NC PA drought-- Brookies at risk?

riverwhy said:
Northern Cambria and Southern Clearfield were my old stomping grounds as my roommate at Penn State lived in Hastings. I wonder how those streams have held up over the years. We caught plenty of brookies back in the day. That would be late 80's. Maybe you could check some of those out and report back!
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I was back last the 1st week of July; so just about when things were settling in that summer funk trout-wise. I fished just south of your stomping grounds.

I'm still new here, so still learning what is acceptable for a stream report/not considered spot burning, so here goes for a report that is 2 months old, taking this thread a little sideways:

Killbuck Run/Little Killbuck Run: caught some dace, seen no brookies, was already low

South Fork Little Conemaugh: Good flow, plenty of natives

Bobs Creek Class A section: Low, water warm, trout seen, but not wanting to eat, skunked

Bell Gap Run: Same as SFLC listed above, had a good day
 
I know time and $ are limited, but wonder if those yearly weather realities, that could impact spawn success, drive any considerations on how often/when to sample a stream, and assess its categorization?

That said, some of it mentioned in this thread, the resilience of these fish is nothing short of amazing.

One of the young youtubers has some videos of him fishing for Gila trout out west, and how those fish can make it work in puddles and spring seeps was eye opening to me. I think there is a Baja strain of rainbow or cutthroat that lives in northern Mexico/SoCal that also has developed adaptions to pull through some tough conditions.
 
CinnamonJoe said:
I know time and $ are limited, but wonder if those yearly weather realities, that could impact spawn success, drive any considerations on how often/when to sample a stream, and assess its categorization?

That said, some of it mentioned in this thread, the resilience of these fish is nothing short of amazing.

One of the young youtubers has some videos of him fishing for Gila trout out west, and how those fish can make it work in puddles and spring seeps was eye opening to me. I think there is a Baja strain of rainbow or cutthroat that lives in northern Mexico/SoCal that also has developed adaptions to pull through some tough conditions.
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Not to pile on, but I know people have been critical of the PFC about the timing of surveys and whether it was motivated by the hope not to find class a populations so they could stock. I seem to remember this being an issue with survey on streams like Young Women's, Cross Forks, and Penns.
 
Swattie87 said:
18 cfs. Break out the Slumpbusters.
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Oh no! Back down to 13.

Just kidding. I was in Cameron County yesterday, checked 4 tribs. The tribs were low but seemed to have decent flow, compared to the main stem. And I saw a good number of brookies of various sizes in each one. So I'll just STFU Donny.
 
Sharknado5 said:
Oh no! Back down to 13.

Just kidding. I was in Cameron County yesterday, checked 4 tribs. The tribs were low but seemed to have decent flow, compared to the main stem. And I saw a good number of brookies of various sizes in each one. So I'll just STFU Donny.
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Yup it's just typical Fall flows. Weather is so volatile right now too. Every day the forecast is changing. NOW-"they're" calling for rainy days a week from today through next Wed. Yesterday-it as pretty much all dry. So, we just don't know what's coming.

I remember one year it was, truly, a "severe drought" heading into the annual NCPA Summit. And several guys were like "Yo Squatch, you may have to cancel this year!" Then, sure enough, the 3 day forecast started calling for rain, and 2-3 days before the "jam", that area got hammered with several inches of rain.
 
Very short time frame us humans measure things by, i don't know. just thinkin.
Fish will be ok, the earth will be ok...
 
You are correct. Carp, snakeheads, and flatheads will be fine. I sleep well knowing my grandkids will be able to catch fish.
 
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