Well folks, what did you think of hatches this year. Personally, I thought I noticed a big decline and not only hatches but insect life in general. I fished all across Pennsylvania. Chased Green Drakes at Pens. White flies on the Susquehanna. Sulphurs on central PA streams. And I’m not just talking about hatches. In general I mean even my daily western PA fishing trips I just felt like I didn’t see the bugs like I used to. What do you guys think?
Hatches
- Thread starter Tuz
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Just washed/waxed my truck this weekend before the road salt starts. First full hand wash since April. I hand wash twice a year (Spring and Fall) and usually wax it since I put the time in to wash it. In between I just power-wash it to get the mud/dust/dirt/salt off as needed.
Anyway, the front end and the amount of elbow grease I had to put in to get it clean suggests there were plenty of bugs this year, somewhere, at some point.
That said, anecdotally, I didn’t do much hatch chasing this year, but I’ll agree I mainly struck out too. Had one decent night on The Pine, Sulphurs and Slate Drakes. Not great by any stretch, but everybody in our group caught fish that night, on top. Had one skunking each with no appreciable bugs (I didn’t feel like nymphing, and just relaxed on the bank mostly) on Kettle, First Fork, and Penns. Others who were nymphing around me those evenings were catching the occasional fish, but it was slow all around. All late May/early June timeframe. Too small and varied locations of a sample size to make any determinations off of, but FWIW.
Anyway, the front end and the amount of elbow grease I had to put in to get it clean suggests there were plenty of bugs this year, somewhere, at some point.
That said, anecdotally, I didn’t do much hatch chasing this year, but I’ll agree I mainly struck out too. Had one decent night on The Pine, Sulphurs and Slate Drakes. Not great by any stretch, but everybody in our group caught fish that night, on top. Had one skunking each with no appreciable bugs (I didn’t feel like nymphing, and just relaxed on the bank mostly) on Kettle, First Fork, and Penns. Others who were nymphing around me those evenings were catching the occasional fish, but it was slow all around. All late May/early June timeframe. Too small and varied locations of a sample size to make any determinations off of, but FWIW.
falcon
Well-known member
I am thinking of spraying the underbody with Fluid Film. Anybody have experience using this product?
I do use it on my snowblower to prevent rust.
I do use it on my snowblower to prevent rust.
Speaking about Penns in May, I would agree completely. Specifically sulphur hatches and spinnerfall seem decreased most notably. March Browns we pretty steady for the month, but hard to address quantity.
I have noticed over the last few of years a significant decrease in Green Drakes below Weikart. I have stayed on Penns several in year now and it is quite noticeable from 2021until 2026. The picture below is a tree outside the place we stayed in 2021 with thousands of coffin flies on the tree. They were there in such numbers in the area it was astounding. The last few year hardly anything in comparison. None on the trees like that since then. Maybe 2021 was just a good year?
I have noticed over the last few of years a significant decrease in Green Drakes below Weikart. I have stayed on Penns several in year now and it is quite noticeable from 2021until 2026. The picture below is a tree outside the place we stayed in 2021 with thousands of coffin flies on the tree. They were there in such numbers in the area it was astounding. The last few year hardly anything in comparison. None on the trees like that since then. Maybe 2021 was just a good year?
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I didn’t mean to send the thread down a road salt/impact to vehicles tangent. Probably best to start a new thread in the OT, so as to not derail this one further. My fault on that. I’m interested in hearing what folks have to say about the hatches this year, and don’t wanna ruin that with vehicle talk here.
If you start a new one, I’ll respond over there, and I’m sure it’ll be a thread that gets some good conversation going.
dryflyguy
Well-known member
This was one of the worst years - hatch wise - that I’ve had in a while
And have heard the same thing from lots of other guys I know
I think the harsh winter had a lot to do with
The constant storms and heavy downpours pretty much all season sure didn’t help things too
I did have a few good pockets of good fishing here and there
Prolly just being in the right place at the right time
But the bad seemed to outweigh the good for sure
And have heard the same thing from lots of other guys I know
I think the harsh winter had a lot to do with
The constant storms and heavy downpours pretty much all season sure didn’t help things too
I did have a few good pockets of good fishing here and there
Prolly just being in the right place at the right time
But the bad seemed to outweigh the good for sure
falcon
Well-known member
Sorry about my post being in hatches. @Swattie87 where do you suggest I post this? General Forum?
Thanks
Ken
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Na, that was my fault for getting the ball rolling in that direction. No worries. I’d say Off Topic is the best fit.
Edit: “Off The Water” I mean.
Drifly
Active member
way up in NEPA, hatches were the best I’ve seen in a couple of years. I’m fortunate to live close to some of best water in the east. Started in mid April w/paraleps and went straight thru till I finished up with sulphurs till early September. Fall however has been pretty uneventful.
dudemanspecial
Well-known member
The best mayfly hatch I hit all year was olives on Spring, cant recall the exact time frame, it was either late March or early April. Also saw a thick grannom hatch with Albatross and Turkey on Spring in April. Other than that I didn't see anything prolific bug wise in my adventures to central PA this year. Went out hunting for sulphurs a few times with only sporatic bugs coming off. Never got into a good spinnerfall either.
My fish catching wasn't very good this year either.
My fish catching wasn't very good this year either.
Sharknado5
Active member
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Hell of a drought in NCPA last year, maybe deleterious to the bugs up there.
dryflyguy
Well-known member
Best BWO hatch I hit all year, was in early April on spring creek.
Of course, I was expecting to fish grannoms then.
Pretty much how the whole season went for me....
nd1001
Well-known member
I didn’t have much luck finding spinner falls this year. But good fishing on duns/emergers for major mayfly hatches.
