Fishing Creek, Columbia County, 6/15/14

duckfoot

duckfoot

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1830 - Camp Lavigne
Sunny, bluebird day with no cloud cover
Air Temp: 75F and cooling
Water Temp: 62F
Bugs: size 18 sulphurs, size 16 march brown, size 16 slate drakes
Water Clarity: clear
Water Depth: 2-6 feet

Decided to scout the area for holes. Didn't find any, but there's a Boy Scout camp starting this evening and the people walking across the bridge spooked some nice rainbows I was working. Grr.

1900 - Benton (North)
Air Temp: 75F and cooling
Water Temp: 62F and cooling
Bugs: size 18 sulphurs, size 18 march browns, size 20/24 unidentified neon-green mayfly
Water Clarity: clear
Water Depth: 4-8 feet

Decided to head down here before home and see if there were any risers. Start working a size 18 march brown parachute and get a huge brown to snap it off.
9166183_orig.jpg

Cuss his mother as I tie another size 16 march brown Wulff.
1034110_orig.jpg


Intermittent risers, to which I start casting. Nail a 14" rainbow. Every other cast is a missed fish.

I miss my only parachute I had on me (and the ten others that were in my lost fly box last week...).

1930: Risers are starting to jump out of the water after these tiny little neon-green mayflies. I abandon the march brown and tie on the only thing I have on me close enough to it: a size 16 green drake Wulff. Start casting to risers. Start landing fish.
6979850_orig.jpg

2000: The fish are rising so much around me that I start to think they're conspiring against me and that the bald eagle might feed me to its hatchlings in the morning. I continue to catch fish.

Left hand becomes pruny from handling fish.

2045: By now I've soaked three Wulffs to the point they won't float anymore, and the fourth is still catching fish.

2100: Bite shuts off as soon as I can't see the rodtip.

TOTAL COUNT: 6 fish, including a 14" brown, a 14" rainbow, and four fish around 10", including two brooks. I missed countless other fish undoubtedly because I didn't have parachutes.

And to think if I had those little size 18 green spinners that were in my fly box...

I apologize for not having pictures of the fish, but I was so busy catching them that I didn't have time for pictures.

Now to decide whether I want to wash my hand, or to sleep with it smelling of creekwater and trout slime.
 
I hammered them last night (Sunday) below Benton on size 18 sulfers. Had one on and landed another around 20". Caught about 20 or so fish in total. Good night to fish for sure. They were taking a green & yellow stone fly.

Ron
 
Curious to know what the Neon Green Mayfly was? Maybe a Hebe?
 
Most lime sallies I have fished were 14-16. So the size 20-24 as mentioned, made me dismiss the fact of them being a stonefly. Thanks the for the clarification afish.
 
The yellow and lime sallies that were coming off Fishing Creek last evening were size #14-16. The trick with these is to let them sink a bit below the surface and then bring them to the top either on the dead drift or swing. The trout don't really care for them on top the water and on a dead drift.

Ron
 
Always remember reading about this creek in books, and listening to the controversies surrounding it, lol. Seems that its cold waters have attracted some profit seeking of late, I believe.

What is that genius open pit right next to the creek between Maple Grove and Stillwater- limestone, stone, fracking operation? That looks like a disaster waiting to happen.

Is there access below Stillwater near sgl 055, or is most of it above Benton?
 
I believe Fishing Creek has 20+ miles of approved trout water. Plenty of room to fish with a lot of access points including my property just below Benton Dam.

Ron
 
What is your favorite place to eat around Fishing Creek guys? Is there still a fly shop that is in business?
 
Strevig's or Brass Pelican is my personal favorite place to eat in Benton. Heritage in Orangeville is also good. The fly shop in Benton is out of business but I heard a new shop is coming at some point...stay tuned.

Ron
 
Moss' for breakfast. Best steak and eggs in the world. Period.
 
It seems the water temp is very warm this weekend. What is anyones opinion about the water temp being too stressful for a successful catch and release?
 
AlphaDelta wrote:
It seems the water temp is very warm this weekend. What is anyones opinion about the water temp being too stressful for a successful catch and release?
Click to expand...

Most of us knock off C&R trout fishing at about 70 degrees.
 
AlphaDelta wrote:
It seems the water temp is very warm this weekend. What is anyones opinion about the water temp being too stressful for a successful catch and release?
Click to expand...
Screw water temps...it's the "free fishing without a license weekend" that's stressing everything out.

Guess that means I'll pick up rocks and eat soft serve in a waffle cone all weekend.

EDIT: Sorry, that was a little crass. I've had one too many beers. Yes, warm water temps can hold less dO2 (dissolved oxygen), so it's definitely not going to help out an exhausted critter like a trout.
 
Yes, for profit clubs on fishing creek. Above and below orangeville and around stillwater. Fishing creek was declared a public highway by the Commonwealth from Mill Race to the mouth which entrusts the stream bed to the commonwealth of PA. It has been brought to the attention of Padep lawyers and no one will do anything about it. People are posting public land and it is dissapointing.
 
I own land in Benton/Fishing Creek and its open to fishing but I am pretty sure Fishing Creek is deemed non-navigable water. Fishing Creek has over 20 miles of approved trout water that is open to the public for fishing so never understood the complaints about posted land.

Ron
 
Report of the Department of Fisheries of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
By Pennsylvania. Dept. of Fisheries

Public highway declarations. Search on Google Books.This is the list used by PAdep to make permitting decisions. Can't own the streambed unless land was originally deeded prior to the public highway declaration. Listed as fishing creek Northumberland county because county structure was different at that time
 
I believe that to be a pretty generic classification for PA streams but some streams in PA are deemed non-navigable which goes back to the beginning of time. Most streams are navigable but not all. Have to research every stream in detail to determine status. I'm pretty sure there could easily be arrests for trespassing on Fishing Creek Columbia County.

My upper land survey pin resides in the middle of Fishing Creek just downstream from the Benton Dam and crosses the creek downstream all the way to my house. You would need scuba gear to stay in the creek so once you leave the stream you are trespassing on private property, however I keep the land open so there is no issue.

Ron
 
I walk the creek for miles and miles. My rule of thumb is always enter creek in areas not posted which are plentiful. From camp Levine to fernville I've only ever been questioned once(Bart's campground). My buddy has a camper there so I now have permission to fish there as well. There are 3 sections of that creek I avoid. The 2 orangeville sections that the freestoners fly fishing club has(1 is where green creek enters the other near diggers bar) and the club from just above zehners bridge to just below Stillwater covered bridge. There is plenty open water. Remember if questioned just be courteous and explain you were walking the creek. No trout is worth the hassle.
 
Longbow, thanks for keeping your land open. One day I will have to make it up there.
 
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