Little Juniata River, Barree Section, Hintingdon County, 9/18/10

[gochs]

Air temp: 57 degrees at 9AM
Water clarity: Clear

I met Sight Nymph at the church in Spruce Creek at 8 AM so we could figure our where we were going. Handled some business then got to Barree around 9. We walked down from the parking area and scouted the water. Found a nice set of riffles, so we suited up and got to it.
Overall, it was a great morning/afternoon of fishing. There was a lot of bug activity: caddis, Iso’s, blue winged olives?, maybe a few blue quills too? I even caught an October caddis.
I caught three, Sight had more, but I don’t know his full count. We both lost quite a few. In total, we had about 15 hookups throughout the day.
I nymphed all day, using an Iso nymph and BH pheasant tail. Caught all my fish on the Iso (first fly!). Switched out the pheasant tail towards the end and put on a San Juan and hooked into a trout, but didn’t land it. Sight started out nymphing, but switched over to a slate drake and caught a few, then switched back. I believe all his were Iso nymphs, also.
This was the second time I fished with Sight, and he still had a lot to teach me. Nobody should pass up an opportunity to fish with this guy! Always gets me hooked.
I’ll be posting some pics soon, I’m still waiting for him to e-mail them to me.
So if you’re heading to the Little J… Bring your Iso’s. You won’t regret it.

 

[albatross]

Nice report Gochs. I/we passed on a trip to the Little J Saturday to go to Erie for Steel. Tough call as I think the J is fishing well right now.

 

[gochs]

I wanted to go to Spring Creek, but he convinced me to go to Barree. It was well worth it.

 

[dryflyguy]

The little j always fishes great in the fall.
I'm heading out there for three days on tuesday.
Did you guys see any risers?

 

[gochs]

Oh yeah. It was a bit sporadic, but he took a few on an iso dun. we saw a lot of bugs, but the majority of the rises were from... 11 and 1? then it tapered off a bit. Didn't have to hit the trout in the head at all. They were hunggggry. lol

 

[PaulG]

Gochs

Good report, looking forward to the pics!

Looks like it's time for Maurice and I's anually fall trip to the LJ!

PaulG

 

[j_man]

Ahh the little j is there a better trout stream in PA!

 

[gochs]

Dryfly, looks like I'll be hitting Barree again tomorrow, 9/21. My friend wants to try his hand at it. It won't be til 4:30 or so, but if you're up that way and see two dopey guys fumbling around, that's us! lol

 

[trout_stalker]

Is Barree the town where PennDOT is replacing the bridge? If so, how is that work progressing?

 

[gochs]

Yeah, that's the one. This was my first time there, so I can't say how fast it's going, but it looks like they laid the concrete slabs and are working on putting up the railings on one side.

 

[Maurice]

So do you have to get to the Barree Gorge from 305 now? Can't cross the bridge etc.....

 

[JackM]

Yes, 305 and up the east side of the river to the Rothrock lot.

 

[j_man]

I will be there Friday I can update you on the progress.

 

[gochs]

Finally got the pictures! Here they are!

"Hey, make it look like you caught something!"

Workin' it.

Reelin' it in.

Fish of the day!

 

[grobe33]

Nice Pics! That hole produced great during the Cicada Hatch!


www.grobe33.blogspot.com

 

[dryflyguy]

With several recent reports already posted about it, I'm not gonna start another one.
But I fished the little j tues thru thurs, and did pretty well.
With the unusally hot weather, I was a little concerned about the water temp, and checked it often. But it was OK - at least on the lower part of the river where I fished. Read 60 degree when I got there around noon on tues. On wed and thurs it got up to 66 during the hottest part of the day.
I was able to find plenty of risers to play with
Saw a few sporadic slate drakes and caddis hatching, and caught some fish on them.
However, ants and beetles were the most productive flies for me all 3 days there

 

[gochs]

Nice, Dryflyguy. Sorry I couldn't meet up with you. School always gets in the way now. I always forget about ants and beetles when I'm there. I'm so suck on nymphing that I run out of daylight before I change flies.

I'm surprised the water temperature was that high. I didn't take an official reading, but it was COLD last Saturday. But we've also been having rather warm nights.

hopefully we can meet up next time you're around these parts.