Prospector
Well-known member
SUMMARY
This week on the Beaverkill was all about decent flows on Monday and Tuesday from weekend rain. The trout were very active and
Then the drought continued on Wednesday to Friday and you would think the 5”-7” trout were seasoned vets. They learn quickly what to eat and what not to eat. Catch rates fell in direct correlation to slow flows and poor insect hatch rates. Hatching was virtually non-existent. The fish that were there became super careful.
Another item of interest for people that like bears: On our way up, about 20 minutes from Roscoe, we had a small bear run across the road in front of us. On the way home from Roscoe, we saw a small dead bear between Scranton and I80. Then, around Clearfield PA, we saw another dead bear in I-80. It was about 300 lbs. That’s really rare occurrence.
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DETAILS
June 15. Evening
=======================
Time Fished: 500pm - 900pm
Weather Conditions: Sunny, 63 degrees dropping to 53 degrees
Water Conditions: Clear, 366 cfs, 67 degrees
Insects: There were midges when we arrived and the trout were keyed on to them. There were many strikes to be had on decent drifts. The spinnerfall was relatively light but there were quite an array of insects making it up. Rusty spinners in various sizes, Coffin Flies, yellow mayflies, some Caddis, yellow flies,….plus others.
Two fisherman left shortly after we arrived and that opened the whole length to us.
I started with a small BWO since that’s our best fly at this time of year. The BWO picked up a few trout but more trout seemed to be midging. The midge picked up the majority of my trout but as darkness neared a #14 rusty spinner was the fly. The midge was getting the most strikes and most hookups since it matched the size.
I landed 14 trout, all browns. The trout were very small but they saved the day.
Two beavers were working on what must be tasty to them — the streamside Japanese bamboo.
Very late, a female common merganser came paddling down with what looked like 45 young of the year. This mother must have absorbed at least 2-4 clutches beyond her own. 34 young 2 mature.
June 16 Evening
=======================
Time Fished: 400pm - 900pm
Weather Conditions: Sunny, 63 degrees dropping to 53 degrees
Water Conditions: Clear, 203 cfs, 67 degrees
Insects: None
I worked my way up the Beaverkill trying to bring up fish. The Beaverkill was really low and that made fishing tough. I worked all of the runs and pools but I only brought up a handful of fish. I caught 3 using a small yellow bodied Caddis.
Once I got to the junction pool, I talked to my fishing partner who was midge fishing. I was going to find a place to fish and along comes 2 kids headed back home. I had noticed they were throwing large plugs or spinners in the junction hole. So he comes up and says to me “hey mister you have waders, you should go after those trout that keep jumping on the far bank”.
I watch for awhile and there must be 30 trout jumping out of the water about every 15 seconds. Full body out of the water. So now I’m curious and I make the 60 yard wade to the far bank. When I get there, it makes sense. The flat water of the junction pool has attracted several hundred Black Caddis and the trout are just jumping relentlessly eating them. I casted a black Caddis into the fray over and over and it took a while before the trout would take the fly off the surface. In the end I caught 6 small browns.
I went back to the Beaverkill for the spinnerfall and I landed 8 more just before dark. I had switched to a rusty spinner a little early but having that fly usually gives you the best chance to stay in the game until after dark.
I landed 17 browns this evening
June 17 Morning
=======================
Time Fished: 930am - 1130am
Weather Conditions: Sunny, 63 degrees climbing to 73
Water Conditions: Very Clear, 159 cfs, 68 degrees
Insects: Saw exactly 1 insect going down the creek
We went to the Barnhart Hole. There was a guy in front of us and he caught a trout as we arrived streamside. Otherwise he had no luck. My buddy and I slugged it out. I fished a BWO for a while and never brought up a fish. I then tried 2 streamers over a quarter mile stretch and didn’t have a strike. My fishing partner stuck with dries and never had a take.
These weird days on the creek are really puzzling. Is barometric pressure powerful enough to impact a fish or an insect under a rock 4 feet under the surface? I guess so.
I never had a strike.
June 17 Evening
=======================
Time Fished: 600pm - 900pm
Weather Conditions: Sunny, 78 degrees falling to 65 degrees
Water Conditions: Very Clear, 144 cfs, 68 degrees
Insects: not many insects, midges, yellow mayflies, ISO spinners, rusty spinners
It was a tough night of fishing. The small trout (5”-7”) are fully educated. They aren’t making too many mistakes. By the same token, we as fisherman are not seeking less pressured waters. We just continue to go to our favorite spots. But that’s okay.
I caught 3 Browns this evening.
June 18 Evening
=======================
Time Fished: 600pm - 900pm
Weather Conditions: Sunny, 78 degrees falling to 65 degrees
Water Conditions: Very Clear, 159 cfs, 68 degrees
Insects: spinners, midges,
No one was there when I arrived so I went to a pod of fish that were giving me trouble. I made a little headway with this pod but not the impact I had hoped for. I missed at least 6 trout before I landed the first one. This group of small trout were highly educated and hard to convince. I pulled out corkbugs, black ants, I trimmed bushy flies to make them thinner, ….etc. Basically looking for any edge I had. But really it’s sad, a grown man should have the advantage, not a 6” brown trout.
I landed 4 Browns.
June 19. Morning
=======================
Time Fished: 700am - 830am
Weather Conditions: Sunny, 65 degrees
Water Conditions: Very Clear, ?? cfs, 60 degrees
Insects: None
I started out with a rusty spinner through the top riffle and didn’t have a strike. Started over at the top of the riffle with a black ghost steamer and caught one on 2nd cast and missed an another. I fished the slower water for another 100 yards without a strike. Tried a wet fly under the bridge with no strikes. It was about time to head home. So I put a button on this trip.
Caught 1 brown
This week on the Beaverkill was all about decent flows on Monday and Tuesday from weekend rain. The trout were very active and
Then the drought continued on Wednesday to Friday and you would think the 5”-7” trout were seasoned vets. They learn quickly what to eat and what not to eat. Catch rates fell in direct correlation to slow flows and poor insect hatch rates. Hatching was virtually non-existent. The fish that were there became super careful.
Another item of interest for people that like bears: On our way up, about 20 minutes from Roscoe, we had a small bear run across the road in front of us. On the way home from Roscoe, we saw a small dead bear between Scranton and I80. Then, around Clearfield PA, we saw another dead bear in I-80. It was about 300 lbs. That’s really rare occurrence.
======================
DETAILS
June 15. Evening
=======================
Time Fished: 500pm - 900pm
Weather Conditions: Sunny, 63 degrees dropping to 53 degrees
Water Conditions: Clear, 366 cfs, 67 degrees
Insects: There were midges when we arrived and the trout were keyed on to them. There were many strikes to be had on decent drifts. The spinnerfall was relatively light but there were quite an array of insects making it up. Rusty spinners in various sizes, Coffin Flies, yellow mayflies, some Caddis, yellow flies,….plus others.
Two fisherman left shortly after we arrived and that opened the whole length to us.
I started with a small BWO since that’s our best fly at this time of year. The BWO picked up a few trout but more trout seemed to be midging. The midge picked up the majority of my trout but as darkness neared a #14 rusty spinner was the fly. The midge was getting the most strikes and most hookups since it matched the size.
I landed 14 trout, all browns. The trout were very small but they saved the day.
Two beavers were working on what must be tasty to them — the streamside Japanese bamboo.
Very late, a female common merganser came paddling down with what looked like 45 young of the year. This mother must have absorbed at least 2-4 clutches beyond her own. 34 young 2 mature.
June 16 Evening
=======================
Time Fished: 400pm - 900pm
Weather Conditions: Sunny, 63 degrees dropping to 53 degrees
Water Conditions: Clear, 203 cfs, 67 degrees
Insects: None
I worked my way up the Beaverkill trying to bring up fish. The Beaverkill was really low and that made fishing tough. I worked all of the runs and pools but I only brought up a handful of fish. I caught 3 using a small yellow bodied Caddis.
Once I got to the junction pool, I talked to my fishing partner who was midge fishing. I was going to find a place to fish and along comes 2 kids headed back home. I had noticed they were throwing large plugs or spinners in the junction hole. So he comes up and says to me “hey mister you have waders, you should go after those trout that keep jumping on the far bank”.
I watch for awhile and there must be 30 trout jumping out of the water about every 15 seconds. Full body out of the water. So now I’m curious and I make the 60 yard wade to the far bank. When I get there, it makes sense. The flat water of the junction pool has attracted several hundred Black Caddis and the trout are just jumping relentlessly eating them. I casted a black Caddis into the fray over and over and it took a while before the trout would take the fly off the surface. In the end I caught 6 small browns.
I went back to the Beaverkill for the spinnerfall and I landed 8 more just before dark. I had switched to a rusty spinner a little early but having that fly usually gives you the best chance to stay in the game until after dark.
I landed 17 browns this evening
June 17 Morning
=======================
Time Fished: 930am - 1130am
Weather Conditions: Sunny, 63 degrees climbing to 73
Water Conditions: Very Clear, 159 cfs, 68 degrees
Insects: Saw exactly 1 insect going down the creek
We went to the Barnhart Hole. There was a guy in front of us and he caught a trout as we arrived streamside. Otherwise he had no luck. My buddy and I slugged it out. I fished a BWO for a while and never brought up a fish. I then tried 2 streamers over a quarter mile stretch and didn’t have a strike. My fishing partner stuck with dries and never had a take.
These weird days on the creek are really puzzling. Is barometric pressure powerful enough to impact a fish or an insect under a rock 4 feet under the surface? I guess so.
I never had a strike.
June 17 Evening
=======================
Time Fished: 600pm - 900pm
Weather Conditions: Sunny, 78 degrees falling to 65 degrees
Water Conditions: Very Clear, 144 cfs, 68 degrees
Insects: not many insects, midges, yellow mayflies, ISO spinners, rusty spinners
It was a tough night of fishing. The small trout (5”-7”) are fully educated. They aren’t making too many mistakes. By the same token, we as fisherman are not seeking less pressured waters. We just continue to go to our favorite spots. But that’s okay.
I caught 3 Browns this evening.
June 18 Evening
=======================
Time Fished: 600pm - 900pm
Weather Conditions: Sunny, 78 degrees falling to 65 degrees
Water Conditions: Very Clear, 159 cfs, 68 degrees
Insects: spinners, midges,
No one was there when I arrived so I went to a pod of fish that were giving me trouble. I made a little headway with this pod but not the impact I had hoped for. I missed at least 6 trout before I landed the first one. This group of small trout were highly educated and hard to convince. I pulled out corkbugs, black ants, I trimmed bushy flies to make them thinner, ….etc. Basically looking for any edge I had. But really it’s sad, a grown man should have the advantage, not a 6” brown trout.
I landed 4 Browns.
June 19. Morning
=======================
Time Fished: 700am - 830am
Weather Conditions: Sunny, 65 degrees
Water Conditions: Very Clear, ?? cfs, 60 degrees
Insects: None
I started out with a rusty spinner through the top riffle and didn’t have a strike. Started over at the top of the riffle with a black ghost steamer and caught one on 2nd cast and missed an another. I fished the slower water for another 100 yards without a strike. Tried a wet fly under the bridge with no strikes. It was about time to head home. So I put a button on this trip.
Caught 1 brown
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