Laurel Hill, Somerset, 22Nov2008

albatross

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Oct 2, 2006
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City
SW PA, Greensburg
While all my fair weather fishing friends (you know who you are) were home sitting by the fire and sipping hot chocolate, I was out fishing for about 2.5 hours. I had a lovely time trudging through the snow looking for holes that were not frozen over. My efforts were rewarded with 2 rainbows and 2 browns including the nice brown pictured below. All fish came to wooley bugger variants dead drifted in slow pools. I actually saw the take on two of these fish.
 
This stream is in the valley just beyond the major ski areas in SW PA. There is probably 6 inches on the ground in the valley and 8 or 10 on the ridge.

I thought of your stealhead post in the bugger thread when I was sight fishing with the bugger today.

BTW there were no drys comming off this afternoon...
 
Good on you for going out and getting into some trout Alby! It looks like you were rewarded with an enjoyable few hours on the stream. I'm living vicariously through you today, wanted to get out but after the rough weeks of work, I needed some rest today. Fishing in the snow is wonderful.

Thanks for sharing!
 
Can we get the recipe for that LED head wooly bugger?
 
Looks colder than Erie. Laurel Hill just might be more beautiful in the winter. Good for you on getting out.
 
Personally I think most streams are more beautiful in the winter. You just have to be able to tolerate it long enough to notice. BRRRR Its supposed to get above freezing to day, yeah!
 
Alba,
With all due respect, you're crazy.
 
It's really nice that you care enough about the trout to take it's picture, but I really question the ethics behind putting a live trout on a slab of ice to take the picture. This is just as damaging to the fish as putting it on a pile of dry leaves to photograph it.

NOT GOOD!
 
Maybe he jumped on top of the slab on his own free will? Posing his best for the shot perhaps?
 
Jeep Angler,

With all due respect, I don't believe that the ice was in any way harmful to this fish. I will require greater evidence than your opinion to convince me otherwise, so cite your source.

Jack,

I'd send you the recipe, but I'm afraid you'd get hot chocolate on it...
 
I seriously doubt that these fish photos show any harm to the fish. Under extreme low temps - we're talking sub zero with wind - a fish's fins would freeze to the ice but with typical winter temps placing a fish out gently on ice for a photo is harmless. Back in my ice fishing days we'd lay panfish out on the ice with air temps in the 20's and they flip around for what seemed like a long time without freezing. This is no big deal.
 
As a Jeep owner and an angler, I'm offended at Jeep_Angler's comment. Not all Jeep owning angers think that you're harming the fish. From all of your posts that I've read, you're a very responsible fisherman.
 
I actually must question the environmental sensibilities of any jeep owner.
#1 they are terrible emitters of GHG that contribute to global warming and decreased trout habitat.

#2 off roading by jeepers contributes to massive erosion and siltation. This silt destroys spawning areas and also affects habitat.

Just my thoughts on the matter 🙂
 
Being the proud owner of a fantastic 65th anniversary jeep wrangler in jeep green metalice with many options and under 20,000 miles(also for sale lol) I am extremely offended (actually not in the least bit)
Besides the fact that the gas mileage sucks (great sales pitch huh?) it is a great vehicle. I'll kill a trout (yeah I said it) to hand the keys to my wife so she is safe when the plow truck drivers are home sipping hot chocolate, and take the keys to her honda civic rather than get a sissy hybrid. I do little off roading and don't know too many off road trails that are in danger of effecting trout habitat, most off road trails are inteded for dirt bikes/atv's and don't have the width for a jeep to fit, so blame them.

all joking aside great day on the stream! I intend to do some more winter fishing this year than in years past. I think the picture looks pretty cool with the fish sitting on the ice, and as posted before, see no harm to the fish. Keep the stream reports and pictures coming... gives hope to those of us stuck in the office!
 
Ry,
It was a joke. I am a proud jeep owner and have forded many a river (though not in PA). I was just poking fun at Jeep angler.
 
Maybe I should appologize... sometimes it's hard for me to type out my sarcasm lol.

I was completely joking with my post, just having fun while I'm sitting here at working listening to study material on my next exam. I know jeeps are horrible on gas and the environment, but after this thread... it's kind of funny how many fly fishermen "conservationists" own jeeps.


a bit ironic lol
 
"I know jeeps are horrible on gas and the environment, but after this thread... it's kind of funny how many fly fishermen "conservationists" own jeeps."


Behold the power of marketing. Jeep's entire line is built around the outdoors and getting around out there. Environmentalism has never been directly claimed but always implied. Advertising can be so damned slimy. Where perception becomes reality... but only to those doing the perceiving.
 
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