Little J 5/10/2009

[Zmill]

Even though USGS streamflow showed the river being high, it was a nice day and I decided to try my luck.

The water was moving decently and was a little off color, making wading difficult at times, but still manageable.

I stopped at the section above Spruce Creek with all of the railroad bridges. At 2 in the afternoon, a moderate Sulphur hatch was taking place.

I switched from nymphing to tossing dry sulphurs (size 14), which as I mentioned before was difficult in the prevailing wind. I did not see any fish rising at this time, and was beginning to get frustrated by the lack of surface action.

Around 4, the hatch picked up in intensity, and fish began to rise. In succession I caught three nice browns, one 16" fish, and lost an even nicer fish that tossed my fly when it went aerial. I was dissapointed that I had to leave at 5:30 as fish continued to rise.

In my opinion theres nothing better than standing on a stream with a hatch going on and fish rising everywhere... what a beautiful sight!

 

[JackM]

Zmill wrote:
In my opinion theres nothing better than standing on a stream with a hatch going on and fish rising everywhere... what a beautiful sight!

I think everyone but Pete shares that opinion. Nice feesh!

 

[littlejuniata]

Beautiful Brown, a little thin though?

 

[dryflyguy]

I figured the sulphurs would likely be starting out there now.
I remember seeing them on the lower section of the stream May 7th a few years

 

[jayL]

dryflyguy wrote:
I figured the sulphurs would likely be starting out there now.
I remember seeing them on the lower section of the stream May 7th a few years

I fished them there on the third. Aside from LJ, people kept it on the down low.

 

[dryflyguy]

So much for the old adage that the sulphers always start around mid May

 

[WannaCatch]

Yea, don't tell EVERYONE!!!!!
LOL It's great to see all dem bugz. Do the sulphurs ussually fly late afternnon? Or does it change? I'm trying to pin down the best time to bring my brother down and get him on some fish.

 

[albatross]

I have an appointment with a cousin of that fish for Thursday evening on my way to the jam!
😛int:

 

[dryflyguy]

sulphers will hatch in the afternoon on rainy days, and also when the hatch is just beginning

 

[littlejuniata]

Lots of water this evening not a lot of Sulphurs

 

[eroc144]

WannaCatch wrote:
Do the sulphurs usually fly late afternoon? Or does it change? I'm trying to pin down the best time to bring my brother down and get him on some fish.

It changes - some general guidelines:

The first Sulphurs (Invaria / Rotunda) start the first or second week of May and generally start hatching in mid to late afternoon. This will vary depending on the weather with overcast typically = earlier. These flies are #14 to #16's, getting smaller and later as the hatch progresses.

The second batch of Sulphurs (Dorothea) start the second or third week of May and are typically an evening hatch. These flies are #16 to #18's, also getting smaller and later as the hatch progresses. Towards the end of the hatch these sulphurs typically start hatching right at dark, and nymphs and emergers are deadly in the hour or so before dark.

EG

 

[Acristickid]

Wanna- this is funny to me. Your getting advice from guys that live 3-4 hours away from there. You could drive to the stream from Tyrone in 2 minutes and check out the water before these guys are done posting. lol. hehe

Take a trip to Spruce Creek Outfitters and get to know Allen- you will learn alot.

Jay- my expereince is you have a hard time keeping anything on the down low. hehehe

 

[jayL]

Jay- my expereince is you have a hard time keeping anything on the down low. hehehe

9 times out of 10, yeah. 🙂 This is bugs we are talking about here. Totally different story.

 

[pete41]

Zmill wrote:
" In my opinion theres nothing better than standing on a stream with a hatch going on and fish rising everywhere... what a beautiful sight!"

I think everyone but Pete shares that opinion. Nice feesh!

wrong-again

Love those little guys rising in the evening after the sun leaves the water-skilled streamer fisherman can nail some real "big-uns" doing the "Dancing caddis"

However as one who has been in the west and seen thousands of rising fish in a quarter mile of river and found out the hard way that 99.999999999999 % are whitefish-bah humbug
Lying on the banks of the Letort and watching risers is something else-so its location,location,location

Sorry I couldn't talk Paul into leaving early-The May caddis hatch on the lower Yellowstone can yield fine dry fly fishing for moby trout thats actually more fun than the Salmon fly hatch in muddy water.

 

[eroc144]

acristickid wrote:
Wanna - this is funny to me. Your getting advice from guys that live 3-4 hours away from there. You could drive to the stream from Tyrone in 2 minutes and check out the water before these guys are done posting. lol. hehe

Yeah, it slays me too. I lived in Centre County for 15 years and now the bulk of my Central PA fishing is done through reading youse guy's posts. (or is that "y'ins?").

People who really, really love trout fishing should not move to SE PA!

EG

 

[skipper4080]

eroc144,
I feel for you, moved from se pa 4 yrs ago back to Centre,will be moving to blair county and believe me i'm not looking back it was a good riddance. Little Juniata is now my second home, gotta watch out for WannaCatch he comes walking in all the time.
Joe

 

[WannaCatch]

OMG! Is that you Indian Joe? Yea I'll walk in and catch all of your fish. LOL
I have spent so much time on the river lately, I haven't even had time to read these posts. I'm getting used to seein da' bugs, but it was the time difference that confused me. Lately, except for yesterday 5/17, I only saw a few sulphurs in the early evening and then like a switch they showed up in droves just before dark.
Then yesterday, Sunday the 17th, being chilly the sulphur duns, spinners and even some grey foxes came out about 5 and had the fish going nuts untill dark. IT WAS AWESOME!!! I cought so many fish I lost count. (not bragging)
Netted a few more fat 16"ers and had the time of my life.

 

[skipper4080]

Yea Doug it's me,he's not kidding 'bout the sulphers too many flies almost frustrating but good time none the less,I'll call u this week doug and we'll do it again.

"Indian" Joe

 

[martinlf]

Wannacatch, what section of the stream were you on? I'm not asking for the exact spot, but was it in the Gorge, above, or much above?

 

[skipper4080]

martinlf

We are fishing above the gorge now, the whole river is good now.

Joe