Penns Creek Centre County 4/30 and 5/1

[martin0206]

Drove out to Penns on Monday and fished primarily from 3pm to dark on 4/30 and 5/1 in the Cherry Run area. Lots of bugs but hardly any daytime surface activity compared to what I usually see this time of year. Did find some rising fish in the afternoon each day. Many more on Tuesday with the warmer temps. I thought a hurricane was moving in on Monday with crazy high winds whipping through the valley. Got to a nice run on Monday night with an awesome spinner fall but the fish didn't like what I had to offer. Most of the afternoon hatching was Quill Gordons with a few Hendricksons as well. Some small olives and Black Quills were spotted too.

On Tuesday I came prepared with a few more spinner patterns and did really well after the sun started to go down. Caught 5 or 6 in the last hour with one being a brute that wrapped me around a huge rock and broke off 5x fluro. Looked at my line and the last 2 feet of fluro tippet was completely frayed. Never seen anything like it.

Water was in excellent shape and the fishing was pretty good but had to work for them during the day until the sun started to go down and the spinners showed up. Also meet a few guys along the way who were super nice. Don't have any pics because I took an unintentional swim leaving on Tuesday night and my pack filled completely up with water. Took my phone out after it was soaked and that was all she wrote.

 

[afishinado]

martin0206 wrote:
Drove out to Penns on Monday and fished primarily from 3pm to dark on 4/30 and 5/1 in the Cherry Run area. Lots of bugs but hardly any daytime surface activity compared to what I usually see this time of year. Did find some rising fish in the afternoon each day. Many more on Tuesday with the warmer temps. I thought a hurricane was moving in on Monday with crazy high winds whipping through the valley. Got to a nice run on Monday night with an awesome spinner fall but the fish didn't like what I had to offer. Most of the afternoon hatching was Quill Gordons with a few Hendricksons as well. Some small olives and Black Quills were spotted too.

On Tuesday I came prepared with a few more spinner patterns and did really well after the sun started to go down. Caught 5 or 6 in the last hour with one being a brute that wrapped me around a huge rock and broke off 5x fluro. Looked at my line and the last 2 feet of fluro tippet was completely frayed. Never seen anything like it.

Water was in excellent shape and the fishing was pretty good but had to work for them during the day until the sun started to go down and the spinners showed up. Also meet a few guys along the way who were super nice. Don't have any pics because I took an unintentional swim leaving on Tuesday night and my pack filled completely up with water. Took my phone out after it was soaked and that was all she wrote.

I hit Penns at Cherry Run on Tuesday. Probably walked past you at one point. I did the morning and afternoon thing. Egg laying grannoms swarming all morning into the early afternoon. No fish on them at all. Saw a handful of rises all day.

The bugs I ID'd > grannoms, tan caddis?, a few hendricksons, blue quills, and some march browns. Not a real lot of anything except grannoms and no risers to speak of in the morning or afternoon.

I caught 4 fish > 3 decent trout and a 15" smallmouth...lol. All fish caught working hard nymphing.

Penns is in great shape as you said, and with the water warming it should be better each day with the hatches and rising fish.

Like most times shudda been there blah, blah, blah....lol. In this case shudda been there in the evening.

Good job fooling those picky Penns trout...sorry about the swim, though. Always good to bring a extra set of dry clothes.

Thanks for the report.

 

[Fredrick]

I bet that smallie was fun on the 4 wt . Lets hope it doesn't get blown out right before the jam .

 

[martin0206]

I actually talked to another guy who said he caught a smallie that day too. I did see a few march browns on Tuesday as well. I thought I saw some Blue Quills on Monday and then on Tuesday I caught a few that looked like size 18 or so Olives. I took a picture of some of the ones I thought were Quill Gordons and showed it to a guy in feathered hook who confirmed but then I dunked the phone and there went that pic..haha. I talked to some guys who did well with grannoms early in the day but I couldn't get anything and I tried on the surface, with a pupa and swinging a soft hackle too. Usually do a lot better on grannoms but that's fishing.

I will definitely bring a change a clothes from now on. Despite dripping like a wet rag I still made a pit stop at Elk Creek Cafe for a beer. I can't make a trip there without having at least one of their brookie brown ales.

 

[afishinado]

Fredrick wrote:
I bet that smallie was fun on the 4 wt . Lets hope it doesn't get blown out right before the jam .

^ actually he fought like I was pulling in a wet dish towel.....the cold water I guess.

 

[Luke]

Good report(s), thanks!

Did anybody get a water temperature?

 

[afishinado]

martin0206 wrote:
I actually talked to another guy who said he caught a smallie that day too. I did see a few march browns on Tuesday as well. I thought I saw some Blue Quills on Monday and then on Tuesday I caught a few that looked like size 18 or so Olives. I took a picture of some of the ones I thought were Quill Gordons and showed it to a guy in feathered hook who confirmed but then I dunked the phone and there went that pic..haha. I talked to some guys who did well with grannoms early in the day but I couldn't get anything and I tried on the surface, with a pupa and swinging a soft hackle too. Usually do a lot better on grannoms but that's fishing.

I will definitely bring a change a clothes from now on. Despite dripping like a wet rag I still made a pit stop at Elk Creek Cafe for a beer. I can't make a trip there without having at least one of their brookie brown ales.

One of the great things about fishing Penns is the variety of hatches you will see. I have a little insect net that telescopes out to capture bugs on the water. Pretty geeky, I know....but fun on a stream like Penns.

The Blue Quills look like BWOs (actually Baetis), but BQs have three tails instead of the two with Baetis.

The Penns Creek March Browns are unmistakable since they are huge size 10 or you can even tie them on a size 10 2xl hook and not be too big.

Also ID'd some male hendricksons aka red quill.

There were thousands of egg-laying grannom in swarms, but the fish probably had enough since there were no risers to them. There was also a lighter colored caddis here and there, but I never caught one. I'll call it a generic tan caddis.

Didn't see any Quill Gordons, a little late for them but I have no doubt there are some still around.

Fun day like I said and the best fishing is yet to come when the fish start rising on a regular basis.

Elk Creek Cafe....good choice. Nothing better than a cold brown ale and an Elk Creek Burger (even in wet clothes)!

Sounds like a great two days spent on Penns. Good for you......

 

[martin0206]

Ahh I need to get one of those bug nets. I flail around like an idiot trying to catch them in the air. They were probably blue quills then. I thought the body was darker on a blue quill and these bodies weren't very dark, I didn't think they were olives but wasn't confident enough to say blue quill. I saw the tan caddis around as well. I enjoy figuring out the different bugs I see but just need to work more on my ID.

 

[martin0206]

I didn't take a water temperature other than I know when I fell in it was damn cold!

 

[Hook_Jaw]

Easy place to fall anywhere in penns you put in a full day in you know you fished it like wading walking on ice I have studs all in my boots still slide all around.