Dunbar Creek, Fayette Co. 3/18/14

[MJE2083]

Headed out to Dunbar this evening to check out the stream. Water was crystal clear, roughly 38degs, good flow. There was a good number of fishermen on the stream. All the regular holes were filled so I tried my luck at some pocket water. Only fished for about an hour and only moved two fish on a streamer. Skunked for the first time(certainly not the last) in 2014. Looks like the locals had been up to their old tricks as there was a fresh dump of building materials along the betty knox road. I also witnessed a man and a woman fishing with spinning rods in the fly fishing only section across from the game lands rifle range, and later left a message with PFBC concerning the violation.

 

[geebee]

good for you for getting out, and kudos for reporting them.

i would have got their plates to if i could figure which vehicle was theirs.

all the feds have to do is cross check with fishing licenses and give them a phone call....

 

[kbobb]

That place is like fishing in a bucket - they dump some trout in a hole and don't spread them out. Everyone stands around the hole like opening day but it's like that everyday. In the summer they might move a little, but there's a lot of good water with no fish.

I went there a couple times to help stock and got yelled at by the warden for taking too long when I was spreading out fish - a couple here and there.

Said to the warden "half these fish will be taken out of here by next week" and he said "half these fish will be gone by tomorrow night".

I've fished there for over 40 yr and the place has really gone downhill. I don't like going there anymore.

 

[Architeuthis]

It's the closest FFO stream to me, yet I rarely go there any more. You must have been the person who stocked up past where Glade comes in. How far up have you guys fished? I made a few treks to the old stone mill last year, but found very few fish. Looks like people come in from the top via four-wheelers.

 

[addictedangler]

I cut my teeth on Dunbar 45 years ago. I currently live in Cumberland co but did get back for a few hours last year during the heat of summer. There were a ton of fish surviving in a few holes. I did not have a thermometer but it was way too warm for that many trout. Perhaps a delayed harvest would be a better choice. Who is your WCO? I am glad you helped spread some fish out. I always enjoyed walking a half mile or so up stream from the last parking lot and fishing.

 

[MJE2083]

I have fished/hiked up to glade run, but I have yet to catch a fish up that far. They say that there is some natives but they must be pretty few and far between. In my experience right now is the best time to fish because the water level is high. You would be suprised how many fish are spread out if you fish the pocket water. Later in the summer it gets soooo low and that's when all the fish are in the deep holes. I had heard many horror stories about Dunbar years ago such as robberies, rampant poaching, dynamite fishing, etc... I have never had a bad experience there until last week. Besides the dump and the spinning rod gang, there was a couple shady car loads of teenagers cruising up and down betty knox road. Probably just smokin pot or drinking, but it still makes you a little uneasy when fishing alone.

 

[Chaz]

I fished it over coffin flies once in June, I think 2006. Did pretty well, but you have to walk up away from the parking lot.

 

[kbobb]

In the book "Wisdom of the guides" Al Troth says he caught his first trout on a fly on Dunbar. My dad used to fish with him quite a bit and went out west with him a few times before he moved there permanently - they both went to California U of Pa, shop teachers.
I started fishing Dunbar in 1970 and it really has changed a lot since then, as have many places. Good for caddis, midges and stoneflies. have seen the occasional GD there also.