Donegal Creek, Lancaster County FFO - 18.Jan.10

[wgmiller]

I had a bit of time to kill on Monday, so I took the short drive to my "home water" which is the Donegal Creek just outside of Mount Joy in Lancaster County. I parked at the "bait section" along 772 and worked down to the horse barn. The water was flowing well and was off color due to Sunday's rain. I didn't see any hatches occurring and I had no strikes. I didn't fish every area, but instead chose to hit "known holding water".

The above report is rather boring, but I post this report not to list conditions or my outing, but instead share what I saw on the stream. My suspicions that this stream is being poached heavily were confirmed on this trip. It sickened me to see numerous "FFO" signs ripped down and damaged. This was common in the stretch from the horse barn to the top off the FFO section. I hadn't been to the stream in a few months, so chances are this was relatively recent damage. I also saw evidence of bait fishing throughout the stretch as well (note Eagle Claw bait pack next to sign). :-(

I'll be attending the DFCA meeting tonight and presenting this information. My guess is that this is nothing new, however the level at which it is occurring seems to be out-of-control.

My future fishing plans are to start making the drive to "destination" fishing waters like the Letort, Clarks, and other streams. I've become frustrated fishing in water that holds few fish and is being poached. Sal, I have your "master list" and will start working on it! :lol:

I also post this so that others know making a trip to the Donegal probably won't be a productive outing. This stream fishes best after its spring stocking and then tails off from there. By this time of the year, many of the "stockers" in the FFO section have disappeared and the only hope of good fishing is after the spring stocking.

It is a shame to see this occurring, but I know many of you see it in your travels as well. I wish people would realize that by practicing C & R, they're only extending everyone's time on the stream...

p.s. Does anyone have any idea how to make the signs last? Mount them higher? Are there regs on sign placement?

 

[afishinado]

I fish Special Regulation waters on occasion and I consistently find either poachers or signs of poaching on them. They really are SR waters in name only, IMO. Ironically, the SR designation puts a bullseye on the spot when the "freezer fillers" deplete most of the stocked trout population (at least the easy to get-to spots) on the open waters, and target the C&R areas for easy to catch fish using bait. The FBC is understaffed, and there is not a lot we can do except report it when it happens and hope for the best.

 

[crs5942]

I would suspect that a significant part of the poaching is done by the landowners and their friends and family. If this is the case, there is really nothing that can be done. Unfortunately, landowners receiving state and federal monies to complete stream restoration projects do not have to allow fisherman on their property. I personally think that this is absurd, considering that our tax monies pay to prevent farmers and other landowners from being fined by the DEP, EPA, etc. I wish that something could be done, but the reality is that landowners on the Donegal, Lititz Run, etc could decide to post their property and their is nothing that could be done. Maybe the best thing for Donegal would be if it was taken off the stocking list entirely for several years. Anyway, thanks for going to the meeting. Let us know what you find out. The DFCA has done some great work and they have some great local members that may be able to improve the situation by talking with some of the other locals.