Little Juniata River, Huntingdon County, 9/24/2016

D

DanL

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Sep 25, 2014
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I fished the Little J from about 8AM to 5PM on Saturday, September 24th.

I started at 7:30 AM below the Gorge in Barree. Air Temp was 59 degrees and water temp was 62 degrees when I started. Saw some Isos and BWOs sporadically. Fish rises a few times a long the banks as I worked upstream. Tried many nymphs in the riffles and runs but I was having no luck. Went dry fly with ant patterns and caught 2 along the banks, and broke one off due to a bad knot. Ended this section around 11:30 AM.

I drove back to Tyrone for lunch (Sheetz, my favorite fast food). I drove there with my waders still on and was taking them off outside before heading in, and a woman walked by and asked me where I was fishing at "around here". She then proceeded to tell me she worked at a fly fishing club around Spruce Creek. Didn't put 2+2 together but after a few minutes, she mentioned it was HomeWaters club. I got the sense she didn't like telling people that but I just smiled and nodded, but was sort of an odd exchange when I think back on it...

After lunch I drove around looking for another spot, and did exploring down some of the side roads I had never drove down before. I ended up parking by the quarry on Pemberton and fished that section. Air temps by now were high 60's, and the water temps were lower in this section than in Barree, as my reading was right at 60 degrees when I started around 1PM. Same sporadic hatching as in the Barree section. I stuck with the ant patterns and missed a handful of strikes, ending up catching 2 more in this section after switching to a size 18 elk hair caddis. I had to be back in Pittsburgh by evening so I ended the day around 5PM and headed back.

Overall was a beautiful day to be out. I've never fished the Little J with water this low (68 CFS on the gauges, per USGS, only been FF'ing about 4 years now), so I had to work a lot harder than usual for the handful of fish I caught, and I'm pretty sure I saw rocks that I won't see any time when I go there in the spring flows.







 
Thanks for sharing you post. Some really nice spots you were fishing and a spot or two I always enjoy. Water levels make it tough and those trout have a real good look at whatever you are tossing out. Hoping some water this week helps us.
 
I was on the J Saturday afternoon a little upstream of Pemberton. Great to get out and enjoy the cooler temps. I missed a couple and caught one big beautiful brown on an ISO dry. Didn't see another fisherman.
 
I also fished the J this weekend on sunday in baree.

Fished surprisingly well. Its getting better.
 
Just a little heads up, fishing on the j has only been getting better, atleast for me. Get out and fish it if you can.
 
I am up in Berwick Pa and was thinking about hitting up the Little J on the way back through to Pittsburgh. Any insight on what portion of river to hit? I read some recent postings about places near where Spruce coming in being posted. General areas. Tactics and flies. I have never fished Little J before
 
I am up in Berwick Pa and was thinking about hitting up the Little J on the way back through to Pittsburgh. Any insight on what portion of river to hit? I read some recent postings about places near where Spruce coming in being posted. General areas. Tactics and flies. I have never fished Little J before
 
mikepafly123 wrote:
I am up in Berwick Pa and was thinking about hitting up the Little J on the way back through to Pittsburgh. Any insight on what portion of river to hit? I read some recent postings about places near where Spruce coming in being posted. General areas. Tactics and flies. I have never fished Little J before
Click to expand...

If you are familiar with spruce creek, the lady who owns the yellow house, in between the junkyard, and the railroad bridge (road underpass) has posted her ground. Which includes all the access downstream from junkyard to the railroad bridge/road underpass. (give or take a little, don't know EXACT property boundary, but that's all pretty much hers I believe). You can still access at the junkyard, and can still access downstream of the bridge underpass. Remember, the stream is not posted, only above the high water mark. So you can still fish that area, just cant park/cross her property as of now.

There is a ton of water to fish anyways, that little area being cut off to access doesn't bother me one bit. Stay downstream of the grier school, anywhere between the grier school and the point the little j runs into the frankstown branch should be fine fishing.

I prefer the barree section, as well as from grier school on down to the junkyard is all great.

Nymph your average nymphs, pts, hares ears, midge patterns, Ive noticed some large caddis hatching, not sure of the species. Usually lots of tan caddis (small size 18-20), but these are a bit larger right now sz 16, tan-brown. BWO's, maybe some isonychias, but I doubt it. Swinging soft hackles works well, you can also prospect with a tan elk hair caddis on top, I've done surprisingly well catching fish on top with a tan elk hair caddis even when nothing is rising.

Good luck
 
Thanks for the information. Greatly appreciated. Are there places to park along the road near the Junkyard or along Union furnace road or 453?
 
To the OP. Keep a note of where those rocks were, in high water swing a streamer through there or a nymph.

On pressured streams, knowing stuff like that can be the difference between a skunking or not.
 
The river is completely blown out, don't plan on fishing it this weekend
 
JackM wrote:
That's all we needed to know.
Click to expand...

If you need to know any other questions, just ask. I'm on that water 2-3 times a week.

Edit: And its fished very well the past weekend, above expectations and above my usual catch average.
 
Salvelinusfontinali wrote:
JackM wrote:
That's all we needed to know.
Click to expand...

If you need to know any other questions, just ask. I'm on that water 2-3 times a week.

Edit: And its fished very well the past weekend, above expectations and above my usual catch average.
Click to expand...

I've never fished it this late in the year.
But I'm curious - any hatches or rising fish?
 
dryflyguy wrote:
Salvelinusfontinali wrote:
JackM wrote:
That's all we needed to know.
Click to expand...

If you need to know any other questions, just ask. I'm on that water 2-3 times a week.

Edit: And its fished very well the past weekend, above expectations and above my usual catch average.
Click to expand...

I've never fished it this late in the year.
But I'm curious - any hatches or rising fish?
Click to expand...


The short answer.. right now... No.
You may get lucky and run into something but in reality don't plan on it, if you do find some risers consider yourself lucky. Not saying it wont happen, just as of right now do not count on it.

Getting nymphs deep is key, a two fly set up, with an attractor nymph and a small natural as a dropper is key. The attractor has been key for me, not necessarily taking it, but as long as its on the rig I've defiantly done better. Think eggs. 😎
 
Yeah - I usually wind up my fishing there in late october.
But with the extended warm weather we've had this fall, I was kinda wondering if there still might my be any worthwhile dry fly fishing

thanks
 
Spawning activity has died off, still watch out for redds..

Rain last night has the river high, no more rain in the forecast for this week, levels should be back down by Saturday/sunday and should provide some great fishing if you can get out.
 
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