East and West Br. Brandywine/Chester Co/4/5/2017

[Van_Cleaver]

Started on the East br. above the regs area. Water was clear and a lot lower than I expected, temp 61. Not much bug action; a few caddis and stones no risers. I dredged some of the tastier runs; plenty of fish and pressure was pretty light. Talked to one spin guy who was getting skunked as he watched me educate several. Went upstream and he was heading back to his car so he tagged along. First cast in a nice Sycamore hole yielded a feisty rainbow as did the second. Slowed some but took a few more before heading back refishing some runs and catching some more trout. Thinking the West Br. might be better I headed there to find similar conditions though the West was much closer to median flow; temp low sixties. It was also the most crowded I've ever seen it; no parking at the walking bridge so I parked at the Kiddie pond and fished some water for the first time this season. Plenty of fish but spookier since it is a small stream and every good run had no doubt been worked over. I landed three and missed twice that before I hit an obvious riffle a little above the main "Meat hole". Several out of there and a few from both runs below. Worked back up and caught a couple more from the runs I has already fished. A couple of risers but too many people to take a shot at them. Not surprisingly all fish landed on a no. 14 caddis pupa. All and all a great afternoon and home in time to make a nice salad for dinner.

 

[Mike]

Van Clever,
I have observed that those who write about fishing the West Branch seem to always be fishing the area of the stream that I believe you are describing above . As you note, it is heavily fished in that area. Is there a reason why you return to this area or can you speculate as to why other fly anglers do so as well when there is much more stream length that is stocked? Is there a problem in the rest of the stocked section listed in the PFBC stocking schedule of which I am unaware, such as posting?
Mike

 

[Van_Cleaver]

Actually Mike; I fish several spots on the W Branch but am still learning it as we move nearby last Spring and I didn't get out that much. The one stretch of rocky pocket water features some of the best fishing on that stream IMO but is right near the main parking area. It is heavily posted before the Bridge on Wagontown Rd. You can access plenty of good water from there though and if you walk upstream the same holds true. From the lot where I pretty much had to park yesterday you can fish all the way to the upper limits of the stocking. One stretch where I caught some fish isn't stocked at all except by the high water. Like most every stream a seasoned fly angler will do well here if they pay attention to presentation and can read the water. As for why I gravitate towards that area; seven min. from my house.

 

[Mike]

Thanks for the info.

 

[pcray1231]

I was on the east branch this morning from a little after 6 to a little after 8.

Got checked by a WCO! Second time in close to 30 years.

In 2 hours I landed 26 and missed a bunch more. Glo bugs. Saw 1 other fisherman, and he was dragging spinners through frog water so I had the honey holes to myself. Dumb stockies piled high and thick. Decent flows. Easy fishing, but kinda boring. 2 more guys suiting up as I got back to the car.

Was back home by 9.