Little Lehigh, Lehigh Co. 2/28/22

FlyGuy9

FlyGuy9

Member
Joined
Jan 25, 2017
Messages
53
City
Schwenksville
92 CFS at Allentown Gauge
37 degree air temp
Slight stain in deeper pools but clear for the most part

Had a few hours to fish in the afternoon so decided to check out the LL in the Wild Cherry Ln fly section. I have only fished this section one time before and I wanted to give it another shot. There was one other guy when I arrived at the upper limit. Fished a size 14 frenchie with a size 20 red zebra midge below it, which has been productive for me all winter. Started at the first run by the bridge and worked my way down a few hundred yards without seeing many fish at all. Fished all the deeper pockets and runs to no avail.

Decided to relocate to the lower limit, where I have never been before. Saw a few fish by the bridge and landed one average stocker rainbow. Wandered upstream a bit and fished some nicer runs but did not hook any fish.

Not sure if I am a big fan of this section as I feel like there is a lot of wide and flat type water. I am sure it got pounded pretty good over the weekend which probably didn't help my cause. Overall, nice to get out on a sunny February day.
 
FlyGuy9 said:
92 CFS at Allentown Gauge
37 degree air temp
Slight stain in deeper pools but clear for the most part

Had a few hours to fish in the afternoon so decided to check out the LL in the Wild Cherry Ln fly section. I have only fished this section one time before and I wanted to give it another shot. There was one other guy when I arrived at the upper limit. Fished a size 14 frenchie with a size 20 red zebra midge below it, which has been productive for me all winter. Started at the first run by the bridge and worked my way down a few hundred yards without seeing many fish at all. Fished all the deeper pockets and runs to no avail.

Decided to relocate to the lower limit, where I have never been before. Saw a few fish by the bridge and landed one average stocker rainbow. Wandered upstream a bit and fished some nicer runs but did not hook any fish.

Not sure if I am a big fan of this section as I feel like there is a lot of wide and flat type water. I am sure it got pounded pretty good over the weekend which probably didn't help my cause. Overall, nice to get out on a sunny February day.
Click to expand...
Check out a recent YouTube video by PA Woods & Water and he crushed a bunch just a few weeks ago from the wooden bridge down and under the concrete highway bridge.
 
wbranch said:
Check out a recent YouTube video by PA Woods & Water and he crushed a bunch just a few weeks ago from the wooden bridge down and under the concrete highway bridge.
Click to expand...
I did see that video. That was in the heritage section, I was in the other fly section a mile or two upstream.
 
FlyGuy9 said:
I did see that video. That was in the heritage section, I was in the other fly section a mile or two upstream.
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Oh, I'm not that familiar with the water. I've only fished there three times in 30 years.
 
The habitat is terrible or at least not close to what it was 25 years ago before the retirement communities were put in. So much silt from stormwater runoff and stream widening you feel like you're fishing in a swamp in some places. Still has a couple decent pools and runs but not many and definetely not worth visiting if you have any length of a drive.
 
Hilltop said:
The habitat is terrible or at least not close to what it was 25 years ago before the retirement communities were put in. So much silt from stormwater runoff and stream widening you feel like you're fishing in a swamp in some places. Still has a couple decent pools and runs but not many and definetely not worth visiting if you have any length of a drive.
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When I re-visited Section 5 about 8 years ago and was dumbfounded with the amount of development in Lower Macungie Township. The last time I fished there previously to this was back in the 1980's when there was nothing there but cornfields.

After quickly catching a few dumb fish at the Wild Cherry Lane bridge, I decided to ATTEMPT to hike down along the bank a half mile or more and fish back up.

I found it to be a silty mess , a challenge to cross except in a choice few locations with the aggravation factor of fishing it, not worth it for few fish I caught.

Despite this section being a short drive from my house, I never went back and probably won't...
 
That's sad. In the early 80s I caught a trout in that section on the first fly I ever tied.
 
I believe that the overdevelopment and the increase in runoff from roads along with the lack of shade(if you remember the huge willow trees many years ago) are gone, have contributed to the demise of a once beautiful trout stream. I remember fishing it 30 years ago and my friend caught over 30 fish on a scud pattern in the heritage section. Sad to see a nice limestone stream in decline. My son caught his first trout at the hatchery pool...good memories.
 
Section 8 (former Heritage Section) is a slightly different story. In my eyes, it really hasn't changed a whole lot in regards to the way it looks other than the loss of few trees.

A lot of folks, me included had a lot of success there in the past, but at least in my case, pretty all I was catching was stockers, either in the days when it was stocked or when hatchery escapees were a big problem.

Fast forward to the last few years after stocking had ceased and Section 8 was added to the Class A list (2016) and all of a sudden, I'm not catching as many fish... 🤔

...well at least in my case; I think most of that may have more to do with less fish overall in the stretch and angler incompetence with the wild fish versus a decline in conditions.

Again, for me it is hard to make a truly valid comparison from the "good old 20 fish days" to "a coupla too tree" (as they say in the Skook), because the former Heritage Section was NEVER a wading PERMITTED, heavily pounded, non-stocked Class A section like it is today.

Has it declined as a stocked fishery?

For sure, but is that what we really want it to become again if it is truly Class A like it has been for many years BEFORE it was formally listed?
 
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Jake41 said:
I believe that the overdevelopment and the increase in runoff from roads along with the lack of shade(if you remember the huge willow trees many years ago) are gone, have contributed to the demise of a once beautiful trout stream. I remember fishing it 30 years ago and my friend caught over 30 fish on a scud pattern in the heritage section. Sad to see a nice limestone stream in decline. My son caught his first trout at the hatchery pool...good memories.
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The heritage section actually has pretty decent habitat compared to 30 years ago, yes it was better back then (less silt, more shade) but I don't think it's too bad and could possible be reverted back to it's former self with some improvement work, streamside plantings, etc. Wild Cherry Lane stretch on the other hand is a lost cause. If ever there was a stretch of a stream that should be a poster child for what happens when overdevelopment/poor planning development happens this is it.
 
I wish I read this post a year ago. Lol. My friend and I drove 99 miles one way to fish the mud canal Water was high cold stained I had one hit between us in 3 hrs

We then went to the lower section. We got into a few state stockers that must have swam down from the bridge just up from the kiddie pool.

We did go back in mid May during the week. Had a nice time. Fished the heritage section from kiddie pool to 78 overpass then down river through the park.
 
Fabfab0811 said:
I wish I read this post a year ago. Lol. My friend and I drove 99 miles one way to fish the mud canal Water was high cold stained I had one hit between us in 3 hrs

We then went to the lower section. We got into a few state stockers that must have swam down from the bridge just up from the kiddie pool.

We did go back in mid May during the week. Had a nice time. Fished the heritage section from kiddie pool to 78 overpass then down river through the park.
Click to expand...
Lol I wouldn't drive 9 miles to fish it any longer.
 
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