salvelinusfontinalis
Active member
- Joined
- Sep 9, 2006
- Messages
- 7,267
Posted on another forum but thought i would share with you too.
Take a good look at that picture because it pretty much sums up probably one of my all time favorite creeks here in Pennsylvania. Tricky flows, vegetation, crystal clear water, lots and lots of trout food and spooky fish. This is one of the most technical, if not frustrating streams on the east coast and likely the entire country. There are other spring creeks and there are some that are harder to fish but this one is certainly special, at least here in Pennsylvania. The constant stocking of invasive trout into native watersheds in the Keystone state have made the brook trout expired from virtually all of our true spring creeks. There are some but nothing like this one. Its unique, its special and it got destroyed and now its made a huge comeback in a big way. The folklore of past, the destruction of something great and now its return as one of the best brook trout streams in the state doesn't make it any easier to fish by any means. These kinds of streams often require keen observation, thought, long fine leaders, precision casts, practice, patience, understanding, determination, the right fly, the right presentation, the right equipment and of course.......love for beating your head against a wall. Over the years I have gotten good at fishing these creeks, in the last 20 years its been my specialty and my love. My mind always runs to the brooks, stained by the leaching of hemlock root washing of slate and cobble but my love is in the valley where the watercress holds a treasure trove for those insane enough to keep searching.
Over time this stream has weaved a web that caught my heart and the morning dew dominates my desires. Ill come here before others do, during the dark morning and the vaporous steam emanating from the cold creek on a hot day renews my soul every time. Its "our time" and while other suitors show up through the day, I was here first and I will be here last because in the end I just love her that much.
In all these years, I have fished many rods and have always tried to find the perfect one just for this stream and others like it. The requirements of tackle on a stream like this can be highly specialized and while some people scoff at the notion, it is true. You may be throwing heavy streamers and then 30 minutes later, throwing a size 26 midge. Yet not many rods are made today that are a perfect match for both. Most rods can do it all but most rods don't do it all well. This leads to issues that go beyond simply changing a spool to a higher or lower line weight. I have fished first generation Orvis Graphites on these creeks for years because they were the best match, until today.
Recently Andy Manchester of Old Yankee Rod Smiths posted a few rods for sale on this forum and I instantly bought his "Ultimate Witch" because I am a huge Cummings fan but his Hardy "Presentation Special", its description and photos got me eyeing it up. Frankly, I had to have it because this rod gave me that feeling. I know you guys know what I am talking about, when you see "that rod" and you just know is going to be something special. So I bought this rod and put Andy's description to the test on one of the hardest spring creeks on the eastern seaboard.
I paired this rod with a CFO lll and Cortland Spring Creek fly line WF5 for streamers and Cortland Spring Creek WF6 for dries on my other spool. According to Andy's description DT5 was the sweet spot but I find the heavy Whitlock's Near Nuff Sculpin equaled it out and it is a beautiful casting rod.
These Hardy Filatube Blanks are something else I found out and just an out right pleasure to fish. Good juju came to the rod also because it took the brook trout above on the first cast.
It got double juju by taking this one on a second cast and as fast as I caught the two fish.......
Is as fast as they went, it was on!
This rod is very accurate, is certainly a dry fly taper, absolutely beautiful and handles a 14 foot leader like a 9'6" graphite but it is only a 7'9" fiberglass.
Certainly Andy put a good amount of time into this rod and the craftsmanship is unparalleled. I love the spiral wraps in places and the choice of colors really make it a classy looking build. I also like the fact the furrel is built for wear over time.
Here is a 15" native taken from this creek, I can tell you from having fished Pennsylvania for over 29 years that this is a really really rare bird. I know it is that length because the net in the picture is my long boat net, I like to use it as a wading staff as I fish. The loop is 16" from end to end. This place can produce natives up to 18" but they are not easy to catch in this crystal clear water because they see you coming a million miles away and have a food source of cress bugs, shrimp and sculpins. in fact there is so much food, if you dip your net in the cress it will be crawling with life, it almost makes you feel "icky" to look at your net.
These pictures didn't come out well because I was shaking so terribly bad from excitement. The fact these fish spot just about any movement is why I have always desired a slow rod for these creeks. I believe the fast whipping action and high line speed of rods most guys prefer will spook fish otherwise caught. On the flip side, I rod that is slow can have trouble casting heavy flies sometimes. The closest fiberglass I have found in my Lamiglas 1860 vintage blank 8'6" 6/7wt. Still this rod is not ideal for these creeks when trying to use a fine long leader with midge size flies. The Hardy Filatube that Andy has built did everything I asked it to do today and more.
I was really having a good day as I caught around 20 trout. On this stream a few fish can be considered a very good day. I was in the one parking area and WCO "Tom" checked me out. I chuckled when he commented on the beauty of the rod I was holding and inspected it himself. We talked for awhile before he left. Discussed a good many topics and he seems like a great WCO in this area.
The amazing thing was I was having such a good and relaxing day that I didn't even fish hard at all. I really got to take in the surroundings of a place I have been to a million times and got a new appreciation for the place. It's not in the woods but its not in town either, a true farmland style stream with all kind of nature around you. I also got to observe a northern water snake flush sculpins out of the cress with its tail and eat them as they tried to flee. I thought it was interesting because this snake also preferred sculpins like the book trout. Generally if you fish sculpins you will catch the bookies but cress bugs will take the Rainbows, but you can certainly catch nice rainbows on the sculpins too.
Here was another test for this rod. The Rainbows in this stream, when they reach a good size are notorious leapers and fighters. This fish took my sculpin and immediately when under the two large rocks he was hiding under. Well no worries because this rod had enough power to pull him out easily. Then the rainbow peeled my drag out a good bit while leaping here and there. Once the fight was almost over this fish did the typical 3 bulldog runs as he was net shy. Each time, the "reserve power" of this rod was able to correct him very quickly, making the fight exciting yet possible without really wearing the fish down. I love this fiberglass rod!
I got an emergency call and I had to leave the stream early as I planned to stay till dark. I find the action can pick up in the summer as the high sunlight make the fish here very shy and they typically feed in the early morning and at dusk into night.
In all, I am super pleased with everything about this rod. I can see that I will be "Hardy" be able to put down this Hardy and it will be "Hardy" to not fish this rod. I brought my "Ultimate Witch" but it never left the tube. I honestly believe this rod to be the Ultimate Spring Creek tool. I remember Andy saying he had one more blank, if I was you I would contact him and see if you fish streams like this. In all honesty, if he builds another just like this I would likely buy it so I have a back up but only if no one else "pulls the trigger" on it. I don't want to be selfish and honestly believe that every spring creek fly fisherman that fishes fiberglass should own one of these tools. I can't express my gratitude enough for Andy offering this rod.
I have handled 100's of flyrods in my lifetime but nothing like this one. Its a "Presentation Special" indeed in every way. From its abilities as a fishing tool, to the classy look Andy expressed in the build, the whole way to how it is a pleasure to fish.
My favorite rod ever really.
Thanks Andy.
Special note: I saw/caught more brookies this summer in more stretches of Big Spring than I have ever seen in the past. A good number of these fish are good size but very wary, as they should be. My curiosity is wondering if it is possible for their range to expand down past Nealy Road.
The habitat work,now looks wonderful and the weeding is the most I have ever seen in the fly area. It appears the intention of the project has worked because there seems to be less rainbows and many more brookies than ever.
Thank you CVTU for everything you have done. A true treasure.
Take a good look at that picture because it pretty much sums up probably one of my all time favorite creeks here in Pennsylvania. Tricky flows, vegetation, crystal clear water, lots and lots of trout food and spooky fish. This is one of the most technical, if not frustrating streams on the east coast and likely the entire country. There are other spring creeks and there are some that are harder to fish but this one is certainly special, at least here in Pennsylvania. The constant stocking of invasive trout into native watersheds in the Keystone state have made the brook trout expired from virtually all of our true spring creeks. There are some but nothing like this one. Its unique, its special and it got destroyed and now its made a huge comeback in a big way. The folklore of past, the destruction of something great and now its return as one of the best brook trout streams in the state doesn't make it any easier to fish by any means. These kinds of streams often require keen observation, thought, long fine leaders, precision casts, practice, patience, understanding, determination, the right fly, the right presentation, the right equipment and of course.......love for beating your head against a wall. Over the years I have gotten good at fishing these creeks, in the last 20 years its been my specialty and my love. My mind always runs to the brooks, stained by the leaching of hemlock root washing of slate and cobble but my love is in the valley where the watercress holds a treasure trove for those insane enough to keep searching.
Over time this stream has weaved a web that caught my heart and the morning dew dominates my desires. Ill come here before others do, during the dark morning and the vaporous steam emanating from the cold creek on a hot day renews my soul every time. Its "our time" and while other suitors show up through the day, I was here first and I will be here last because in the end I just love her that much.
In all these years, I have fished many rods and have always tried to find the perfect one just for this stream and others like it. The requirements of tackle on a stream like this can be highly specialized and while some people scoff at the notion, it is true. You may be throwing heavy streamers and then 30 minutes later, throwing a size 26 midge. Yet not many rods are made today that are a perfect match for both. Most rods can do it all but most rods don't do it all well. This leads to issues that go beyond simply changing a spool to a higher or lower line weight. I have fished first generation Orvis Graphites on these creeks for years because they were the best match, until today.
Recently Andy Manchester of Old Yankee Rod Smiths posted a few rods for sale on this forum and I instantly bought his "Ultimate Witch" because I am a huge Cummings fan but his Hardy "Presentation Special", its description and photos got me eyeing it up. Frankly, I had to have it because this rod gave me that feeling. I know you guys know what I am talking about, when you see "that rod" and you just know is going to be something special. So I bought this rod and put Andy's description to the test on one of the hardest spring creeks on the eastern seaboard.
I paired this rod with a CFO lll and Cortland Spring Creek fly line WF5 for streamers and Cortland Spring Creek WF6 for dries on my other spool. According to Andy's description DT5 was the sweet spot but I find the heavy Whitlock's Near Nuff Sculpin equaled it out and it is a beautiful casting rod.
These Hardy Filatube Blanks are something else I found out and just an out right pleasure to fish. Good juju came to the rod also because it took the brook trout above on the first cast.
It got double juju by taking this one on a second cast and as fast as I caught the two fish.......
Is as fast as they went, it was on!
This rod is very accurate, is certainly a dry fly taper, absolutely beautiful and handles a 14 foot leader like a 9'6" graphite but it is only a 7'9" fiberglass.
Certainly Andy put a good amount of time into this rod and the craftsmanship is unparalleled. I love the spiral wraps in places and the choice of colors really make it a classy looking build. I also like the fact the furrel is built for wear over time.
Here is a 15" native taken from this creek, I can tell you from having fished Pennsylvania for over 29 years that this is a really really rare bird. I know it is that length because the net in the picture is my long boat net, I like to use it as a wading staff as I fish. The loop is 16" from end to end. This place can produce natives up to 18" but they are not easy to catch in this crystal clear water because they see you coming a million miles away and have a food source of cress bugs, shrimp and sculpins. in fact there is so much food, if you dip your net in the cress it will be crawling with life, it almost makes you feel "icky" to look at your net.
These pictures didn't come out well because I was shaking so terribly bad from excitement. The fact these fish spot just about any movement is why I have always desired a slow rod for these creeks. I believe the fast whipping action and high line speed of rods most guys prefer will spook fish otherwise caught. On the flip side, I rod that is slow can have trouble casting heavy flies sometimes. The closest fiberglass I have found in my Lamiglas 1860 vintage blank 8'6" 6/7wt. Still this rod is not ideal for these creeks when trying to use a fine long leader with midge size flies. The Hardy Filatube that Andy has built did everything I asked it to do today and more.
I was really having a good day as I caught around 20 trout. On this stream a few fish can be considered a very good day. I was in the one parking area and WCO "Tom" checked me out. I chuckled when he commented on the beauty of the rod I was holding and inspected it himself. We talked for awhile before he left. Discussed a good many topics and he seems like a great WCO in this area.
The amazing thing was I was having such a good and relaxing day that I didn't even fish hard at all. I really got to take in the surroundings of a place I have been to a million times and got a new appreciation for the place. It's not in the woods but its not in town either, a true farmland style stream with all kind of nature around you. I also got to observe a northern water snake flush sculpins out of the cress with its tail and eat them as they tried to flee. I thought it was interesting because this snake also preferred sculpins like the book trout. Generally if you fish sculpins you will catch the bookies but cress bugs will take the Rainbows, but you can certainly catch nice rainbows on the sculpins too.
Here was another test for this rod. The Rainbows in this stream, when they reach a good size are notorious leapers and fighters. This fish took my sculpin and immediately when under the two large rocks he was hiding under. Well no worries because this rod had enough power to pull him out easily. Then the rainbow peeled my drag out a good bit while leaping here and there. Once the fight was almost over this fish did the typical 3 bulldog runs as he was net shy. Each time, the "reserve power" of this rod was able to correct him very quickly, making the fight exciting yet possible without really wearing the fish down. I love this fiberglass rod!
I got an emergency call and I had to leave the stream early as I planned to stay till dark. I find the action can pick up in the summer as the high sunlight make the fish here very shy and they typically feed in the early morning and at dusk into night.
In all, I am super pleased with everything about this rod. I can see that I will be "Hardy" be able to put down this Hardy and it will be "Hardy" to not fish this rod. I brought my "Ultimate Witch" but it never left the tube. I honestly believe this rod to be the Ultimate Spring Creek tool. I remember Andy saying he had one more blank, if I was you I would contact him and see if you fish streams like this. In all honesty, if he builds another just like this I would likely buy it so I have a back up but only if no one else "pulls the trigger" on it. I don't want to be selfish and honestly believe that every spring creek fly fisherman that fishes fiberglass should own one of these tools. I can't express my gratitude enough for Andy offering this rod.
I have handled 100's of flyrods in my lifetime but nothing like this one. Its a "Presentation Special" indeed in every way. From its abilities as a fishing tool, to the classy look Andy expressed in the build, the whole way to how it is a pleasure to fish.
My favorite rod ever really.
Thanks Andy.
Special note: I saw/caught more brookies this summer in more stretches of Big Spring than I have ever seen in the past. A good number of these fish are good size but very wary, as they should be. My curiosity is wondering if it is possible for their range to expand down past Nealy Road.
The habitat work,now looks wonderful and the weeding is the most I have ever seen in the fly area. It appears the intention of the project has worked because there seems to be less rainbows and many more brookies than ever.
Thank you CVTU for everything you have done. A true treasure.
