TimMurphy
Well-known member
- Joined
- Sep 9, 2006
- Messages
- 4,449
Dear Board,
My brother came in from Colorado for two scheduled float trips with a guide. This is the 3rd year in a row we have done this both Spring and Fall with the same guide. The man is literally the hardest working man in showbiz, and we always have a great time with him. This year was no exception. 🙂
With river conditions being such that a popsicle stick couldn't float the Juniata we stuck to fishing two larger pools. Drifting down and motoring back up with a trolling motor.
9/14 - Juniata Narrows
Fished from 10:30 AM to 5:30 PM
The water was crystal clear.
The air temp got up to 86-87 degrees. The water temp was probably 68 at the start and mid-70's at the finish. It was hot as bag, and the fishing was not nearly as hot. We definitely caught fish, but it was difficult. Lots of halfhearted chases and follows on a variety of flies and lures. Flies that worked were Wiggle minnows, Murdiches, and a mini crayfish slowly retrieved while trying to entice the fish to somehow hit. I gave up on the fly rod after almost 2 hours of not even a strike and switched to spinning gear. I slowly rallied and easily avoided a fish-less day using something called a Karashi minnow. It looked like a lipless Rapala with Krystal flash tail.
9/19 Howe Township PFBC launch
Fished from 12:00 PM to dark-thirty.
The water was crystal clear.
It was slightly cooler today, maybe 83-84 degrees and with an occasional breeze much nicer than on Sunday. The water wasn't any cooler and flow was no better, but this is a large pool that invites long leisurely drifts. We started out picking up fish here and there, but fishing improved after our first long drift when we ran upstream of the ramp almost to the big rock ledge and worked back down.
The amazing thing was that after having fished downstream we motored back up and saw fish, and many quality fish, just lying and sulking in water where we could barely coax up a fish or two.
The fishing improved as the day went on. The next drift we found fish in the shade lines even in 6 inches of water. The flies that worked on Sunday were working again today, but I had abandoned the sissy-stick once again and switched to spinning gear with a Wacky worm. My brother kept waving the wand and he was picking up fish too.
We made one last run upriver and from 5:00 PM to dark it was constant action. We caught a lot of quality fish to 15-16 inches but no giants although we did see them and occasionally swung and missed on them.
The river really needs another 6 or more inches of water in it. As low and as clear and warm as both the water and air temperature were, a break in the weather is sorely needed.
One way to measure a guide is by what you learn from a day with them. I had literally only farted around on the Juniata wade fishing before we started floating it with a guide 3 years ago. My brother only knew it from name, having moved to Colorado 40 years ago. I've learned enough in 3 years to feel confident taking my kayak out and fishing some of the pools we have been fishing.
We are looking forward to next Spring when we do it again.
Regards,
Tim Murphy 🙂
My brother came in from Colorado for two scheduled float trips with a guide. This is the 3rd year in a row we have done this both Spring and Fall with the same guide. The man is literally the hardest working man in showbiz, and we always have a great time with him. This year was no exception. 🙂
With river conditions being such that a popsicle stick couldn't float the Juniata we stuck to fishing two larger pools. Drifting down and motoring back up with a trolling motor.
9/14 - Juniata Narrows
Fished from 10:30 AM to 5:30 PM
The water was crystal clear.
The air temp got up to 86-87 degrees. The water temp was probably 68 at the start and mid-70's at the finish. It was hot as bag, and the fishing was not nearly as hot. We definitely caught fish, but it was difficult. Lots of halfhearted chases and follows on a variety of flies and lures. Flies that worked were Wiggle minnows, Murdiches, and a mini crayfish slowly retrieved while trying to entice the fish to somehow hit. I gave up on the fly rod after almost 2 hours of not even a strike and switched to spinning gear. I slowly rallied and easily avoided a fish-less day using something called a Karashi minnow. It looked like a lipless Rapala with Krystal flash tail.
9/19 Howe Township PFBC launch
Fished from 12:00 PM to dark-thirty.
The water was crystal clear.
It was slightly cooler today, maybe 83-84 degrees and with an occasional breeze much nicer than on Sunday. The water wasn't any cooler and flow was no better, but this is a large pool that invites long leisurely drifts. We started out picking up fish here and there, but fishing improved after our first long drift when we ran upstream of the ramp almost to the big rock ledge and worked back down.
The amazing thing was that after having fished downstream we motored back up and saw fish, and many quality fish, just lying and sulking in water where we could barely coax up a fish or two.
The fishing improved as the day went on. The next drift we found fish in the shade lines even in 6 inches of water. The flies that worked on Sunday were working again today, but I had abandoned the sissy-stick once again and switched to spinning gear with a Wacky worm. My brother kept waving the wand and he was picking up fish too.
We made one last run upriver and from 5:00 PM to dark it was constant action. We caught a lot of quality fish to 15-16 inches but no giants although we did see them and occasionally swung and missed on them.
The river really needs another 6 or more inches of water in it. As low and as clear and warm as both the water and air temperature were, a break in the weather is sorely needed.
One way to measure a guide is by what you learn from a day with them. I had literally only farted around on the Juniata wade fishing before we started floating it with a guide 3 years ago. My brother only knew it from name, having moved to Colorado 40 years ago. I've learned enough in 3 years to feel confident taking my kayak out and fishing some of the pools we have been fishing.
We are looking forward to next Spring when we do it again.
Regards,
Tim Murphy 🙂
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