Laurel Hill, Westmoreland 01Dec2007

[albatross]

The fish were a bit sluggish today with air temps in the mid-twenties, but I managed a few fish before I couldn't feel my feet anymore. All fish on egg patterns near the heads of pools.

I had to get out today because the weather tomorrow looks terrible.

 

[ryanh]

Albatross,
Were they spread out or were they all still congregated at the top? I fished it back in Oct and did not see a fish until I hit the top (my least favorite) section of the project.

 

[albatross]

I think they are spread some, but I don't know if they'll naturally spread as far as you had to walk to get fish the last time. It seems that someone has stocked additional fish as well, because a saw a few palominos standing out like sore thumbs that I couldn't possibly have missed earlier in the season. With flows around 120 cfs, there was even some water to fish between the holes!

When I was there Saturday the fish were pretty lethargic due to the cold temps. Slightly warmer temps would make the fish easier to catch and more fun to fight.

 

[tomgamber]

Have you used the rod yet?

 

[albatross]

Shhhh! Its supposed to be a Christmas present!

I actually used it for a while Saturday. I liked the rod a lot, but I think it will be more of a small stream rod or dryfly rod on midsize water. Nymphing Laurel Hill with flows at 120 cfs I finally went back to the car for a longer rod.

Tom, did you ever make it out to Laurel Hill?

 

[tomgamber]

Yeah, that's mostly what I used it for. I liked it on the Little J that day, Its got a lot of backbone so its pretty good in the wind for as short and light as it is,but I didn't use it for nymphing either.

No, I got to the Loyalhanna one sunday and did the lake a couple more times but that's it.

 

[Acristickid]

When was the last time you fished Humbert? I think 2 years for me.

 

[tomgamber]

I have never fished that section and I always get lazy and just fish the BS camp.

 

[albatross]

I fished Humbert once in 2006 and not at all this year. I remember it because I brought my son along and he overreacted to a rise for a dry and broke the fish off... Good memory!

The BS Camp is just a little further for me than the Loyalhannah or Indian Creek and usually fishes better. If I'm dirving as far as Humbert, I'll usually end up on Meadow or the Yough.

 

[JackM]

There are some decent hatches on the Humbert stretch, if memory serves me a Spring Olive hatch and later Spring Tan Caddis. I'm sure there are others, but those stick out in my mind. It's a nice place to air out some line as it is probably twice the width, if not more than the upper section.

 

[Acristickid]

Makes sense, been the Yough for me this year. Very familiar with 51 south.

I think I fished Humbert section of Laurel Hill Creek twice, usually fish above the lake in the park - maybe 5 times there, once with 2 feet of snow on the ground.

The scenery above the lake stretch is tough to surpass- Meadow is scenic as well. Hummm... Gives me an idea for a new post.