Big Fishing Creek, Clinton Co., 09/07/2010

[3wt7X]

Fishidiot and I made the trip up to Big Fishing Creek yesterday in hopes for some terrestrial sipping trout. We arrived to very low and clear conditions with sunny skies and chilly temps. At 0800 am, when we arrived the air temps were in the mid to upper 50s and the stream temperature throughout the day was around 54 degrees.

There were a few flies coming off, including some caddis, blue quill and midges, but rising trout were scarce. We worked hard though the "Narrows" section only catching a few trout. I was impressed with the stream and it's surroundings, and despite not having a big numbers day, I really enjoyed visiting Big Fishing Creek for the first time. I caught my first Big Fishing Brown on a size 16 x-caddis and it was a beautiful fish. Although I will argue to my death that Savage river browns are far more beautiful.

Towards the end of the day, we drove along the stream and explored a couple different areas. Fishidiot caught a nice 7 inch wild brookie near a scenic covered bridge on the upper section of the stream. A good time was had by all, and I will definately pay Big Fishing Creek another visit during the spring!!!

 

[JackM]

FI, I don't know what that thing is poking from your back, but I'd get it looked at right away:

 

[jdaddy]

From what I hear that is a pretty good day on BFC. Supposedly not a numbers type of stream. Sounds like a great trip.

 

[jayL]

Nice report.

But I'm sorry- BFC browns are tops for me. The savage fish are pretty though. 🙂

 

[Fishidiot]

Jack,
Folks are always tellin me I ain't got a leg to stand on, so I figured a wading staff (a stick not a committee) would help. :-D

No doubt, Fishing Creek is a gem, we had a great time on a beautiful day in Penn's Woods even if the catchin wasn't great (seems this is the theme for much of my fishing this year). To be honest, this creek has punished me repeatedly over the years. I've had some good days when bugs are hatching but on sunny days like yesterday you really have to work to catch fish. I didn't see a single rise in the narrows. In a section of stream with over 1500 trout per mile, it's amazing how they virtually just disappear. While I was fishing, I looked down and saw a brown in the shadow of a rock just inches from my foot (see photo).

I enjoy rock rolling and bug hunting so spent a lot of time looking for trout food. Fishing Creek is incredible. I usually expect to find golden stones in FC and they were there but what really surprised me were the number of scuds and sculpins. I'm used to seeing them down here in SCPA but Fishing Cr is loaded with 'em in addition to huge numbers of caddis flies, stones, and mayflies. While most of the sculpins were small and rather light colored, I found the biggest sculpin I've ever seen, a 4.5" monster (see Photos Section). Although there were few insects flying or on the water, Isonychia nymph shucks were common and the number of caddis cases on rocks was unbelievable. Amazing stream.

 

[3wt7X]

I'm sorry...can one of the mods edit the title to say, 09/07/2010 instead of 09/27/2010. I am not sure how I made that mistake?

Edit: Done (DaveW)

 

[Squaretail]

Made it to the covered bridge eh? Shoulda figured Dave would know it. Hoping to head up that way tomorrow. Also hoping for less sun.
The narrows is beautiful, but far from the most productive water on that stream.
Gettin' some serious feathers in yer cap Josh. 🙂

 

[albatross]

Nice report guys. Looks like an enjoyable day on the water. I loved the bug pics FI!

 

[PaulG]

BFC, one of my favotite stream, wil be making a trip or two there next week.

I've never fished the Savage river, if the browns are far more beautiful there, I sure would love to see them!

PaulG

 

[WildTigerTrout]

3wt7x, sounds like you guys had a good time. That covered bridge is at "Logan Mills". IMO "Big Fishing Creek" has been tough this year with no rain,low and clear water. I fish it quite often. I'm lucky to live upstream near the headwaters so get to spend alot of time on the stream. The trout in "The Narrows" go to school so can be difficult to catch LOL! Some of those Browns I swear have advanced degrees HA! I must agree with fishidiot,BFC is a gem. Nice post and Tight lines to you both.

 

[brianb]

Good Stuff fellas

I was up there the week before after work around 530-6. There were some sporadic rises but come 730 the place erupted. 15" trout clearing 3 feet over the water i actually stopped fishing just to watch. I am not real good with bug identification so I am not sure what they were after maybe emerging ISO's?

 

[Slate_Drake_9]

brianb,

Trout launching that far out of the water is usually a sign of caddis emerging.

Isonychia duns aren't usually an important bug to trout as many of the nymphs crawl out of the stream to emerge (there are a few streams and conditions that this isn't the case though) and then the duns fly to the bushes to become spinners, which are very important to the trout. I'd doubt the fish would jump for them as spinners when they know they'll be an easy meal not much longer after they're hovering over the water close enough to jump for.



I'll add a plug for the Savage River browns being more pretty than BFC's.

 

[troutslammer]

probably midges

 

[NoMoreCornChuckin]

I love that part of BFC! When we going back, Dan?

 

[RyanR]

I love BFC, a great stream to fish even if it gives you beating most days. The days though where it coughs up plenty of wild fish on dries make it truly special. As far as fish clearing the water it definitely coulda been for Isos just as much as it could be for caddis emergers. Numerous times I've witnessed trout explode out of the water to take slate drake duns floating along on the surface.

 

[MKern]

Could be hovering damels or dragonflies that the fish leaps out of the water for.

 

[jayL]

I suspect that they were chasing iso nymphs. Not emergers, but regular old free swimmers.