Bushkill Creek

Click a thumb for full size image.

Here's what the permit says, front and back-


These are some of the great pools. I don't have any photos of the gorgeous waterfalls 'cuz I usually don't fish that area.




These are two very short, 5 MB vids of me fishing there in '06.
Nymphing-
[color=ff0000]http://www.drivehq.com/file/df.aspx/publish/mgpa/fish/nymph2.mpg[/color]

And with a dry-
[color=ff0000]http://www.drivehq.com/file/df.aspx/publish/mgpa/fish/dry.mpg[/color]

Tom has no need to apologize. This thread has been very civil with some good info about his original question. It's been good conversation and debate about a great place to flyfish in PA, which is what this forum is about.
 
Yeah, that's a nice looking stream...where'd you get all the water?

The rules are on the permit...ok...

Who am I apologizing too, anyway?
 
I notice on the permit that the Boy Scouts maintain a cooperative nursery and also stock privately raised trout. So is there any actual PFBC stocking or not? I know coop fish fry come from the state, but the expense of raising them doesn't fall on license buyers, so this all makes the situation more palatable than I original understood. Thanks for the additional information.
 
The PFBC stocks brown trout twice in the spring and once in the fall. The BSA hatchery stocks rainbows and palominos twice in the spring. By late May there are some sections that have enormous numbers of stocked trout. It's a warm water stream, so if the summer is normally dry and warm, not many trout are to be found come September. The cooler and wetter the summer, the more fish that holdover. Last year I caught more trout in Big Bushkill Creek than any other stream, and it was the same this year.

Here's the letter they sent out with the permit apps early this year-
[color=ff0000]http://www.wtv-zone.com/markg/image/image5/2008letter.jpg[/color]

That's a very friendly and inviting letter. That's the type of people they are there. There's no mention of a donation in the letter or that you must have a permit to fish. Just an invite to stop by and enjoy. I have the highest possible regard for those people, that stream section, and their gorgeous property.
 
I received my Fishing merit badge at Heritage Reservation in 1983. Ahh- nothing like camping in wet jeans, funny you never really seemed to notice that stuff when your a kid.
 
where was this photo taken:
http://www.wtv-zone.com/markg/image/image4/bbc.jpg

Is the pool in the lower section or is up top by the Firestone camp? I havn't been to Resica since July and for the life of me I can't remember where that spot in the photo is located.
 
Jack, I have never fish at the Camp, and I've never been sure of thepermit requirement. But I bleive that the camp is only open because the Scouts wanted it to be FFO from the beginning. Hence the regulations. It is and has never been a fee fishing place. The permit is for a year (I think) and to me it is a small price to pay to fish the best water on the Bushkill. Why the fuss? You're never going there anyway.
Coop Hatcheries get the trout food from the state.
The Poconos have received high than average rainfall this year.
 
There is no fuss, but can you think of any other place in the Commonwealth where the PFBC stocks trout on land that requires a permit or a voluntary fee?
 
Everyone already said it isn't required, Jack you're making an issue of something that isn't an issue. Why shouldn't a private landowner that has 6 miles of prime creek side property ask for a donation from the people who use it? They have to carry addition insurance to cover liabilities of allowing the public to fish, on terrain that isn't a walk in the park, some of this area is rugged. Despite the fact the Coop nursery gets the fish from the state, there are expenses involved in running the hatchery. They could not stock it and there would probably be wild trout there, but judging b the few other large streams in the region they be few and far between. To me it's a win win situation. Like I said you’ll never fish there anyway, so WHY THE FUSS?
 
Chaz wrote:
Like I said you’ll never fish there anyway....
Click to expand...

I have been known to fish while on travels to various parts of the state, but you are correct that if I were in that area, I probably wouldn't fish there, particular if it would cost me $20 for a few hours on the water. Maybe that is the point of the voluntary fee. Though it isn't the same thing, it kinda reminds me of the "discussion" several years ago about the Lehigh River Stocking Club that allegedly patroled the waters looking for patches on anglers' vests. I am not arguing that the $20 isn't a bargain for those who fish it regularly or that they shouldn't pay. Just as I noted earlier, I'm puzzled by what appears to be an unusual arrangement for the PFBC to be involved in. So, to repeat, there is no "fuss" just questions that I wanted to have answered so I can understand the situation better.
 
This is a non-issue. While i generally donot agree with paying to fish you have to look at a few things.

If the money goes to helping the co-op nursery, stocking and purchase of additional trout then you are paying for more than just the PFBC trout.

The money goes to the boy-scouts. A very good organization.

They want it to be FFO. With the lack of special reg waters throughout PA. This 20 dollar donation gives you another one.

Finally and most important. Its privateland. They could just post it and then no one could fish it.

This reminds me of Hammer Creek in northern Lancaster County. The boy scouts own a good piece of that creek. There are signs saying access by permit only. When i called the number they gave me another number to call and they would give me directions on were to pick up my permit. Then I called that boy scout camp directly. When doing so I told them Im a C&R FFO fisherman. They told me to have a blast and not to worry about the permit. I could access it at anytime.
 
Good grief. Without the donation, Resica wouldn't be able to afford its stocking. They get their money from the local SE PA council, not from BSA national. So they have NO money. The SE PA scout council just had to close its other scout camp, Treasure Island, because of funding problems.

The permit also is likely needed for insurance reasons. It is a youth camp, and having a camp open to anyone anytime is not safe. I doubt anyone can roam freely around a YMCA or church camp either.

mike
 
Mark_Griffin wrote:
I just fished there yesterday. I knew the PFBC stocking was delayed from 10/2 to 10/28. I just couldn't wait till then to see what survived the summer. I spent only 1.5 hours hiking and fishing three holes and didn't see a single fish. It was a rough summer. The stream and fall colors were gorgeous.
Click to expand...

I couldn't wait either, so I took my boyfriend upthere yesterday. We didn't see or catch anything either.

But you are right about the colors! The hike in was awesome and the river was in great shape!

 
I fished it a bunch of times over the years, I think as far back as the 70's. There have been times when the office wasn;t open and I never had the chance to get a permit. I don't remember ever being checked. I remember the 1st time there, reading about it in Fly Fishermen Mag, stopped in the office, asked about how much to donate, and the woman told me whatever you want. I enjoy the upstream area more than the lower. It's a beautiful place.
 
I have a house at the start of the Mcmicheal creek and I know nothing of it being opened to the public. Matter of fact I stopped about a month ago to look at the creek at the club house and the caretaker came out and told me it was private property. So it is not open to the public. I dont know that thats what you were saying or not but it is not like Ressica.
 
After a Google search for McMicheals Creek, here's the deal, apparently. The Pohoqualine Club sold the development rights to Chestnuthill and Jackson townships for $676,377. This is much less than the easement was valued at so only 500 of their 794 acres is open to the public. They wanted to keep the lower stream private. I think you need to stop at the township municipal building to obtain a permit, which are limited in number.

That's not the whole story, so stop by and talk to the township people during business hours to be sure.

BTW, Big Bushkill Creek was due to be stocked yesterday. I wonder if that happened with the travel problems caused by the big snow storm.
 
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