Little Juniata Question

[gweisinger]

Going to fish the Little J next week and I wanted to fish some dries. How far up the gorge from Mountain Road do I have to walk to get to some dry fly water? Last time I tried that stretch the banks dropped of into some seriously deep water and the trees over hang the river making casting almost impossible. Any locations for access to dry fly water would really be appreciated.

 

[dudemanspecial]

IMO that section is not where I would send someone looking specifically for dry fly water, it's more nymphing and streamer water to me. To answer your question, walking the path until it drops back down to river level will get you into some good pocket water and runs as you keep going upstream. When you get to that part you can walk back downstream to access some of the slower water that you cant get to from the higher part of the traiI. I don't know how far exactly, maybe a 15 to 20 minute walk from the parking lot.

IMO much of the best dry fly water on the Little J unfortunately goes hand in hand with road noise. Of course there are exceptions but not gonna spot burn any more than that.

 

[gweisinger]

DMS, thanks for the reply. Your first sentence answered my question. Last year, I hired a guide and he showed me a few spots on the Little J that I'll undoubtedly try again but the gorge always intrigued me. I guess at 78 yoa the fast water might be why he didn't take me there.

 

[gweisinger]

BTW - the train noise bothers me much more that the road noise!

 

[dudemanspecial]

The gorge is beautiful but it is a hike to get back in there, lots of ups and downs. There are some shallow riffles back there that aren't hard to wade but of course that depends on flows. I don't want to leave an impression that there aren't some places to catch fish on dries, just not as good overall as other places for it, IMO.

At 78, I wouldn't suggest going back there on your own. I don't fish it much because at 45 I don't like going too deep on my own. There also isn't a reliable cell signal back there either.

 

[nymphingmaniac]

plenty of fishing with dries right before and in the Gorge. I'll reinforce DMS point about 78 and alone. You'll have to wade the river through some tough sections or hike up the big hill over the RR to get to the other side. Even if you get there, making it back in/near dark alone will be tough and unwise.

 

[Streammagic237]

plenty of fishing with dries right before and in the Gorge. I'll reinforce DMS point about 78 and alone. You'll have to wade the river through some tough sections or hike up the big hill over the RR to get to the other side. Even if you get there, making it back in/near dark alone will be tough and unwise.

This is very accurate info and getting to the island above the rr bridge to get into the slow water is dicey , I did it at the lowest flow last summer and the fishing up there was meh . Also crossing the tracks up there can be very dangerous and the trains run nonstop . Like others said there is better water to be had with less peril .
- Jessica

 

[nymphingmaniac]

This is very accurate info and getting to the island above the rr bridge to get into the slow water is dicey , I did it at the lowest flow last summer and the fishing up there was meh . Also crossing the tracks up there can be very dangerous and the trains run nonstop . Like others said there is better water to be had with less peril .
- Jessica

a detail, you don't have to actually cross tracks. going up and over avoids this. crossing the tracks is a very foolish time saver. I would not say the fishing is meh. Fishing is meh in the summer in general. But your point that there is plenty of equally good fishing without the peril is correct. I fish the Gorge because I fish the J often and its part of my "rotation". If you fish it a few times a year, there is plenty of great water to keep you entertained.

 

[Streammagic237]

The advice I had wish I had had was that getting to the trail head the first time if you do it in the dark like I did you will think you are entering private property , I turned around to
check a map .

a detail, you don't have to actually cross tracks. going up and over avoids this. crossing the tracks is a very foolish time saver. I would not say the fishing is meh. Fishing is meh in the summer in general. But your point that there is plenty of equally good fishing without the peril is correct. I fish the Gorge because I fish the J often and its part of my "rotation". If you fish it a few times a year, there is plenty of great water to keep you entertained.

 

[gweisinger]

To all who have responded....THANKS! I'll probably venture as far as the first RR bridge and forgo the remainder of the gorge. Everyone seems to agree that there is good dry fly water elsewhere but no one is, for one reason or another, willing to say specifically where. While I guess I understand the rationale behind keeping secrets I just don't really agree. BUT, once again, thanks for the responses!

 

[Streammagic237]

To all who have responded....THANKS! I'll probably venture as far as the first RR bridge and forgo the remainder of the gorge. Everyone seems to agree that there is good dry fly water elsewhere but no one is, for one reason or another, willing to say specifically where. While I guess I understand the rationale behind keeping secrets I just don't really agree. BUT, once again, thanks for the responses!

You could always join the lil Juniata river association ... you get a river tour and the money goes to a great cause . Check out their website .

 

[craigt]

The gorge you guys are talking about. It is accessible from Petersburg area? I think i know what and where you're talking about? I used to fish the little Junita years ago with red fin minnows with my uncle. Used to catch some really nice trout. I drove up thru a section near the quarry the other day and couldn't believe the number of guys who were fishing.

 

[dryflyguy]

Going to fish the Little J next week and I wanted to fish some dries. How far up the gorge from Mountain Road do I have to walk to get to some dry fly water? Last time I tried that stretch the banks dropped of into some seriously deep water and the trees over hang the river making casting almost impossible. Any locations for access to dry fly water would really be appreciated.

Actually, you can catch fish on dries in the large pool right at the trail head parking lot
Where they frequently rise

And I've caught fish on dries in every pool up through the entire gorge
Its a beautify section of river and well worth the hike in IMO