Conodoguint Creek Cumberland County 7/25/15

[salvelinusfontinalis]

I usually fish one of the limestoners in the early AM then hit the warm water in the late am but not today! I'm too addicted to smallies anymore.

I fished from first light till about 3pm in the Carlisle waterworks, potato road, creek road and willow mill park areas. Water was very clear and fairly warm to the touch at first light despite a cool night. Still learning this river so kind of jumping around. Still I have had some very good success fishing large black or white articulated streamers to carp and bass on the Connie.

Average fish was a cookie cutter size 15" smallie and fat. Only 2 of the 15 or so fish were under that size. Landed a few carp including a monster. I took note that after the sun hit the water the smallies took to shaded areas. I also saw a section of creek that is very deep and not able to wade fish. Gigantic bass were leaping and crashing the water after dragon flies. I need to boat this area, it was sick to watch!

I did have a snapping turtle the size of a Volkswagen tire swim into my shins while wading up to my knees and watching my line. When I looked down I instantly jumped back and probably looked like Jesus running on water! Almost gave me a heart attack but I'm sure he was just as scarred by the way he swam off when I jumped back. It's always been a concern of mine while fishing but this was very close.

 

[afishinado]

salvelinusfontinalis wrote:
I usually fish one of the limestoners in the early AM then hit the warm water in the late am but not today! I'm too addicted to smallies anymore.

I fished from first light till about 3pm in the Carlisle waterworks, potato road, creek road and willow mill park areas. Water was very clear and fairly warm to the touch at first light despite a cool night. Still learning this river so kind of jumping around. Still I have had some very good success fishing large black or white articulated streamers to carp and bass on the Connie.

Average fish was a cookie cutter size 15" smallie and fat. Only 2 of the 15 or so fish were under that size. Landed a few carp including a monster. I took note that after the sun hit the water the smallies took to shaded areas. I also saw a section of creek that is very deep and not able to wade fish. Gigantic bass were leaping and crashing the water after dragon flies. I need to boat this area, it was sick to watch!

I did have a snapping turtle the size of a Volkswagen tire swim into my shins while wading up to my knees and watching my line. When I looked down I instantly jumped back and probably looked like Jesus running on water! Almost gave me a heart attack but I'm sure he was just as scarred by the way he swam off when I jumped back. It's always been a concern of mine while fishing but this was very close.

"cookie cutter size 15" smallie(s)"....nice!

Great to see you are loving the fat bronze ones rather than those colored skinny ones. They are fun!

 

[salvelinusfontinalis]

Afish,

Ya Ive been rather shocked with my results there also. What I have found is that you are not going to catch a lot of good bass there unless you cover a ton of water. Certainly some sections are better than others also. Its a good fishery and certainly not comparable to the Susquehanna before its collapse but decent nonetheless.

Ive gotten to the point I enjoy smallies way more than trout. Nothing like a 15 inch fish that can take a 8/9 multiplier reels drag set on full (and working great) and peel out line. And do it again and again and again ;-)

 

[Bobert540]

I come from the spin cast world and have gotten into fly fishing the past 2 years but there is nothing like fishing for smallies!

I have caught a few on the swatara on my 5 weight using a sculpin pattern and that was a blast!

I will have to check out the Conodoguint sometime!

 

[Night_Stalker]

salvelinusfontinalis,

Cool to see you are enjoying the Conodo!

 

[McSneek]

Night_Stalker wrote:
salvelinusfontinalis,

Cool to see you are enjoying the Conodo!

Damn. Now we know what Nightstalker has been up to since the end of winter.

 

[Fishidiot]

Excellent!

(Dang, I'm really missing the WW game this summer - water levels are returning to normal. . . game on!)

(Great purebred NS)

 

[JG63]

Ain't nae feesh'n 'at crick!

 

[PATroutMan]

What type of flies were you using for the smallies and carp?

 

[jkilroy]

I've been fishing a little for smb lately. Even the smallest bass give the 7wt a workout. The are so much wet wading in the summer.

I use a lot of bob Clouser flies for them. Clouser minnow and crayfish being the best when they are not taking top water.

 

[salvelinusfontinalis]

Still I have had some very good success fishing large black or white articulated streamers to carp and bass on the Connie.

 

[1hook]

Sounds like a great time

I once had a snake swim between my legs while fishing.. turned a 30 year old man into a little school girl!

 

[barbless]

I used to live in Carlisle- just one year, when I was 10. Have not fished the Conodoguinet in many a year. It was one of my all-time experiences as a fisherman, just catching sunfish and rock bass with on a cane pole with bacon as bait. You know- Tenkara.

I remember there were some limestone caves right next to the creek, and what looked to us kids like the parts of an old bootleg whiskey still. I wonder if that's still there.

 

[dc410]

I fished a very short section of the Conodoguinet Creek for an equally short time today. Mid-day, bright sun and 90 degrees were not optimal conditions for my first time ever flyfishing the Connie but there are a lot of fish in there for sure. I was fishing a section of riffle water both in the shade and in full sunlight. I caught a fair number of smallies, fallfish, redbreast sunnies and rock bass for the very short period of time that I fished. Most of my smallies were in a younger age class than what Sal had reported. I will definitely be back to explore some other areas in the future. Great WW fishery!