Falling Springs Branch, Franklin Co., 05/10/2022

[3wt7X]

Time: 0400pm-0730 pm

Weather:
It was a beautiful afternoon. Mostly sunny with temperatures in the mid 60s with a small breeze.

Water:
The stream had a good flow and perfect coloration. In the delayed harvest area, it was still clearing a bit from the rain we had last weekend. I did not get a stream temperature.

Hatches:
A few small caddis were around in a size 18. The midges were coming off strong as the sun went down. I saw a few mayflies, I believe they were olives in a size 18. It was too sparse to consider as a hatch. I did find a couple pods of rising trout in town eating the midges.

Results:
It was a good after work trip. I started with a micro bugger that was still tied up from my last outing and I took a nice 14 inch holdover from a log jam. For the most part, I fished a nymph rig and the bead head caddis larva (size 18) was the top producer. It was a nice mix of wild rainbows and stocked browns. I was able to fool one of the wild rainbows on top on a size 22 CDC midge emerger.

 

[3wt7X]

Some stream shots…

 

[Wild_Trouter]

I used to practically live on Falling Spring. I really wish they would cease stocking the DHALO and just convert it to All Tackle C&R. That stretch could be really special, and knowing that it has both wild browns AND bows- it should receive additional protection and let nature do her thing.

 

[3wt7X]

I agree… The wild trout in there are very special.

It is a stream of contrasts. The difference between the technical fishing in the upper reaches of the meadow stretch and then the junk fly eating stockers in the urban oasis of the DH area. The differences between the looks of the wild trout and the fresh stockers. It is kind of crazy when you take a picture of a gorgeous chalk stream that looks like it could be a beat on an exclusive stream in England, but as you take the photo, you can hear the traffic roaring down I-81 and there is a parking lot 100 yards behind you.