French Creek/Chester Co./ 4-14-24

[Frederick V. C.]

Working at the family farm and decided to try my old home waters despite the wind and the fact that it was a gorgeous Sun. with bright sunshine. Fished the open water outside Kimberton from about 1:30-4:00pm. in some popular spots. Didn't see much action from the other anglers.

Water was ripping (at least 140) especially compared to last year, and there were several tan caddis coming off with no visible risers. Tight lined a tan bh (tungsten) caddis pupa under a sighter on my 10' 3/4 rod. The wind made detecting strike difficult since it was blowing dead downstream most of the time. Hooked ten or so and landed most which was pretty satisfying considering the wind and the fact that everywhere I fished had likely been pounded all day long. By and large pretty healthy fish; only one under 12". Wading was pretty dicey too; maybe time to re stud my boots.

 

[jgish92]

I fished the section below the covered bridge FFO limit. Lots of people out Sunday morning but the spin guys were at all of their usual holes and weren't really messing with the riffles and pocket water. I didn't have much problem finding space. By noon it had really thinned out. Probably got 2 dozen on the day. Mostly on perdigons. Highlight was the biggest rainbow I've ever gotten on French. He smashed a golden stonefly. Easily 20" and fat with a big hooked lower jaw.

 

[Frederick V. C.]

Pretty much where I fished as well. The years haven't been kind to French but there is still some nice pocket water here and there. Saw at least four other fly fishers as well as the spin guys.

 

[mszoke1802]

This is cool to read as I live in Phoenixville and just fished this section last Thursday, I started right before the iron bridge on Pughtown then headed up French creek road, that dirt road and caught some up there. Mostly nymphing but I did manage 1 brown on a sculpin. Nice after work evening on the water.

 

[Mike]

When the most downstream stocked section of French Ck had to have its upstream section limit moved considerably downstream in about 2018 due to a large, posted property it was necessary to recalculate the average width of the remaining portion stocked section and calculate the remaining surface area (acres of water). Trout allocations within a given stream section classification are determined on a per acre basis. When section length and acreage are lost due to posting, then the total number of trout stocked in a section is reduced as well.

While taking 10 widths in each of three 300 m sampling sites within the section I was impressed by some of the habitat in those locations. I had expected more substrate degradation from sediment/fines than I found. The section, which is now Section 08, looked like parts of it would be fun to fish and access via the bike path was an added bonus in some areas. Given its lower frequency of stocking than some other French Ck sections, it’s probably the first to see pressure drop off, which to me would seem ideal for getting plenty of fly fishing time with few other anglers near-by. I see that its second and final stocking for the season already occurred, so pressure in Section 08 ought to back off pretty quickly.

 

[Frederick V. C.]

Fortunately West Vincent bought a property that was heavily posted in the area mentioned above. A new parking lot there will likely create even more angler use in what is already arguably the most heavily fished portion of the stream. That said it still holds some interesting water and even more so in years with good rainfall.