Prospector
Well-known member
I wouldn't have posted about this stream, but 9 days ago there were 4 vehicles parked at the bridge coupled with the number of times this year that people all over PA have told me they have been fishing this stream and I never mention it....it's clearly well known enough to post here without burning a spot for anyone. Plus I'm sure a number of people who do fish it will appreciate the update. Hopefully this doesn't spin out of control like the first Hell Run stream report back in 2009 (that poor soul paved the way).
Time Fished: 1215pm - 445pm
Weather Conditions: 86 degrees, Sunny and Clear
Water Conditions: Very Clear, Low Flow, 59-60 degrees, depending on where I checked. I didn't fish on July 7 but when I looked off the bridge the flow 8 days ago appeared to be double what is was on this day.. July 15.
Insects: I never saw more than one fly at a time, but I saw many caddis, a few yellow sallies and several of what looked like a very small mayfly.
I walked quite a ways upstream and worked up quite sweat before cutting over the hill. For the first time in my life I fished a small stream without tying on a dry fly at least part of the day. I went totally sub-surface with attractor patterns and natural nymph patterns. I was fishing downstream and, despite wearing camouflage and trying my best to keep a low profile as I approached each likely looking spot, overall I had very few strikes. The holes about the size of a truck hood were not holding even the smaller fish. The water in the larger holes was moving as slow as molasses and despite sinking a fly off a rock overhang and sunken shelves there wasn't much charging out to grab it.
I caught a brown, brook and 2 rainbows and long distance released 3 others. The brook was the biggest at about 8" and I was sure to get him back in the water quickly. I saw no decent sized fish.
I saw boot tracks from the big bend down to the cabins. The tracks were made either that morning or the day before. I skipped the vast majority of the water around the camps but visited with some of the owners while I was there. Eventually I ended up on Hemlock so I could check the temp (64 degrees upstream of where Porcupine came in). I fished just a few holes on Hemlock and had 2 strikes and one was a chub.
Porcupine is a very nice stream. Many of the best spots protect the fish with limbs and logs. I'd say you should surely wait until the water level comes back up and be sure to release your fish quickly. Despite the cold water temps the fish did not dart off like I would have expected. The ones I photo, I set my rod down and let the fish rest while I pull out the camera and quickly get the picture and release it. Based on what I saw you may want to reserve that for when air temps fall back to the 70s or below or don't do it at all. I rarely take pictures of fish so I don't really know the norm, but it didn't seem right.
I didn't see any birds of prey but there were mink tracks all over.
Time Fished: 1215pm - 445pm
Weather Conditions: 86 degrees, Sunny and Clear
Water Conditions: Very Clear, Low Flow, 59-60 degrees, depending on where I checked. I didn't fish on July 7 but when I looked off the bridge the flow 8 days ago appeared to be double what is was on this day.. July 15.
Insects: I never saw more than one fly at a time, but I saw many caddis, a few yellow sallies and several of what looked like a very small mayfly.
I walked quite a ways upstream and worked up quite sweat before cutting over the hill. For the first time in my life I fished a small stream without tying on a dry fly at least part of the day. I went totally sub-surface with attractor patterns and natural nymph patterns. I was fishing downstream and, despite wearing camouflage and trying my best to keep a low profile as I approached each likely looking spot, overall I had very few strikes. The holes about the size of a truck hood were not holding even the smaller fish. The water in the larger holes was moving as slow as molasses and despite sinking a fly off a rock overhang and sunken shelves there wasn't much charging out to grab it.
I caught a brown, brook and 2 rainbows and long distance released 3 others. The brook was the biggest at about 8" and I was sure to get him back in the water quickly. I saw no decent sized fish.
I saw boot tracks from the big bend down to the cabins. The tracks were made either that morning or the day before. I skipped the vast majority of the water around the camps but visited with some of the owners while I was there. Eventually I ended up on Hemlock so I could check the temp (64 degrees upstream of where Porcupine came in). I fished just a few holes on Hemlock and had 2 strikes and one was a chub.
Porcupine is a very nice stream. Many of the best spots protect the fish with limbs and logs. I'd say you should surely wait until the water level comes back up and be sure to release your fish quickly. Despite the cold water temps the fish did not dart off like I would have expected. The ones I photo, I set my rod down and let the fish rest while I pull out the camera and quickly get the picture and release it. Based on what I saw you may want to reserve that for when air temps fall back to the 70s or below or don't do it at all. I rarely take pictures of fish so I don't really know the norm, but it didn't seem right.
I didn't see any birds of prey but there were mink tracks all over.
