Oil Creek, 4/26-27

[Sylvaneous]

Not really any grannoms seen hatching. Based on the egg-laying caddis numbers, it looks like there was a short, more limited hatch in the few days previous. Saturday and sunday both had great water conditions: clarity and good temps. No, repeat, NO surface activity either day. Caught 2 in at the bend above the ice control dam Saturday. One on and lost on Sunday.
Smallmouth bass fishing was much better. They aren't spawning yet, but they are pairing up.
The dam is open, if that matters to you. There aren't hundreds of fish waiting to get upstream to spawn stacked up below it. No easy Allegheny Grand Slams.

Syl

 

[David]

I agree. I was up on Sunday fishing through the park. I saw a few rises (very few), and they were one time risers. Right at dusk I caught a couple on a grey caddis fished flush on the the surface. I was disappointed with the lack of activity considering the conditions. I got the surface water temp at 62 degrees at around 4:00. The water was low, so the trout didn't have far to travel. There was light but consistent caddis hatching most of the day and always some dropping their eggs on the water. Netted numerous mayfly nymphs in the upper water columns, but did not see a single mayfly while I was there.