Neshannock Creek, Lawrence County, 5/18 & 5/19/13

[streamerguy]

Report's from last weekend, but better late than never.

Ideally I would have much rather been at the Jam, but I had prior commitments Saturday that I had to be at. I couldn't let a weekend go by without doing any fishing though so I decided to hit Neshannock both days for a little bit(as well as another spot or two on the way home).

I fished it in the DHALO around 2 or so on Saturday in the heat of the day. Got sun burned pretty bad, but I caught a handful of fish so it wasn't all bad. I saw a good bunch of BIG carp swimming around but couldn't get them to hit anything. Had one trout rise up to a dry(missed him on the hook set), but all the trout I caught(5 or 6 I think) were either on small nymphs or stripping streamers aggressively. Also saw a little pike just hanging out in the shallows but he wouldn't hit a thing. The highlight of the day was a brown around 17-18in. Holdover??

Sunday I fished it a little big around lunch time closer to New Castle in the open regs water. Caught one little bass here and caught another 5 or 6 trout on nymphs(14-16ish) and stripping streamers.

Creek was low and clear and it was sunny out, but I think I did pretty good for the conditions.

 

[bikerfish]

that's a good looking brown for the neshannock.
are the crowds gone yet? last time time I drove by it looked like opening day at the trout farm.

 

[streamerguy]

There were a couple in the dhalo and none in the section I fished in the open regs water. Crowds definitely manageable.

 

[StarvinMarvin]

kype jaw makes me think holdover nice pics. we gotta meet up sometime.

 

[streamerguy]

Yeah. Even though I'm like 40min away I consider it one of my home streams. Want to explore it more for bass this year.

I'm leaning towards holdover too. One shows up once in a while there.

 

[ryguyfi]

HATCH BURN!!!!

BROWN DRAKES STARTED!

 

[streamerguy]

I just noticed that on the shop's website. I just may have to make a trip this weekend!

 

[ryguyfi]

I'm headed there tonight. I hear it's pretty good. I'll post a report.

 

[streamerguy]

Just got done fishing it bout a half an hour ago. Got 2 on caddis but that was it. Drakes were thick but not many rising. I might have left too early, but I forgot to bring a flashlight lol.

 

[ryguyfi]

Thousands of bugs! Usually lasts 3-5 days and I think yesterday was day 2 so if you're going you should do it soon. I won't say how late I stayed but most action was after it was dark. Every trout was rising for a solid hour when the spinners hit.

It looks like the cahills started a bit earlier this year. Typically they are emerging before the brown drake spinnerfall and this year the cahill spinners were active and laying eggs before the brown drake spinners. Not sure the species, but the spinners were pure white and about a size 14. The fish were keyed into them for about 15 minutes before the brown drake spinners hit the water. You just had to guess when the switch happened. I used a white fly spent wing and it worked just fine.

Get out there tonight and rip some lip!

I'll add a few pictures later.

 

[streamerguy]

Nice! Figures, I guess I missed out on some good action.

 

[ryguyfi]

It was one of the better spinnerfalls I've seen there. I was at the top end of the pool behind the shop and probably had 20 fish rising in front of me.

 

[pro4mance]

I havent been able to get out since the jam, sucks for me

 

[bikerfish]

Hmmmm, might just have to stop up there tonite

 

[streamerguy]

I was thinking of heading up there tonight but it didn't work out. Post how you do! I guess I'll have to wait till next year for the drakes.

Ryan, what time did you get there last night?

 

[fishingnoob]

hey guys...went from 4-7...wish I could have stayed later but I had other commitments...spit the poop with Bob and bought some tying supplies then hit up the stream behind the shop...kept switching from streamers to dries...got 3 on an olive bugger...the dries were just not happening...I tried caddis....and a cream colored cahill...I guess it was just too early for dries and with the heat the fish were staying deep...might try shenango below the dam again tomorrow

 

[streamerguy]

The two I got on caddis dries there were around 6:30ish or so. Pretty much the only 2 I saw rising at that time. Didn't fish the hole behind the shop, there were guys in it the entire time I was there. Couldn't get any on streamers or streamers, although I fished dries for the most part. Found a decent brown feeding actively on nymphs down by the lazy hole but I couldn't get him to eat anything. Saw some rises down that way but nothing consistant. The moral of the story, fish after the sun goes down!lol When I talked to Bob yesterday he said people have been getting some fish on top real early in the mornings too.

I fished the Shenango this afternoon and it was tough, even for bass. No trout, well my brother got one spinfishing. Got a carp though. Gonna try again tomorrow evening or Monday morning, or both for trout. Saw some caddis hatching today so hopefully the trout are still eating them in the mornings and evenings. Also fished Slippery Rock this morning and got one bow. Tough there too.

 

[bikerfish]

got to the shop around 8:30 or so, no one around, no cars, no people, nothing!! fished till about 9:45, tons of bugs, tons of fish, tons of fun, all good!
did I mention, NOBODY was there????
see the same thing in central pa, everyone leaves just before it HAPPENS!
like Ryan said, fish were rising all over the place.

 

[lv2nymph]

Not everyone. :-D

 

[streamerguy]

NICE!!! According to the shop's website it says they are done now. Hmmm. You think they'll still be on tonight? This is my first year attempting to fish this hatch, is three good days in a row normal?