Flyfish Jtown/Altoona area over Xmas?

[CinnamonJoe]

Help me decide if I should bring my gear next week on my trip home for Xmas?

I'll be traveling to Ebensburg early next week and staying for a week or so. My license is good through the end of the year.

Blue-lining/ fishing the mtn streams coming off the Allegheny front is my favorite style, but would travel up to 90 min one way from Ebensburg, if the weather conditions were that much better off the mtn there.

Are the gamelands/ state forests just west of Altoona all snowed in? Are the little streams even accessible? (Bell Gap Run, as an example).

Sometimes you get a warm-ish day, and the fish wake up a little, ya know?

On the other hand, if every parking pull-off or area is under 2' snow & ice, I'll happily stay inside and play that much more card games with my relatives, over snorts of Jezy and dream of spring!

Thanks for any insights!

 

[Broodstock]

We are getting a big thaw starting today, so things should be fishable in the valleys. Its almost 50F out now. There is not a lot of snow on the ground in most areas, save the higher elevations. Rain is forecast. It will be a hit/miss but if I were you, I would be bringing gear to fish with.

 

[Swattie87]

Yeah. Streams are still lower than ideal, especially the small ones, but some good snow melt happening and roughly an inch of rain forecast. They were probably iced over, but they won’t be after this relatively warm rain. If I have a day to fish over the holidays, (I likely won’t, but if I do) I will.

Most of those AF streams have paved roads along or near them. I’m sure you’d be able to get into a pulloff and fish them, if you want to.

 

[troutbert]

At this time of year, if you want to get out of the house and enjoy the great outdoors, my advice is to take some of the relatives along and go for a hike on a state gameland or state forest or state park.

 

[td566]

And wear some orange! Hunting Seasons start back up the day after Christmas. You likely remember that but just in case….

 

[nymphingmaniac]

Help me decide if I should bring my gear next week on my trip home for Xmas?

I'll be traveling to Ebensburg early next week and staying for a week or so. My license is good through the end of the year.

Blue-lining/ fishing the mtn streams coming off the Allegheny front is my favorite style, but would travel up to 90 min one way from Ebensburg, if the weather conditions were that much better off the mtn there.

Are the gamelands/ state forests just west of Altoona all snowed in? Are the little streams even accessible? (Bell Gap Run, as an example).

Sometimes you get a warm-ish day, and the fish wake up a little, ya know?

On the other hand, if every parking pull-off or area is under 2' snow & ice, I'll happily stay inside and play that much more card games with my relatives, over snorts of Jezy and dream of spring!

Thanks for any insights!

getting 0.8 in rain tonight in addition to melt. streams will bump up, which will be good.
Fish the larger streams Yellow creek, The little J, Bob's. The bump in water will be great fishing next week. I hope to get out Sunday and can update.
bells gap probably won't fish as well as it was hit hard by the dry summer/fall

 

[CinnamonJoe]

You guys have convinced me; thanks for all your help!

Now, the next dilemma: which rod should I bring?

 

[TimMurphy]

Dear CinnamonJoe,

How 'bout a 5 weight of your choice?

Regards,

Tim Murphy 🙂

 

[CinnamonJoe]

Tim,
I'm thinking the Fenwick FF70-4 is on the short list: its super handy for traveling, and is a sweet size for casting in tight spots on small streams. An 8' or 8'6' option would be better on something like the Little J, though. But I only have so much room to pack. Maybe I can leave one of my kids here, so I have more room to bring more fishing gear? LOL

 

[nymphingmaniac]

rain fall varied. More west of SC- (yellow creek, Bob's) just under 0.5, the Little J watershed 0.7. Spring creek watershed 0.8 (SC) -1.0 (bellefonte).

 

[Tiogadog]

Tim,
I'm thinking the Fenwick FF70-4 is on the short list: its super handy for traveling, and is a sweet size for casting in tight spots on small streams. An 8' or 8'6' option would be better on something like the Little J, though. But I only have so much room to pack. Maybe I can leave one of my kids here, so I have more room to bring more fishing gear? LOL

Take whichever rod has the largest tube. Then place a smaller rod in the same tube. I usually pack two rods per tube when traveling and space is a consideration.

 

[CinnamonJoe]

I got 'here' last nite.

Looking out the window right now from my MIL's place just outside Ebensburg (New Germany) I see ~ 2" of snow, at most, in the woods/north facing slopes. South slopes/sunny spots are bare.

Looking forward to wetting a line at some point in the next week!