Laurel Highland Streams, Fayette and Somerset Counties, 5/31/2009

[greenghost]

OVERVIEW -- I fished the Laurel Highland streams -- Meadow Run, Laurel Hill -- all day yesterday (Sunday.) Overall, the streams were in fantastic shape.

First Meadow Run, from the park office downstream to the cascades. Caught a few, saw many, many more. I was talking to a young man who claimed he and a few friends had caught a dozen fish earlier in the same stretch. That would explain the trout being so skittish.

I also went to Laurel Hill at Humbert. Caught a few more, but fish were very sparse throughout the stream, compared to the last few weeks when they were everywhere. Last week, when I fished Laurel Hill at Humbert, the water temps were already near 70 degrees. I suppose many of the fish have already migrated out of that section.

I also fished Laurel Hill directly behind he Boy Scout Camp. In fact, I parked at the camp and walked down over the hill. Caught many on wooly bugger and black nose dace streamer.

STREAMS CONDITIONS - Good flow with water temps in the 56 -- 61 degree range. Slight green color to the water... perfect.

INSECTS -- Saw March Browns, especially on Meadow, BWOs,
Sulphurs, the infamous Laurel Hill green beetle, and what appeared to be Light Cahills(?)

# FISH -- 12 to 20 (wasn't counting)

FLIES USED -- wooly bugger, black nose dace (marabou tie), March Brown dry, BWO#20, Sulphur dry at dusk

NOTE: While at Laurel Hill, I caught 3 fish in a row -- a brookie, a rainbow and a brownie that has never happened to me in 30 years of fly fishing. (Catching them in sequence) I also saw a palimino and tried to complete the perfect sequence, but couldn't get him to take.

 

[JackM]

I had a similar experience with the three species the weekend before last. I went to fish the Yough, but decided mid-day to check out White's Creek as I have never fished it. It was low and clear and the air temps were in the 80's, so I only lasted about one-half hour, during which time, I landed, in order, a brook trout, brown trout, then a rainbow.

Thanks for the report on the local waters.

 

[greenghost]

Jack,
Never even heard of White's Creek. I did a quick google and it looks like a trib to the Casselman... and a white-water enthusiasts destination. Is it a big stream? I'll have to check it out.

 

[JackM]

I can't imagine kayaking it, but maybe it looks different with more water. In any case, even with more water, it is about the size of Jones Mill Run. It is stocked, but I believe as you travel upstream, you can encounter natives.

 

[NbTurk]

I also have fished Laurel Hill the past three weekends.
Many fish and very few anglers.
Fished about a mile below Whipkey.
A half hour walk from where I park to where
I start fishing.
Wooly bugger and a Tellico dropper.
Water level was up Saturday and slightly off color.
Water temp. at 10:00 was 69 degrees.
Some insect activity and some rising but stayed
on the bottom where most of the fish were.

 

[NbTurk]

Correction on water temp.
59 degrees at 10:00.
Fished from 7:30 am to 10:00.
Had a sweat shirt on the whole time.

 

[bhickle]

Hi i just started fly fishing and i tried meadow run for the first time on 5/30 i parked right off of ohiopyle road in a small parking lot near the falls. it was a beautiful stream i didn't catch anything but again i still don't know much, at this point i am happy if i can cast and not catch a tree. are there other areas to park and fish i am really getting into stream fishing and would love to try there again. also could anyone recommend certain flies to try, i have been fishing Dunlap creek as much as possible because it is close to my house, i actually caught my first fish on a fly rod there, first was a small mouth on a white whooly bugger and then hooked up with 4 rainbows and landed 1 on the 31st.