greenghost
Well-known member
- Joined
- Jun 25, 2008
- Messages
- 1,510
Since ALL of the larger known streams in the Laurel Highlands were blown out BIG time, I made a day trip on Sunday to several small streams that run off of Laurel Mountain. It was a warm day in Pittsburgh at 83 degrees. By the time I got to the first stream in a deep valley, it was 67!
The brookie streams were very high, but clear… great conditions to fish these “cricks.” Also, water temps were beyond acceptable… they were downright cold. The highest temp I got at all three streams I fished was 57 degrees. The coldest was 54.
INSECTS SEEN: Caddis, BWOs, Stones, small cahill, even a couple of isos (I think)
FLIES THAT CAUGHT FISH: Buggers below, stimulator on top. Nothing else was needed.
STRATEGY: Did well fishing simply by dropping a bugger into the pockets and plunge pools. Then fishing the stimulator in slower pools, glides, and slots.
Fish were not super aggressive and I didn’t catch big numbers (I rarely do in the Laurel Highlands) but all the ones I caught were in great shape. They were larger than what I usually catch in these runs and with full bodies too. Obviously they have been feeding well… a positive from all this wet weather. Caught a couple of small browns too.
I rarely take pics (for fear of dropping my phone in the water and keeping fish out more than necessary) but included a couple of badly shot ones just to show the size of many of these wild fish.
I also included a shot of something else I caught; a 3” spinner hung up in a tree. LOL… I guess the angler’s strategy was to scare the natives to death with it!
The brookie streams were very high, but clear… great conditions to fish these “cricks.” Also, water temps were beyond acceptable… they were downright cold. The highest temp I got at all three streams I fished was 57 degrees. The coldest was 54.
INSECTS SEEN: Caddis, BWOs, Stones, small cahill, even a couple of isos (I think)
FLIES THAT CAUGHT FISH: Buggers below, stimulator on top. Nothing else was needed.
STRATEGY: Did well fishing simply by dropping a bugger into the pockets and plunge pools. Then fishing the stimulator in slower pools, glides, and slots.
Fish were not super aggressive and I didn’t catch big numbers (I rarely do in the Laurel Highlands) but all the ones I caught were in great shape. They were larger than what I usually catch in these runs and with full bodies too. Obviously they have been feeding well… a positive from all this wet weather. Caught a couple of small browns too.
I rarely take pics (for fear of dropping my phone in the water and keeping fish out more than necessary) but included a couple of badly shot ones just to show the size of many of these wild fish.
I also included a shot of something else I caught; a 3” spinner hung up in a tree. LOL… I guess the angler’s strategy was to scare the natives to death with it!
