Little Juniata (north of Rte. 99), Blair Co, 5/5/12

S

skipper4080

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Jan 8, 2008
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I was curious about the upper end of the little juniata as far as hatches and fish, arrived in Tyrone Borough around 7 pm or so, was greated with sparse sulfurs which did progress a little. Grey fox then took over and out numbered the sulphurs, a gentlemen who was also fly fishing nearby said for me wait till you see the slate drakes soon, and I kind of looked at him funny and said slate drakes now? and he said yes, ok a sulphur spinner fall started before dark and then these large mahoghany colored spinners by the thousands assembled over the river, they were slate drakes size 8 or 10 an absolute blizzard spinner fall never saw it like that before.
Landed some very nice fish, no shortaged of fish up there believe me, gentlemen who mentioned the slate drake to me hooked an exceptional fish which was running all over the pool,I backed out of the pool, let him play the fish which took a while, and ended up netting and releasing for him an 18" wild rainbow a beautiful fish, needless to say I"ll be spending more time up river the fishing is just as good and there is really no one around.
 
I edited your thread to reflect Huntingdon County. I can't recall that exact area. If it's in Blair County, please let me know so I can fix my mistake.
Thanks,
Dave W
 
skipper4080 wrote:
needless to say I"ll be spending more time up river the fishing is just as good and there is really no one around.
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It warms into a better smallmouth and carp fishery by June, but.....
yeah.....picked a half dozen up the other evening in an hour on BIG sulphurs above tyrone.
 
I saw alot of Grey Fox up there the other night, they were a size 12, they overshadowed the sulphurs at times.
 
Checked out the pool a hundred yds above I99 over pass a bit ago. Sulphurs of all sizes all over. Didn't see any Gray Fox but they are around and maybe a bit later. isonychia are very abundant up there too. Watched the birds feast on the bugs for about 20 mins. Never wet a line. Didn't see any fisher peoples but the water was up a bit. A few trout rose sporadically but guessing they were on the emergers with the high water
 
You sure the spinners weren't the march brown/gray fox's? Would make more sense, since you were seeing the duns and all. Their spinners, when you see them in the air, often look very reddish/mahogany and BIG.
 
That's what I thought when I was told about them but I can assure you according to troutnut that they were slate drakes, just way too dark for March browns and about a size 8 give or take.
 
Skipper,

The LJR forks just upstream of I99. Bald Eagle Creek comes in from the North and the main stem of the LJR comes in from the South.

You say you fished "North of Rte 99". Do you mean "upstream" of 99 on the main stem or do you mean to say you fished Bald Eagle Creek? Both are trout waters of substantial volume.
 
Yes it is upstream of I99, I've been fishing the LJR. Was up there tonight and there was a medly of hatches from 6 pm on. Sulphurs, gray fox, and some slate drakes hatching. About 1 hour before dark the slate drake spinners assembled very heavy over the river, but there were also gray fox and sulphers spinners too. Caught and released 7 wild browns from about 10" to 14" or so, nice evening.
 
Pretty much the same thing down near Penmerton too. Except Lt Cahills were the predominant mayflt hatching. Good Spinner fall, and plenty of rising fish. Water temp was 60, but seemed cooler to me, but wait, oh my foot is wet! In ant case it was a good evening on the river.

Except for the a$$ whom apparently thoung it was OK to let his dog, muddy paws and all, ON MY CAR!
 
DaveS wrote:
Except for the a$$ whom apparently thoung it was OK to let his dog, muddy paws and all, ON MY CAR!
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I think I know who that was. Whats in that bag hanging from the front bumper of your truck? ;-)
 
Turkey,
That's a "present" for the guy with the Pit Bull. Next time I see him.
 
skipper4080 wrote:
That's what I thought when I was told about them but I can assure you according to troutnut that they were slate drakes, just way too dark for March browns and about a size 8 give or take.
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I am not buying slate drake either....not a size 8. I fish the fall SDs on the Little J and tie them in a #14.

I am willing to bet based on the time of year and the size what you are seeing are Brown Drakes. They are a mid may bug and quite large, and very dark in color.
 
Fished right below I-99 over pass Friday evening and saw a few Slates and Gray Fox and caddis. Sulphurs were the main bug while I was there thoug- size 12-18 all mixed in. Caught a half dozen in about an hour on nymphs. One guy below me looked to be having fun too. Water is still pushing some volume and most water seems to be from the Little BE. This rain will likely keep it movin purty good for a bit. Green Drakes below Spruce Creek are one from a report from a buddy....
 
They have always been a large fly on the waters I fished at least a size 10, they are very large spinners they are side by side with grey fox spinners which look to be a size 12, the slates are much larger.
 
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