Oil Creek, Venango County, 4-28-24

[Sylvaneous]

Creek finally back down to a decent level since the high waters of early April. I was afraid the grannoms would have been washed-out. Based on the warm early weather, I expected them to be well over with by now. NOt so. The AM grannom hatches have been heavy as expected. It was good to see the heavy egg sacks on the ice control dam as a sign of a successful, what? spawn? Reproduction cycle. The water was good, if up a bit. Temps were good and color was great. Fish fed off the surface till 10:30 or so and occasionally thorugh the day. I didn't tear 'em up as much as I had expected on nymphs & wets, but they were effective throughout the day.
Just surprised to see the hatching bugs as heavy as I did. The high water and/or colder weather might have delayed them, but I'm not entimologist. It's been much colder and they were about done by now in more normal Aprils.
Syl

 

[Mashbill]

sounds like you had a great Spring day! i have not been back there in many, many MANY years -- but my earliest days of learning dry fly fishing were on Oil Creek. it was a decent day trip from Cleveland -- i remember going thru Franklin Pa and seeing all those big beautiful old homes and thinking " must have been the big shots from the early days of the oil industry? timber?? i fished mostly around the main iron bridge, mostly early to mid spring. there was a nice guy named Mike ... who ran a small fly shop there. one time in late May - i fished a sulpher hatch -- that blew me away. i couldnt believe how thick those bugs were. i remember it being mostly a caddis steam. had lots of fun there as a much younger man. thanks for the memories.

 

[dano]

The first wave of grannoms came off April 10 at about 11:00. At 11:45 the rains came.
Then, two weeks later, it was back on. We fished the 25th, 26th and 27th. It wasn't a blizzard type hatch but more or less, small waves of bugs hatching throughout the day, or at least till 3PM when we left.
Saturday was exceptional, especially with the calmer winds. We hit the water after the rain quit at about 7:30AM and there were already fish rising throughout the pools and riffles.
Today, the hatch looked like it was winding down. Fewer bugs, but the fish that did rise were easily fooled by deer hair caddis.
I think the next two evenings should fish well.

 

[Sylvaneous]

I think the next two evenings should fish well.

I was thinking that, but had to mow my lawn before the next 4 day wet-fest.
Syl

 

[dano]

Sulphurs already. Major hatch.
From 10 till 4.
This is the earliest I've ever seen the sulphurs hatch on this stream.
Also, yellow cranflies, a few green caddis and cahills.
Water temp was 58 deg at 4pm

 

[Sylvaneous]

Sulphurs already. Major hatch.
From 10 till 4.
This is the earliest I've ever seen the sulphurs hatch on this stream.
Also, yellow cranflies, a few green caddis and cahills.
Water temp was 58 deg at 4pm

I saw the phlox coming out along the road. I thought it might be later this next week.
THe phlox 'sulfur detector' works again.
THank you , Don Douple.

 

[Sharknado5]

Call me crazy, but 2 days ago on a stream in southern Potter county I saw a big green drake floating down the middle. I think the stockies were afraid of it.