East Brandywine (early harvest section) 4/24/09

[ezatnova]

Tried the East Brandywine for the first time yesterday, and my first trip out for the year. Sad to report a throrough skunking...not even a bite. I'm sure a lot has to do with me, but I also didn't see any other people having success.

I started at the parking lot area where Dowlin Forge Rd meets Shelmire. Worked south about 1/4 mile, then back up about 1/2 mile. Several pools of a decent number of fish, but almost none rising and none for sure caring about what was on my line 🙂

I started with an 18 blue wing olive which I only caught a log with, then a red san juan (small size) both unweighted and with one small shot, both with zero success. Ended up back with a 16 blue wing olive, since those were the only bugs I saw flying around. There weren't a ton flying around either...maybe one every 5 minutes. Not enough to cause more than the 5 rises I saw all day.

Frustrating to have zero hits. Maybe the area I tried was the most over fished and the fish just ignore most everything? Anyone with more experience on this section, if you would be able to reply or PM with some notes on where to park/walk, etc to get at a better section, I would appreciate it.

 

[nimrod]

Was that you? I only saw one other fisherman there yesterday afternoon which should have told me something.

The fish hold in relatively few areas between the bridges. I have noticed that there are a LOT fewer fish in there than a few weeks ago, curious since it's delayed harvest. I tried it yesterday afternoon and did see a few but also could not talk them into hitting anything. I did have one slam a woollybugger and reeled him in only to find it was a sucker.

If you start at the parking lot and work upstream you will generally see fish when they're in there and not in some freezer. The only decent rising I saw was about three weeks ago on BWOs. Otherwise I've seen caddis coming off but the fish are not impressed. Don't get discouraged. It's supposed to be re-stocked in early May and as long as the Power Bait crowd doesn't hit it too hard it should be decent that month.

 

[bushwacker]

I know for a fact that it gets poached. I was there one afternoon when an asian family of five approached with bait tackle and buckets for keeping fish. I was knew to the sport then and didn't say anything.

 

[mrchunk]

ezatnova. The stream is like any other trout stream in that you'll have good days and bad. i fish that section a couple times a month. Some days I'll catch a handful, others I'll catch a bucketful. It really depends on the fish but there are always fish with the exception of the warmer months after they open it for harvest (June 5th or so I believe). Sure there are poachers here and there but not enough to dent the 100s of fish that get stocked from Feb thru May. Somtimes they are in the obvious holes, other times they'll move into faster water and riffles where they are harder to target. I'll gladly meet you there and show you some of the ropes I've learned over the years about the stream etc. PM me if you are interested.

 

[nimrod]

It doesn't take many poachers to dent the first stocking and they sure have. Conservatively 50 fish a week since February and it starts to add up.

Took the dog for a walk tonight and sure enough there was a teenager fishing with bait. Told him it was illegal and got the usual shoulder shrug. I'll call it in but with one officer per 4,000 square miles it'll do no good.

These kids with their long hair and loud music ... :lol: