Little Juniata River -Huntington Cty- 4-30-16

[LetortAngler]

Nothing short of a fine day on the Little Junitata River. Cloudy overcast conditions, air temps hovering in the upper 50s, water temp; low 50s.

Hatches Observed
Sulfurs #14, Blue-Winged Olives #18-20, Tan/Black Caddis #14-16 and Midges.

Arrived at 10am to a nice riffled area with trout rising all throughout to the emerging Sulfur Duns, birds flying about voraciously intercepting many of the little unlucky mayflies as trout slurped and rose all around, a truly enjoyable sight for the end of April. Water levels of course are still on the low-side, however wading was much easier.
Upon hooking my first trout, I struggled to pull him from the deeper water, I usually don't carry a net and didn't this day, however right when I started thinking I should of brought it, a nice long handled net bumps me in my waders, yes I used it to land that fish! Ha! Shortly after a older fellow followed and was happily able to retrieve his lost merchandise.
Quite a few patterns worked today, but nothing compared to a CDC Biot Comparadum which accounted for over 30+fish alone
Came back from Lunch around 1:30 and BWO started hatching in pretty good numbers, by 4:00 they started to outnumber the dwindling Sulfurs.

TightLines

 

[YorkFlyGuy]

I was there to this morning arriving around 10 also. Right at the same time 4 guys started their float from SCO. The bus were very active today with fish rising constantly. A flash of sun created a flurry of activity on the surface. I threw everything I had from BWOs to elk hair caddis and even a 14 march brown. Everything I used rolled fish uponseeing it for the first time, but I just didn't connect. Finally I put on a grey 18 caddis and connected. I landed four in hand and had 3 more almost to me before losing them all in about 25 minutes. For a lot of guys on this site that might be a good day out even average. For my skills and success rate it was outstanding.
It was good to get out on that water.

 

[LetortAngler]

I agree, was good to get out. Glad you had some luck.
Was interesting seeing the Sulfurs hatch the entire time I was there from 10am-4:30pm (and likely later) overcast conditions usually have that effect with this hatch which likely prolonged its duration.
It would slow down here and there but pick right back up. Caught a few rather large Browns in the 16" range, and think I missed a few even larger than that. I love nymphing, but days like today for me, can't be beat. Sulfur Madness ;D

 

[evw659]

Nice report. I was there yesterday too on the middle river from about 2pm to 7 and noticed pretty much the same progression of hatches.
Get out while you can guys, these morning/afternoon hatches of sulphurs on the little j don't last very long, pretty soon the hatches will be pushed to the late evening on the majority of days.
It was great to see so many people enjoying the river yestetday: I counted about 40 cars from ironville to Spruce creek on my way down 453.

 

[Aducker]

The net story is priceless🙂
Thanks for sharing.

 

[albatross]

I was there yesterday with DaveS and MKerr. Great day. Sulphers hatching from 9 am to 7:30 pm.

 

[JackM]

And you outfished everyone with a soft-hackle/emerger, right?

 

[albatross]

I wish. I'm not good with the wet fly game. Maybe someone can teach me at the jam.

 

[JackM]

Wax that soft-hackle and it will serve as a dry fly.

 

[JackM]

So, I recall a time we had on LJ below the road-end parking lot--rather on the road there.

We worked our way to the car as it got dark and then couldn't resist the look of the water below our dimly lit car.

Lo and Behold, the water boiled about 800 pm and you caught all the fish-- with an emerger.

I flailed around for a couple on a spinner imitation.