Bell's Gap Run, Blair Co, 24 Dec 2025

CinnamonJoe

CinnamonJoe

Well-known member
Joined
Aug 15, 2025
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MOUNT VERNON
(Xmas supper is over & cleaned up, so here's a PA report from a guest fisherman)

Time of day: 2-4pm
Air temp: 42 °F
Water temp: 38 °F
Weather: Partly sunny, light breeze
Stretch: 1 mile upstream of Shaw Run
Insect Activity: Nil
Flow: Clear, ample

I had every intent to fish another nearby Allegheny Front stream, but I had some difficulties finding sensible access to that stream. I drove up/down the mountain twice, then finally put that original idea on hold (I did finally find that stream, and a way to access it, next time!) and instead ended up fishing a lower stretch of Bell's Gap Run, new to me.

I worked likely lies: outside bends, plunge pools, etc. slowly, with a beadhead #16 partridge & orange using the older indicator nymphing technique.

Several misses, 1 landed.

Merry Xmas! 🎄

IMG_20251224_140203989.jpg

IMG_20251224_140033585.jpg
 
I know guys who speak well of that stream, but that’s one more fish than I’ve caught out of that section, in two tries. Caught some in Shaw, but not in BGR proper.

Good to get out at all this time of year, and thanks for the report.
 
CinnamonJoe said:
(Xmas supper is over & cleaned up, so here's a PA report from a guest fisherman)

Time of day: 2-4pm
Air temp: 42 °F
Water temp: 38 °F
Weather: Partly sunny, light breeze
Stretch: 1 mile upstream of Shaw Run
Insect Activity: Nil
Flow: Clear, ample

I had every intent to fish another nearby Allegheny Front stream, but I had some difficulties finding sensible access to that stream. I drove up/down the mountain twice, then finally put that original idea on hold (I did finally find that stream, and a way to access it, next time!) and instead ended up fishing a lower stretch of Bell's Gap Run, new to me.

I worked likely lies: outside bends, plunge pools, etc. slowly, with a beadhead #16 partridge & orange using the older indicator nymphing technique.

Several misses, 1 landed.

Merry Xmas! 🎄

View attachment 1641247499
View attachment 1641247500
Click to expand...
it looks so different in the winter
 
CinnamonJoe said:
(Xmas supper is over & cleaned up, so here's a PA report from a guest fisherman)

Time of day: 2-4pm
Air temp: 42 °F
Water temp: 38 °F
Weather: Partly sunny, light breeze
Stretch: 1 mile upstream of Shaw Run
Insect Activity: Nil
Flow: Clear, ample

I had every intent to fish another nearby Allegheny Front stream, but I had some difficulties finding sensible access to that stream. I drove up/down the mountain twice, then finally put that original idea on hold (I did finally find that stream, and a way to access it, next time!) and instead ended up fishing a lower stretch of Bell's Gap Run, new to me.

I worked likely lies: outside bends, plunge pools, etc. slowly, with a beadhead #16 partridge & orange using the older indicator nymphing technique.

Several misses, 1 landed.

Merry Xmas! 🎄

View attachment 1641247499
View attachment 1641247500
Click to expand...
Reel: Daisy Heddon 320?
Rod: Lamiglass?
Nice report. Merry Christmas.
 
Tups said:
Reel: Daisy Heddon 320?
Rod: Lamiglass?
Nice report. Merry Christmas.
Click to expand...
@Tups

Real close.

Reel: Heddon 300
Rod: Fenwick FF70-4

Merry Xmas! 🎄

The sun just poked out, and its killing me! I stepped outside and, for December its about as good as it gets around here in this part of PA. But, its already well after 2pm, I stayed up way too late last night; and my body still aches from yesterday's jaunt! Getting old sucks! LOL Tomorrow, if the forecast holds, we'll be all iced in. 🥶 Might get out once more before I head home. (Sat/Sun?) 🤞🏻
 
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They did not. It was more than informal discussions at meetings. there were evaluations from people with experience in fisheries biology and an evaluation of feasibility. There were multiple obstacles to the project. I had my doubts from the get go, but as the project was evaluated, it became less feasible. The major issues were:
it was not clear it would get approval from PFBC
the terrain that would have to transversed to remove the fish for relocation, especially in the lower section where there is more brown trout, presented some hazards. For example, steep rocky hills and a very busy road with no shoulder in places.
even if it would be approved by PFBC, the reservoir probably would have been re-filled before the project could start/be completed. A single pass would be ineffective and multiple passes/years would be required for any mid-term effect.
of course, the question of the project's efficacy cast a constant shadow over it.
considering the obstacles it was decided efforts would be better spent elsewhere.
 
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FWIW-

2 days ( July 2025, December 2025 ) hardly makes me an expert on 'BGR' (and on two different stretches yet), but I can say, I caught some in July (see my 'intro' post), and, then the one yesterday-all brookies-no browns.

If you lads and lasses like the native thing, they are there. Treasure it. Protect it. Promote it. Enjoy it. Tread lightly.
 
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nymphingmaniac said:
They did not. It was more than informal discussions at meetings. there were evaluations from people with experience in fisheries biology and an evaluation of feasibility. There were multiple obstacles to the project. I had my doubts from the get go, but as the project was evaluated, it became less feasible. The major issues were:
it was not clear it would get approval from PFBC
the terrain that would have to transversed to remove the fish for relocation, especially in the lower section where there is more brown trout, presented some hazards. For example, steep rocky hills and a very busy road with no shoulder in places.
even if it would be approved by PFBC, the reservoir probably would have been re-filled before the project could start/be completed. A single pass would be ineffective and multiple passes/years would be required for any mid-term effect.
of course, the question of the project's efficacy cast a constant shadow over it.
considering the obstacles it was decided efforts would be better spent elsewhere.
Click to expand...
That's a shame that it never happened but at least it sounds like there was solid reasoning behind that decision. Unlike some of the other sh*t that goes on in this state. Freeman run being the most obvious recent example.
 
CinnamonJoe said:
(Xmas supper is over & cleaned up, so here's a PA report from a guest fisherman)

Time of day: 2-4pm
Air temp: 42 °F
Water temp: 38 °F
Weather: Partly sunny, light breeze
Stretch: 1 mile upstream of Shaw Run
Insect Activity: Nil
Flow: Clear, ample

I had every intent to fish another nearby Allegheny Front stream, but I had some difficulties finding sensible access to that stream. I drove up/down the mountain twice, then finally put that original idea on hold (I did finally find that stream, and a way to access it, next time!) and instead ended up fishing a lower stretch of Bell's Gap Run, new to me.

I worked likely lies: outside bends, plunge pools, etc. slowly, with a beadhead #16 partridge & orange using the older indicator nymphing technique.

Several misses, 1 landed.

Merry Xmas! 🎄

View attachment 1641247499
View attachment 1641247500
Click to expand...
(N)ice Brookie 😎 - is that a Heddon Hardy clone reel?
 
Never fished it. Took stream temperatures in late June and early July 2025 just below the dam to see how cold the newly constructed bottom release was. 72F in the morning. There was still some heavy equipment working the area so perhaps the bottom release was not yet in full swing.
 
DGC said:
Never fished it. Took stream temperatures in late June and early July 2025 just below the dam to see how cold the newly constructed bottom release was. 72F in the morning. There was still some heavy equipment working the area so perhaps the bottom release was not yet in full swing.
Click to expand...
Interesting. I was not aware of work done to the dam or res there, though I did see in some satellite/aerial maps when I was scouting it out last winter that it appeared to have been drained/worked on within recent years.

Both times I fished it (early July 2025, Xmas Eve), I was well upstream of the res.
 
i was not aware that BGR was now bottom release. it is a small res, so I wonder what the retention time is and the impact on water temp. that whole tailwater stretch is STW also. have not spent much time on it, but I might have to do a side trip some day.
 
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