Walked along the Jordan in Whitehall today and found that hundreds of little black stoneflies had been attracted to land on a bridge’s railing (about sz 20) and a few brown stoneflies (about sz 16-18) were in the mix. Some of the black stoneflies were making an x-rated video.
Jordan Ck: Numerous stoneflies seen today 2/2/24
- Thread starter Mike
- Start date
lestrout
Well-known member
Did the trouts feel the urge to rise to the egg-layers?
Beweav
Active member
Interesting, I saw these on Swatara creek in Hummelstown today as well. Is this the same?
None seen, but flow was high and it’s unlikely that many trout remain in that section as it gets warm and very low in summer.
Paul Barci
Member
Youza... There here already !
Fish close to the banks with your nymph because fish will be waiting to ambush these guys as they try to make their way to shore.
Nymph-wristed
Well-known member
Nice, Mike. They were active in a Berks County Class A on December 31st!
redietz
Well-known member
Yes. I depend on them this time of the year.
Beweav
Active member
Any nymph suggestions for that small of a stone fly?
falcon
Well-known member
I have tied small generic nymphs in dark brown or black but usually use a small soft hackle with a black body with starling hackle.
sandflyx
Well-known member
trout dont raise to these because they crawl out on the banks, best fly is a small black soft hackle fly to imitate the hatchling drifting in the current. its very rare to see a rising fish to these flys
sandflyx
Well-known member
if you want to catch risers a small black caddis dry with a 3-4" tippet behind the fly with a white seed bead on a short shank hook in a 24-26 size works wonders. I layed along Lyman run one year and watch them in the egg laying stage, the females dip the egg cluster in the water and trout would bulge to get the eggs at the surface area. once they go below 4" they dissipate into hundreds and the trout don't go after them.
Never knew that they are active so early. Thanks.
nymphingmaniac
Well-known member
just starting in central PA
Nymph-wristed
Well-known member
Oh, I am not claiming it's normal, but they were there climbing all over the rocks in late December '23...
Little black stonefly nymph. Nothing extravagant needed
Hook - TMC200R size 18 3XL
Thread - Black UTC70
Legs - black sili, Spanflex, whatever’s laying around
Body - Hareline midge tubing, black. Sometimes a black goose biot
Wing case - Black pheasant tail fibers
Thorax - Hareline stonefly dubbing
lestrout
Well-known member
Yo Nym - were these black stones last year the tiny #20s? Some call those snow flies. Or were they the early spring 16-18s? These bigger ones look like helicopters after the winter months of midges and tiny olives.
Nymph-wristed
Well-known member
These were the 16-18s, Les. I thought it was way early, but it was before that cold snap that lasted a bit. Def not size 20s you might see in the drifts on an early winter day.
To Beweave's question too, I had a solid day with a basic zebra midge on steroids, like a 16 with a larger silver bead fished near the bankside eddies and pockets, even a 16 soft hackle on the dropper tag.
Nothing fancy, to poopdeck's point.
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Bamboozle
Well-known member
My best day fishing during a Little Black/Little Brown emergence was when I fished a size 10 or 12 EWC in the requisite colors on a greased leader and skated the puppy with 12"+ strips over likely holding water. I've had many day of 30+ fish in short order when employing this technique at the appropriate time.
The best locations for this tactic were the the FFO section of the Big Bushkill (Section 4) and the Delayed Artificials Only section of McMichael's Creek (Section 5).
I've tried the same tactic on Class A Stream sections closer to home but the only response has been ridicule and laughter from the resident fish...
...Moral of the story, go to a stocked stretch. 😉
The best locations for this tactic were the the FFO section of the Big Bushkill (Section 4) and the Delayed Artificials Only section of McMichael's Creek (Section 5).
I've tried the same tactic on Class A Stream sections closer to home but the only response has been ridicule and laughter from the resident fish...
...Moral of the story, go to a stocked stretch. 😉
sandflyx
Well-known member
used to catch them on the broad head in january.
