Oil Creek, Venango County, 04/10/2021

[Sylvaneous]

The grannoms were flying upstream in dense formation by the time I got to Blood Farm, later than I wanted to. No fish rising. Saw some in the headwaters of the ice dam (still in place) and within reach of a normal to long cast. I didn't see much hatching activity, so the fish were mostly eating spent caddis. They took sunken/stripped caddis dries (CDC and deer hair) well along with the floated dry.

Sunday, I arrived earlier but only found about 30 min of mild hatch and rise activity. Didn't do as well today. Bailed before 12. Lots of caddis in the air again.
I can't imagine there being any 'first wave' grannoms remaining for next week, but the smaller. siz 16-18 variety could be around.

This whole season, I maybe caught only 5 browns and only 1 this weekend.

I read a stream guide indicating that Oil Creek has Hendricksons.
Well, academically, yes, they are not Sasquach or a unicorn, but no, I have never seen any other bug worthy of mention to fishermen besides these early caddis.
I just wanted to make that clear in case someone unfamiliar would make the trip anticipating a chance at mayflies.
However, the suckers are grouping and moving to spawn, so nymphing a sz. 18 -16 pale yellow sucker spawn may be the ticket next weekend.

 

[RLeep2]

My theory is that the Hendrickson hatch on Oil Creek is overwhelmed or occluded by the Quill Gordons and that's why you don't see many Hendricksons. Or it may be that the Hendricksons are so thick, they overwhelm the Quill Gordons. I could never decide which... (mild sarcasm). But both bugs were in the Oil Creek guide handed out by OC Outfitters and OC TU at the time, so they must be there, right?...🙂

 

[greenghost]

Grannoms the heaviest hatch? Back when I used to regularly fish Oil Creek in the 90's, the sulphur hatch was amazing... heavier than any I experienced anywhere in PA, including central PA. As I would drive down the road in the park heading toward Petroleum Center, wisps of fog were heavy over the stream. Only it wasn't fog. It was clouds of sulfur. The hatch was so heavy your fly would get lost on the stream with naturals. Apparently, those days are gone?

 

[Sylvaneous]

recently, yes, but I think the hatches fluctuate a lot.

 

[Sharknado5]

Fished at the Drake Well stretch 1-4 this afternoon between light rain and sunshine. When the sun came out a million small black/mottled caddis practically carried me upstream with them, I guess these were the small grannoms. As many caddis in the air as I've ever seen. Didn't see any on the water, and only very few fish hit the surface. The stream was up some and off-colored but a nice flow.

I just swung wets and caught 5, all 11 inch cookie-cutter rainbows. This stretch is not a Keystone Select section.

 

[Sharknado5]

BTW don't see many sulfurs on Oil anymore. Back in the 90s we would drive down from Erie after work many many times in late May or early June for massive spinner falls.