Big Cove Creek, Fulton County, 3/19/20

[DaveKile]

I thought we had some mild showers the night before would be a could chance to get out to a new spot for me. The forecast was for warmer weather, too. We had a little rain ~50 miles east of Fulton County the night before, but when I arrived it looked like the stream was up and pretty turpid. Assume there was more rain to the west. It looked fishable and was looking forward to giving it a go.

The air temps ranged from 50 in the morning to 65 when I left in the afternoon. Mostly overcast the whole day, but dry. The stream was not that high and very wadable. Certainly a fair amount of runoff and about ~12"-16" of visibility in the water. A small amount of little BWO sporadically coming off and an occasional caddis. No risers.

A nice setting for this Keystone Select Project and I ran into a couple of other spin fishermen while I was there. I worked it pretty hard with a variety of streamers, nymphs and some tied worms without any luck. I did get a couple of wacks with the black streamer. Not to be that day. Spin guys shared the same story.

A nice first day of spring and glad to get out.

​

 

[Mike]

It is really enjoyable to see a carpet of Lesser Celandine (yellow flower) along streams despite the fact that it is invasive as all get-out. I have seen it go from no L Celandine along streams and the Schuylkill R to massive amounts in just a few years. The massive amounts are the closest thing that I have seen in eastern Pa to the carpets of Alpine and sub-Alpine flowers that occur in the higher elevations of the Rockies and Alps.

 

[DaveKile]

Mike thank you for identifying these plants. I enjoy each stream as they seem so different despite often sharing similar geographies and climate.

 

[Tups]

The purple flower is periwinkle (Vinca minor). Another escaped exotic.

 

[troutbert]

It's too bad the banks are being maintained as mowed lawns.

You can see the negative effects on the stream banks.

 

[salvelinus]

Isn't the DHALO in the Buchanan forest? So who's doing the maintenance? DCNR?

 

[DGC]

I fished it yesterday. Water was a bit stained but plenty of clarity and a nice level. Skunked for the first time this year. I really don't know the stream but it has some nice holes. I did not even spook a fish during my 3 or 4 hours of wading/fishing.

 

[Broad_Top]

I'm passing rumors along, but there's some recent concern about poaching, based on a few regulars we know. Supposedly a good amount of fish were put in over the past few months but they aren't finding them. Who knows. Just didn't want anyone feeling like it was all their fault they were skunked. If it's any explanation.