Pickering Creek, ____ Co., 5/23/2010

[SulphurKing]

Fished Pickering on Saturday afternoon from 4 to 9. This was my first time to the creek (a sin for sure but I only get out rarely these days and usually want to hit a stream I know). I enjoyed it very much. Air temp was low 70's with a passing light shower to sun and back again. Didn't have a thermometer for water temp. A great day to be out on the water!

Trout were rising regularly in the pools. Most were taken with very small midge dry or small BWO emerger patterns. Sporatic mayfly action but there was a very short sulphur hatch at dark but it was limited in productivity. At dusk there was a real mess of very small white midges above the water. All in all I landed about 8 brown trout and missed a half-dozen more because of the small flies. In the slower stretches the fish really wanted a good presentation and, even then, would sometimes 'nose' the fly. I didn't expect them to be so educated on Pickering...

SNAKE NOTE: For those of you who know the stream you may have named these fellas but they gave me a second thought about being in the water. Mid-way through the regulation area on the stone work around the pedestrian bridge I saw two snakes that, I was told by a fisherman there, were Water Mocassins. Doing my research today on the net makes me wonder -- they looked like Mocassins and didn't mind the water but their range is only supposed to be Virginia. Anyone who fishes Pickering met these friends and know what they are?

Hope you find this helpful. Let me know if you know the snakes - I'll try to post pics later. Tight lines.

 

[kyle1248]

Thinking of going over there tonight. Never saw the snakes before and really hope I don't see them. Snakes freak me out.

 

[SulphurKing]

The more research I do the more it seems improbably these were actually water mocassin or Cottonmouth snakes. The guy I was talking to was from the South (Carolina I think) where water mocassins are more prevalent so maybe that's why he thought of it... Not sure what it is yet but seems less likely that it was anything to be too concerned about.... I will check the pics tonight though...

 

[JKnPA]

If you post the picture, I'm sure someone will correctly identify it!
I think there are a few 'snake people' here...... :roll:

 

[Van_Cleaver]

I have to chime in here. I grew up a mile from the Pickering, started fishing it in the fifties, and went to a day camp where the stream ran through the camp. There were always a lot of common water snakes there, and still are. Never did I see or hear of a water moccasin. Once in a while you would hear about a copperhead, which usually turned out to be a Milk snake. My guess is common water snake.

 

[Raven456]

There are some pretty big brown waters snakes that like to sunbathe on the boulders in Pickering. I seem them swimming in the calmer pools as well throughout the warmer months. They do look a bit similar to Mocs and can be pretty agressive in close quarters. Their hiss can scare the heck out of you. I think it's safe to say that Pickering is safe.

 

[mystillwater]

we see snakes there pretty commonly. not sure of the variety because i like to keep about 50 yards between me and the nearest one...

 

[Fishidiot]

There are no water moccasins in PA. The farthest north they're found is tidewater Virginia.

Otherwise, a nice report. Please remember to include the county in which you fished in the title subject line.

 

[mute]

Northern Water Snakes, nothing more.

 

[bkasten]

I see snakes over at Valley all the time. They are usually up in the trees and then drop into the water if you get too close. I have no idea what they are but they freak me out as well. I am always very cautious when walking through brush and entering the steam near small bushes and trees.