release without warning thing....Alot of mention the Lehigh. It's my home water and deserves alot of respect. Fishing that river since 1967. Take your time and don't push your luck and you'll be fine.
That said, though much easier to wade, my most horrifying experience was the on the Lackawaxen. I waded 50-60ft across a knee deep sandbar to fish the opposite bank. Around noon one, day my buddy called me back to the bank to have lunch. I wasn't out of the water 2 minutes when the water level rose about 2 feet in a matter of minutes. Where I was standing, fishing, would easily have been 4 foot + and rushing. Not to mention all the debris and large branches floating down. Had I not come out when I did, there is no doubt I would have had to ditch the rod, kick off the waders, and hopefully swim to shore in very cold water. As close as I ever want to come
+2 on the Lackawaxen, everything you said and I find it just as bad above Wallenpaupack. Its still on the smaller side of big with deceptive currents and slippery rock.+1 for the Lackawaxen, my home water....surprised it took so long for someone to mention it. Even at low flows, it's a tough river to wade and I would never step a foot in it without my wading staff. Lots of really deep holes, greasy rocks, etc. ....and then there is that dam release without warning thing....
Also agree with the Neversink in the gorge. Similar in alot of ways to the Lackawaxen - deep holes, ankle busting rocks, etc. - with the added bonus of having to hike in and being out of cell range.....
I'll add my +3 for the Lackawaxen. My fave place, but at 5'5" I find that some of the most productive spots for me are past my wader belt while still within 10' of land. Add to that the boulders, and it's a dangerous place that needs vigilance.+2 on the Lackawaxen, everything you said and I find it just as bad above Wallenpaupack. Its still on the smaller side of big with deceptive currents and slippery rock.
I've only fished the LR a handful of times but its a bear as well.
Then there is the Delaware main stem.....
Those tannic rivers up there with huge boulders you can't see even just a few inches under the water are a bear. I'll throw the St Regis in too. A day wading on those feels like a prize fightNo doubt, hands down whether in the east or west. It’s the Ausable in upstate NY.
I have switched from felt to rubber and put in tungsten studs. These boots are the best for slippery rocks and make all these places you mentioned so much easier to wade.
Hardest to Wade: Letort and all the spring creeks for the sake of catching fish. You can't most of the time.
Whomever said Yough too...Lehigh, Lackawaxen, Brodhead will get no arguments from me. I own felt solely for those three
Absolutely. Greased bowling balls.The Lehigh...
Edit: Only fished it twice, but that's all it took.
Lehigh, Lackawaxen, Brodhead will get no arguments from me. I own felt solely for those three
The gorge demands a lot of respect. I got stuck on a boulder mid-stream during the whiteflies that I rock hopped to from the bank. Long short, I waited too long to come back to the bank and couldn't see. Some friends came looking for me eventually.I’ll go with Slippery Rock Creek since it bears the name and is only a 10 min drive. As a kid I watched a white water race event there that drew participants as far as West Germany. The gorge area is totally unwadeable. Many people have drowned there.
I’ve never fished the Lehigh but it seems like the leader based on my quick glance.