Little Schuykill above Tamaqua, 11/28/2009

[jeff]

Decided to take a mini road trip to fish the Little Schuykill with a couple of friends today. First let me say that the river looks great and it was great to get out today even if it was a little windy. We started at the Sunoco gas depot just north of Tamaqua a little after 11am. I have never fished the river this far north before. I found there to be great runs and and pocket water that trout could or should hold in. But all we managed all day was 1 miss. We tried streamers and nymphs you name it, we fished with and without weight, tried to slow down our presentations to no avail. Aquatic life was flourishing under the rocks. Water was cold about 45 degrees. 2.5 hours later we called it a day. Still fun to get out!

 

[sholgate]

Because that area is stocked, I believe it is fished pretty hard by the locals. Farther upstream, upstream of the confluence of Locust Creek, there are some wild trout and some "escaped" stocked fish that work upstream. Last spring I found success there in February.

 

[jeff]

Thanks for the info sholgate. I didn't know we had to go that far north to get into the native population. Now i don't feel so bad with the goose egg!

 

[sholgate]

Not at all. That can be some tough water sometimes, but always pretty back in there. 🙂

 

[Mike]

You will find wild trout (BT and/or ST) throughout the area that you two are describing. Additionally, there are always stocked trout to be caught from Tamaqua upstream to at least a few hundred yards upstream from Locust Creek's confluence. While you are correct that the stream is fished hard by the locals, it also receives frequent stockings of adult and fingerling trout. Often, it is the recipient of June stockings of unallocated trout from the hatchery system, and by then many of the locals have hung it up for the year. Those stockings support the fishery throughout the summer and into the fall. If you are not catching fish there it is just a bad day of fishing, not a lack of fish.

 

[salvelinusfontinalis]

I second what Mike said. I have caught stockers and wild rainbows in the Little Schuykill above Owl Creek North to Just above Hazelton Jct.

Plenty of fish in the stream. Go have a blast! 🙂

 

[GreenMan]

I have also caught wild bows and brooks around Owl Creek along with very large stockers... Owl creek itself has abnormally large brooks...

here's a bow and brook from lil schuylkill...

 

[David]

GreenMan wrote:
I have also caught wild bows and brooks around Owl Creek along with very large stockers... Owl creek itself has abnormally large brooks...

here's a bow and brook from lil schuylkill...

Surprised you can get within casting distance of a trout with those shoes...they glow like Rudolph's nose!

 

[wgmiller]

I was going to ask if they were Nike wading shoes...

Didn't Spyder20oz post a pic of his feet? I remember that thread getting some mileage!

 

[govtmule]

that rainbow is one hell of a nice fish..

 

[GreenMan]

hahahahah... Nike wading shoes... they are in fact nike shocks... i guess when you fish over 300 times a year, 100s of different streams all over Pa, and catch as many fish as I do, wading shoes become secondary... you see in this pic just got back from vermont where many of the rivers have didymo. So I didn't want to wear my felts or other wading shoes, but thanks for you concern... it's just like a fly fisherman to notice and concern themselves with someones wading shoes, like they matter at all...

Regardless, on that day, the rudolph shoes as David calls them didn't seem to make a difference, but sometimes I wonder if they do...

 

[GreenMan]

thanks govtmule... Schuylkill Co. is a real gem for fishing...

 

[Streamer]

I can attest to that. I have always argued some of the overall best fishing, and fishing conditions, in the state of Pennsylvania are in Schuylkill County.

 

[David]

GreenMan wrote:
i guess when you fish over 300 times a year, 100s of different streams all over Pa, and catch as many fish as I do, wading shoes become secondary... but thanks for you concern... it's just like a fly fisherman to notice and concern themselves with someones wading shoes, like they matter at all...

Isn't it just like a fly fisherman to have to qualify themselves as an expert that shouldn't be questioned on their choice of wading apparel.
I actually thought they were nice wetshoes, but they stood out...it was the focal point for me in the picture. And for me to see them before I saw the the fish tells me that they REALLY stood out in a snapshot moment of time! Then, I decided to add a seasonal spin to my observation...

GreenMan wrote:
it's just like a fly fisherman to notice and concern themselves with someones wading shoes, like they matter at all...

Regardless, on that day, the rudolph shoes as David calls them didn't seem to make a difference, but sometimes I wonder if they do...

So in one instance, you note that they are not significant...in the next sentence, you backtrack and recognize that you are uncertain of their impact.
Again, they were they stood out for me in the picture...and I thought it was funny. You went to a greater length to justify yourself, so they obviously do matter to you as well!!!

 

[MattBoyer]

Streamer wrote:
I can attest to that. I have always argued some of the overall best fishing, and fishing conditions, in the state of Pennsylvania are in Schuylkill County.

SHHH ;-) :-D

Boyer

 

[GreenMan]

haha.. david... sorry for the mix up I should of been more clear... I don't think the wading shoes matter at all in terms of their appearance to other fishermen, what I was uncertain of was if the bright red color may have an effect on the trout while i'm in the water... I don't want you to think I am a flipflopper...

My comments were directed at wgmiller, not you... haha I enjoyed your seasonal comment about my shoes, which is why i quoted you...

 

[Dances_With_Brookies]

I have to weigh in on this and agree with Green Man. Schuylkill County is da bomb. Even though mine drainage is a huge problem for the Little Schuylkill River, I have had exceptional days with rainbows, browns, and brooks from Pottsville to Middleport-large fish at that. Don't expect to just pull the car off to the side of the road and tie into the fish. The river IS polluted and smells like an open sewer in Pottsville. IF you can find clean, cold water entering the mainstem, you will find fish thanks to stockings of fingerlings from the PFBC. As for wild brookies and browns, they are everywhere-you just need to explore.

 

[Dances_With_Brookies]

Greenman-

I forgot to add...That is a hella rainbow. Beautiful fish!

 

[JF_]

To clarify, that's the Schuylkill from Middleport to Pottsville, not the Little Schuylkill.

 

[Streamer]

MattBoyer wrote:

SHHH ;-) :-D

Boyer

The counties stream secrets are safe with me.. But I wouldn't be disappointed if more honorable fly guys took to some of those streams. The posting of water has gotten almost unbearable in my region.