Letort, Cumberland Co, 11-24-12

[mushumatt]

I was only able to fish for about an hour, I was waiting for my roommate to get done work. It was about 31 degrees, I wasn't able to get a water temp, flurries. I parked at the tu parking lot and worked upstream. Intermittent risers for what looked like a small caddis maybe a sz20. This was my first time on this stream and the technical aspects that it offers is astounding. It simply amazed me at the beautiful tranquil nature of it all. I was able to hook into a few, but the aquatic vegetation made it really hard on me to land them. Since I was using 8x. I was able to land a few by the time my friend showed up on a few different midge patterns. Its taken everything I've learned in the 14 years of ff to catch a legendary letort brown. But it was so rewarding.

 

[Fishidiot]

mushumatt wrote:
Its taken everything I've learned in the 14 years of ff to catch a legendary letort brown. But it was so rewarding.

Excellent! That first Letort brown is a Pennsylvania fly fishing rite of passage. It's often claimed (correctly in my view) that the physical characteristics of the stream make it hard to fish, the trout themselves aren't that tough....if you can get a drag free drift anywhere close to 'em.

 

[mushumatt]

I have never seen it in the spring or summer. This was my first time on the stream. But i can see where all the allure comes from. It's a beautiful stream with challenging qualities that I personally love. I'm going to make the trips up from school more often.

 

[N8ureboy]

I have awesome luck with size 22 stoneflies there. and dont be afraid to work the pool hard. Work it over and over again till the monsters come up. It takes patience but the hogs will come up

 

[NickR]

Was just there the other day... basically impaled my hand in three spots on a honey locust tree. I was slipping in mud and reached to the nearest tree for support and ended up with some puncture wounds. Didnt stop me from fishing.

Tough stream would be an understatement.

 

[barbless]

Yes Nick, that's the LeTort I know.

Those little thorn bushes along the bank can make a cat's cradle out of a leader, too. They're sort of like Charlie Brown's kite-eating tree.

 

[mushumatt]

Those thorn bushes remind me of the rhodadendroms that line the streams at school. Gotta watch that back cast! Second cast I got a giant snag. But any of you guys avid letort fisherman? I would like to bounce some ideas around since its a 2 1/2 hr drive I can't experiment as much as Id like

 

[Troy]

I'm considering going in the next few days. Is the spawn over?

 

[Fishidiot]

Troy wrote:
I'm considering going in the next few days. Is the spawn over?

No, give it another couple weeks at least.
Letort fish tend to spawn in specific areas and there are plenty of fish that can be targeted outside those areas so don't cancel a trip if you've got a tight calender.

 

[tomitrout]

Troy wrote:
I'm considering going in the next few days. Is the spawn over?

Ditto what FI said, was out for a Thanksgiving morning walk and still plenty of fish working the spawning areas near Fox's and saw lots of active paired up trouts down thru Letort Park in town. So I imagine there's still plenty of spawning activity up thru the quarry stretch also, but you should be able to find some fish to target elsewhere.

 

[Troy]

Thanks! I think I'll just leave them alone and head to Falling Springs for the rainbows that spawn in the spring.

I have a question about Falling Springs. I have only fished it a few times and both times I have fished it at the parking area that says parking for fly fisherman only. I didn't really venture too far from the bridge. I guess upstream is posted, but can you fish it downstream for a while without hitting any posted stretches. I don't want to tresspass and I don't really know any other areas. Thanks for your help!

 

[Fishidiot]

Troy,
Yep - that's fine. You're correct that the section upstream is posted. This is known as "Skelly's Meadow" and has been posted for about a decade. Downstream from where you're parking is accessible all the way to the bottom of the FFO section for about half a mile or so. In fact, the area you're thinking about has improved dramatically in recent years IMO - more cover and better habitat. There have been some new homes built in that area in recent years. Be discreet and stick close to the stream and you should be fine.

 

[Troy]

Thanks for the information Dave! That is very useful!

 

[wgmiller]

mushumatt wrote:
I would like to bounce some ideas around since its a 2 1/2 hr drive I can't experiment as much as Id like

Pick up Mike Heck's (fireandfeather) book and you won't have to do much experimenting. If you're going to fish spring creeks, there are few better resources for reducing the learning curve...

 

[mushumatt]

The book is a good resource, but unless I can actually ask the author/book pertaining to a specific fly for a specific creek it won't help me. I've been fishing spring creeks since I was 6, not my first time out there.

 

[Foxgap239]

mushumatt wrote:
The book is a good resource, but unless I can actually ask the author/book pertaining to a specific fly for a specific creek it won't help me. I've been fishing spring creeks since I was 6, not my first time out there.

Matt, contact Mike. He is one of the most approachable and fun people I have ever met. He would be glad to answer your questions.

 

[mushumatt]

Thanks fox, I am going to experiment on the savage n casselman since its the closest streams close to me. I got the answer I needed

 

[atlantisboy911]

Thanks for the report, I prefer the Letort in winter🙂