Donegal Creek, Lancaster County, 03-13-2011

[salmonoid]

Fished Donegal Creek Sunday afternoon, with my friend and his three boys. We parked at the horse barn and walked down to where the small footbridge crosses the stream. Water temps in the upper forties, with air temps about the same. There were a few midges coming off and some minor surface activity of fish as well, but we fished buggers, as the water was up and off color. The fish were very cooperative, but all the fish we caught were within 30 yards of each other. They were very nice fish, as far as stocked fish go - good length and heavy.

I walked about a quarter mile of stream and did not have any hookups in that stretch. There were no float boxes there either, so the high water may have forced a chuck-the-bucket near roads stocking approach. We probably caught about twenty fish; mine were split between rainbows and browns and my friend had all browns. It was good fun watching his three boys reel in the fish, although wet boots tends to dampens kids enthusiasm for the outdoors. Quote of the day "I don't really like being outside; I'm more of an inside kid".

I saw something I never saw before there, as well. There have been intimations of poaching by bait anglers, as one of the causes in the decline in the amount of fish holding over, but I think this guy might have something to do with it too.. He was scampering along the stream bank, until he saw my friend and boys, which stopped him in his tracks. He then turned around and disappeared. I believe it was a mink.

 

[wgmiller]

I was wondering if they stocked on Friday given the conditions. I guess I got my answer...

If I had to harbor a guess, they didn't float stock it, but instead did as you mentioned. I know the group that usually floats stocks is the high school group (DEEP) and I doubt they braved the conditions to float stock it. That's a shame because when they float it the fish are nicely dispersed along the length of the stream to about the horse barn. That's where the stocking stops even though the FFO stretch continues all the way down to the confluence of the Chiques Creek as I'm sure you're well aware.

Your observation of the mink is pretty astute and I can guarantee you that they are prevalent along the stream and harvest their share of fish. I've heard that straight from people in the DFCA. Toss in a heron here and there along with a meat chucker and before long the stocking thins out.

Thanks for the report.

 

[salmonoid]

I've caught fish all the way down to the end of the woods, in the spring time, over the past ten years, so I know the stocking has gone further than the horse barn in years past. One year, I swear they dumped a float box part of the way down through, with the quantity of fish that were there, including a big old 'bow. Last year, the woods below the horse barn had all kinds of logs fallen into the stream, and the fish were hanging out under them. This year, with the big water events, the logs are gone and its much more a straight channel down through there. Some years are better than others, although I'm not complaining, because I certainly wasn't there Friday offering to take a float 🙂

I can count on my one hand the number of wild or holdover fish I've caught in Donegal (three, I believe - one rainbow and two brooks), so I know it has the capability to holdover trout, but they rarely do.

 

[salvelinusfontinalis]

The FFO area ends at the road crossing before the confluence with Chickies. The water down there is ugly but in years past I have caught fish from there upstream to 23. The habitat sucks but it holds fish.

Its really silty dont get in the water!

On year at the concrete wall in that area was a brown pushing 25. Couldnt get him to take but he followed every fly I threw.

My favorite stretch is from the Northern End downstream through the first woods and into the horse barn woods. However I know the very Northern tip of the FFO area gets pounded and cleaned out by farm kids. That said, the upper end has a bunch of undercuts and if you jump up and down you will spook some out. They dont get them all.

Good report Salmonid.
If my memory is correct Ive seen that type of animal on Donegal a few times in all the years I fished it. I believe its a mink also.

 

[salvelinusfontinalis]

I can count on my one hand the number of wild or holdover fish I've caught in Donegal (three, I believe - one rainbow and two brooks), so I know it has the capability to holdover trout, but they rarely do.

Im not doubting your experiences by any means. The fishing in that stream for wild trout has declined drastically. But....
it used to hold a fair amount of vibert boxed wild trout. Some years you would catch more wilds than stockers. Not so much anymore. Mostly browns, the largest I ever caught(wild) in Donegal was around 16 inches. Beautiful brown. Does anyone know if they still put vibert boxes in Donegal Springs Creek?


The stream is suffering from silt and streambank erosion. It is NOT restored. Some people claim it is but I dont know how a 6 foot bank of legacy sediment, a stream bottom filled 3 feet or more with silt and aging in stream structures can be considered restored. If it ever was fully......it would be better than Lititz Run IMO by far. It has had more hatches in years past but not anymore. It also has more flow and trees over all.

There was a hole that used to have a big pile of sticks built up around it and a very undercut bank on the otherside. This hole was located in the woods upstream of 23 through those farm fields into the next woods about half way before the bend with that concrete wall. The hole has changed since that decade but it held about 6 holdover Rainbows. All very bright and bigger. It was almost impossible to get a drift in there with all the trees and sticks. Often a few of those fish would come out to look but go back under the undercut because of drag. Those fish were there for about 4 years. It took me 2 to catch just one of them. A 17 inch rainbow that was one of the brightest fish I ever saw, I got him on film but not digital.
He took a Pink San Juan Worm.

I also think the fishing has declined since the state stopped fall stocking it. Obviously the fall in winter fishing was better then after the poachers pounded it in the Spring and Summer. Now it can be almost fish less from summer to spring.

Donegal certainly can hold fish over. The 2 big issues I believe with why it does not is:

1) Poaching - locals that live along the stream do it and its hard to get them to stop. Evidence of poaching from all over can be seen each and ever year. I dont know why its not a HotSpot for WCO's. Though I got checked once on that stream by one. Ive even chased, confronted, talked with and informed the mis-informed in years past. It just gets pounded by poachers. IMO, it had less poaching when it was DH FFO.

2)Water temps. Donegal gets a bit warm. Like the Lower Tully the fish can survive since its borderline, but people need to not fish it from June to Sept. Thermal pollution would be less of a factor if they fixed the riparian buffers on Charles Run and Donegal Springs Creek.

 

[wgmiller]

I got confirmation that it was not float stocked this year. I highly doubt they walked to the top of the FFO stretch and worked their way down with buckets. Last year when I helped, the stocking pretty much stopped in the area of the horse barn.

It does get warm in the summer and when we have a summer like last year, it really suffers. There are thermal refuges to some extent, but with all the springs being upstream, the fish pretty much leave the 'main stem' in search of that cooler water.

 

[sipe]

I've never fished this stream or been over there, but I live close. Where should I access from to get onto fish?..sounds like there is a significant section that often does not have many fish.

 

[iceyguides]

Sal, while i tottally agree that the stream's ability to hold fish over and create wild fish has decreased drastically i still think it's a great little stream that still produces some nice holdovers/streambred. It's got lots of potential and in my mind is under rated, however it is in desperate need of some work. The past 2 yrs i've gone out in late february/early march to fish before it gets stocked and see what's in there. I've been pleasantly surprised both times. I tried to attach pics of 2 of the 4 i caught this yr, but i dunno if it worked...the easiest way to access the stream is by turning right before the bridge on 23 just before marietta. There is a pulloff with a sign almost immediately after you make that turn. If you don't want to park there drive up the road a little and you'll see an old horse barn alongside a long lane. You can park there and walk the access road down into the old quarry. The 2nd option will take u right to where the stockies are, but there are fish throughout the stream if you're feeling adventurous.

 

[jjsjigs]

Is that spot (right off of 23) where they have like fencing wire across the creek in a couple of places? I fished a spot (or the spot you mentioned... a right off of 23, etc., etc.) and those fencing wires made me think I wasn't supposed to walk upstream or downstream... kinda reminded me of what DonnyBeav tried to do on Spruce. Is it there to keep the cows at bay? Fisherman at bay? Where is this horse barn you speak of? Further up the road?

 

[Maurice]

Its a livestock crossing so the cattle can cross the stream to get to the other side. Often times one side or the other of the crossing will be fenced off with a single strand of electric fence and a handle bar grip. If the black and white signs are upstream and down and you are in there fishing, if the landowner don't want you there he will likely put signage up to indicate that.