Muddy Creek, York County, 1/5/21

[DaveKile]

On the board early this year with a day on Muddy Creek. Not a lot of fish, but like a lot of people, glad to get outside right now.

The weather was overcast with air temps about 35 degrees. There was some drizzle but not enough for a raincoat.

The stream was still up from some recent rain running at about 270 CFS. The water temp was 40 degrees and very clear.

The stream had a minimal fall stocking by the PFBC in October. Muddy Creek is a freestone stream and very few trout make it past summer. I gave it a go for the day making my way downstream from the top part of the project.

It was a pretty laid-back day of hitting different runs with nymphs and had most of my luck with a pink worm getting some smaller bows. It was nice being out and usually find some other wildlife on the stream, but there was nothing but tracks.

 

[McSneek]

Minimal stocking is a good description Dave. Disappointing given that Muddy Creek is a really nice winter destination in this area.

 

[Mike]

Stocking rates are determined by the stream section classification system. Fall trout allocations to sections reduce the spring allocations except in cases where a particular section is not already being stocked up to the max allowed by its classification. With generally much better angler use in spring, there can be reluctance to reduce spring allocations.

 

[barrybarry]

With all the new "No Trespassing Signs" around Muddy, it's been getting harder to park much less fish. I don't know what happened down there over the past year. Seems there must be a reason for all the new posting.

That, in turn, will put more pressure on other areas. Then they will become posted.

 

[Mike]

The op uses the word “project,” which specifically refers to the C&R FFO section. Other than in Muddy Creek Forks where new posting was mentioned here before, where specifically have you found additional new posting? I am also aware that there was new posting on the North Branch about a half mile and more below Felton in 2017.

 

[barrybarry]

At the lower end of the FFO area. The entire far side at the beginning of the FFO has been heavily posted. And the parking area beside the main road across the bridge as well. There's really nowhere to park in that entire area other than the three parking spaces for the lower end of the FFO area. I know people still park there but I tend not to violate signage.

I used to fish the lower end of the FFO area and then hit the large pool by the rock as an ending point. It's been posted so heavily I dare not to.

 

[McSneek]

I think the posting at that big swimming hole you’re referring to BB is due to partiers hanging out there, not fishing, in fact I think there are some fishing permitted signs. I love the Muddy Creek FFO but feel like everyone around there is trying to post land that’s not even theirsor at least doing everything they can to force people off the banks and into the stream all the time. Don’t even get me started on the property owner at the lower end across from the little parking lot. He just keeps building all sorts of “natural” barriers with scrap wood, limbs, etc. At least the silly steps he built down into the stream and the lights he strung across it got blown out by high water.

Mike - the fall stocking this year appears to have been two buckets dumped in the vicinity of Tom’s Run. Seems there was no distribution of the fish that were stocked. Maybe due to the pandemic.

 

[fritz]

Access to both ends of the FFO have not changed. The same parking area that MCTU built at the lower end is still available and certainly for more than three cars. There is also parking along Owad Road that is not too far a walk from the lower end.

Access to the upper end remains the same. Park on top of the hill. Please be respectful of the landowner and the bottom of the hill and do not drive down there. Parking availability up there has remained the same if not better.

I am not aware of any postings that keeps one from fishing the entire stretch of the FFO.

 

[barrybarry]

I know where to park for the FFO. I'm talking about the entire stream. I'd hate to see any more posting.

 

[fritz]

Maurice and others in MCTU have done and continue to do a lot of good work in land owner relations to keep the watershed accessible.

 

[STONEMAN]

Not to hijack this thread but did you see that pic of the 50 pound catfish taken near the mouth of Muddy? Wow.

 

[Susquehanna]

Flathead?

 

[Dave_W]

STONEMAN wrote:
Not to hijack this thread but did you see that pic of the 50 pound catfish taken near the mouth of Muddy? Wow.

This would be better as a new thread in the WW forum as catfish at the mouth of Muddy is a tangential topic to the trout report contained in this thread.

 

[McSneek]

fritz wrote:
Maurice and others in MCTU have done and continue to do a lot of good work in land owner relations to keep the watershed accessible.

Yes they have and I greatly appreciate it. I know it has been a challenge at times.

 

[WNFC_prez]

Outside of the FFO, you still have woodbine bridge parking and literally miles to walk the lower stretch below that. I’m not sure where some of you are used to fishing, but muddy has more open access than almost any other stream I know in the area.

 

[Mike]

Not only than wnfc, I’ve saw an individual fly angler catching RT way down there in Dec, 2018. He didn’t need the FFO area to have a good time.

 

[Maurice]

Mike wrote:
Not only than wnfc, I’ve saw an individual fly angler catching RT way down there in Dec, 2018. He didn’t need the FFO area to have a good time.

How do you know those rainbow trout didnt come from the FFO...in which case he DID need the FFO to have a good time.

Years ago we had only browns stocked in the FFO, you changed that to rainbows in fall and mostly bows in spring. I don;t care, bows hit better in winter. But your comment could be more possibly true had you not "muddied" the watershed with bows.

No offense. just an observation.

M

 

[Mike]

No offense taken; it is possible in the broadest sense. I think I told you about that observation soon after it was made. The angler was well below every section of the stream stocked by the PFBC and indicated a consistent pattern of fishing there over the years in late fall. I think he was as surprised to see us as we were him, particularly since we had “bushwhacked” to get there.