Little Juniata River - Blair County - 8-30-15

[dryflyguy]

After hearing rumors that the white fly hatch has returned to this river in recent years, I decided to give it a try. Although I was concerned how the water temp would be with the latest hot spell.
But I read 66 degrees at 2:30 in the afternoon on the lower part of the river near the route 305 bridge.
Rises were far and few between during the afternoon and early evening. I did manage to drum up a few fish on terrestrials though.
Then around 7 pm, a few white flies started to show, and an occasional rise was spotted here and there.
From past experience with this hatch, I figured the flies would get thicker towards dark. But it never really happened. The flies stayed quite sparse until dark - with few risers to them.
I did catch a half dozen smaller fish on them during the last hour and a half of daylight. But it wasn't very good fishing IMO
Maybe my timing was off for the hatch, and it will get heavier later on. But at least for now, the white fly hatch there doesn't seem to be very worthwhile.

 

[Hunttrapfish17]

Dryflyguy,

i plan on making a trip to the little J this weekend. I plan on nymphing for the majority of the time. I was hoping to get the rain they were calling for this week but that doesnt look to promising. I will be fishing the section of the river near Green Hill campgrounds. Any suggestions on other locations ? I was hoping to see you did well when i opened this post.

 

[greenghost]

Not sure on the Little J, but it has been my experience that the white fly hatch is best in early- to mid-August on the waters I have fished (Slippery Rock, Yellow Breeches, Susquehanna) --the "blizzard" hatches for me have occurred then although sparse remnants tend to linger long after.

 

[Acristickid]

Not to be picky but that's probably Huntington Co

See you on a PA stream when I return home.

 

[dryflyguy]

Ghost -

The little j used to get a nice white fly hatch pre spill - or whatever happened in 1995 to wipe out the hatches. And late august/early september was usually prime time then.

Hunt -

Yeah the stream is quite low now. That usually means good - but challenging - dry fly fishing. However, with the hot weather forecast to continue right through the weekend, you should keep an eye on the water temps. If it had reached 70 while I was there (it didn't) - I was prepared to move elsewhere.

The little j really is one of those streams that is good anywhere - even right in the campground.
However, there are several large springs that feed it upstream by Pemberton - also called the quarry. And the water might be somewhat cooler there. Good luck!