Manatawny Creek, Berks County, 12/30/16

[Nymph-wristed]

It was a bit cold and windy, but I had a few free hours to fish yesterday, so I did the best I could. It was just under 40 degrees and windy with isolated flurries. The water temp was hovering just under 38, which is not 50 but, it's not 33 either. Water was stained from the rain the day before, but fish didn't have a problem finding an olive scud pattern. My wintering holes did not pay off, but I found a few wild browns in the smaller pockets near cover. No bug activity, and when I tried midges and an 18 BWO nymph, I caught chubs. The best trout was about 11 or 12 inches (best chub was at least 8). The population seems to fluctuate quite a bit in this area. Warm, dry summer, so I didn't expect much. Happy for 5 on my last trip of 2016, though!

 

[Mike]

Manatawny is pretty much dependent on its tribs for its wild trout supply, with many more trout being present in the proximity of tribs than well away from those tribs. Additionally, I know of one spring that allows the Manatawny to support a fairly good wild trout population for a distance of about 100-150 yds. Fish these areas and you should reliably find trout.

You will generally find much better populations in the named tribs, but of course they are smaller waters in width. Some have greatly improved over the years, supporting wild trout over much longer distances than in the past and some now supporting Class A equivalent populations in certain stretches where there were not Class A equivalent populations in the past. In one case, a wild trout population now extends downstream to the stream's mouth whereas in the past its downstream limit was about three miles upstream from the mouth. These expanding populations in the tribs are probably the reason why more angler's are reporting the presence of wild trout in Manatawny proper and why wild trout should be appearing, at least seasonally, at more locations in the Manatawny. Over the vast majority of the Manatawny's length, it is still naturally a warmwater stream.

 

[Nymph-wristed]

Thanks for the additional info, Mike. I have caught wild fish in the creek for at least 10 years, but only in isolated spots, as you noted. I have caught some decent sized fish, but the vast majority are small. I just like the solitude and surroundings of a particular stretch I haunt. Question: I know that, generally, larger fish from tributaries will winter in main creeks, even the rivers, but does the opposite happen as well? That would explain why I can find an entire year class some winters held in likely wintering spots. Did they come down from the tribs to find better winter habitat or food?

Thanks!