Neshannock Creek, Mercer County, Pa, March 1st Stocking Day

[fishingnoob]

Took advantage of the festivities on Saturday and headed down to Volant from 10-2 for some food and fishing. Stopped by the shop first to chat with Bob and put in for next weeks lunker stocking raffle, then hit up the fire hall for some delicious pancakes and sausage. With a satisfied full belly it was time to hit the stream. Didn't take a temp but the water was definitely cold. Netted 3 and lost 2 (one of which was a tail hook during a re-cast), had a brown and a bow right before the stocking w/ the brown taking a flashback prince nymph and the bow taking a frenchie nymph. After the stocking, lanes closed up quick as other guys came along and I only managed another brown on a chartreuse frenchie. It was a great day to not only enjoy what the town has to offer, but to enjoy what in my opinion is one of the best streams in the area. Also a shout out to Streamerguy (aka Nick) and his brother Andrew who were also at the event.

 

[streamerguy]

Good report fishingnoob and it was nice talking to you yesterday. One of the guys there said it was about 35 degrees so that's a big difference from the trucks. No wonder why the new fish weren't biting! Good to see that you at least caught a few leftovers from the fall. As for me, I got skunked :-( though I can't complain as the fishing for me this winter has actually been better than usual. Bring on spring!! I'll probably be back out there next weekend, and maybe Shenango if they decide to lower it...

Oh, and the pancakes and sausage were good as always 🙂

 

[fishingnoob]

I'll most likely see you next weekend for the lunker. As for Shenango, would you be allowed?? or is everything except DHALO's closed till end of April?

 

[fishingnoob]

Approved Trout Waters Open to Year-Round Fishing [view regulation]
BUTLER
Harbar Acres Lake

ERIE
East Basin Pond – Waterworks Ponds, Presque Isle State Park
Lake Pleasant
Upper Gravel Pit
West Basin Pond – Waterworks Ponds, Presque Isle State Park

FOREST
Tionesta Creek – from Tionesta Dam outflow downstream

LAWRENCE
Bessemer Lake
Cascade Quarry

MERCER
Shenango River – outlet of Shenango Dam downstream to Buckeye Drive Bridge (SR 3025)

VENANGO
Two Mile Run Reservoir (Justus Lake)

WARREN
Chapman Dam Reservoir


pays to research....nevermind :b

 

[streamerguy]

Haha yep as you found out you're allowed. The past two times I fished it this winter I only caught one each time, but the few times before that I did pretty well for this time of year. Nice to be able to fish it when everything else was frozen.

 

[joebamboo]

"After the stocking, lanes closed up quick as other guys came along"

Yep, even fly fishers chase the trucks!!

 

[krott243]

Was this stocked all the way to Bridge st?

 

[PennKev]

krott243 wrote:
Was this stocked all the way to Bridge st?

You mean Covered Bridge Road?

 

[sparklelureMJK]

I was out after the stocking as well, and a few guys at the Covered Bridge said they didn't float stock, they just dumped half of them behind the shop in Volant, and half of them at the Covered Bridge. Can anyone confirm or have any details on this?

I went out for a few hours this past Saturday (3/8) as well after the Fly Shop's "lunker" stocking. I didn't catch anything, but watched a guy land a nice palomino under the bridge.

 

[streamerguy]

I was out after the stocking as well, and a few guys at the Covered Bridge said they didn't float stock, they just dumped half of them behind the shop in Volant, and half of them at the Covered Bridge. Can anyone confirm or have any details on this?

Correct, well sorta. They didn't float last weekend, and all of the fish allotted for the DHALO were stocked by the shop. They did put some in down by the covered bridge, but those fish were meant for the open regs water. So in other words no "DHALO" fish went down there. Not saying they don't swim up above the bridge.....because they do. They were able to float this past weekend though.

I fished it a little bit each day on Fri, Sat, and Sunday. Crowds were bad as expected which reminds me of why I love fishing on little-known unstocked water 🙂 Tough fishing but I managed to catch a handful of fish. One brown I got looked like a fall stockie....