Rattlesnake creek, Pike County, 5/1/15

[Woolybuggin]

Parked right off masthope plank road, a good amount is state game land so you can fish more than enough great pools before you start hitting posted signs. Me and my buddy Dan started off slow, using streamers/ stonefly at first with a few hits but mostly no interest. We figured the fish had been worked hard down in the main pools so we headed up steam a ways with only an hour or so of sun light left. Dan had a couple hits on the stone fly then decided to try on a hares ear, he started getting hits immediately. Rainbows were flying out of a small hole before i could even tie a new fly on myself. He missed about 5 fish in that pool (and was quite irritated with his hook setting) and i went down a bit further and got a nice 13 inch rainbow on a little bit lighter hares ear. We had quite a few on that were real feisty and shook the hook dan even had an 18+ incher that broke the line, but its all in good fun. We ran out of light but still were trying pools we previously fished on the way up but with minimum light it made it to difficult and we headed home. The conditions were pretty good today a bit overcast with not much wind at all, about 65* all day water temps had to be in the 50's, we haven't had much rain (a little sprinkle last night) so the stream was at a good level with nice clarity, not many fish rising but a lot holding behind big structure in the slack water. All of our hits were in quicker moving water on smaller flys (stone/hares ear got the most hits) 9-10 foot leader on 7x tippet. Cant forget the 3 bald eagles we saw throughout the night made a great time out there even better!

 

[wildtrout2]

When did they start stocking (rainbows) in Rattlesnake Creek? The Rattlesnake Creek I know (SGL#180) up there is a tiny trickle of a stream with a very small population native brookies. Unless something has changed? I fished that little creek many years ago, back in the 70s.

 

[afishinado]

+1 WT.

I checked it out. Likely WBugger fished Masthope Creek in the Gamelands on Masthope Plank Road, which is stocked. Only a very small part of Rattlesnake, the very end at the confluence of Masthope Creek is within the GL border.

 

[Woolybuggin]

afishin is correct the locals call it mast hope creek but I believe rattlesnake creek is the proper name, its only a small part that is stocked, but that section is beautiful stream with many good spots. They also put browns and brookies in there but everything we had on there looked to be a rainbow. That was my first rainbow on a fly rod, i have yet to catch a brown on the fly but I'm sure it will come in good time.

 

[troutbert]

According to AcmeMapper, none of Rattlesnake Creek is in the SGL.

The SGL boundary is right where Rattlesnake Creek flows into Masthope Creek.

Below that, Masthope Creek is within the SGL for a pretty long distance.

Immediately above the confluence of the two streams, Rattlesnake Creek is not in the SGLs, it's in privately owned land.

If go to AcmeMapper.com, put "Masthope PA" in the search bar, it will bring up a map of that area. You should be able to look at that, figure out where you parked, and see whether you were on Masthope Creek or Rattlesnake Creek.

I'm guessing you were on Masthope Creek.

 

[Woolybuggin]

Yes I'm not sure why but on my phone map it was saying rattlesnake creek, i wasn't sure if it was mast hope creek or if thats just what people would call it because of the location, I appreciate the clarification!

 

[HopBack]

Nymphing 7x!!!??? Your brave, I find that 4x is about right for most nymphing situations. I don't even break out the 5x for dries anymore unless I'm fishing tiny flies. Try it out you might be surprised and you won't speand a fortune loosing your nymphs.

 

[Woolybuggin]

appreciate the info I haven't lost many flies on the 7x although I have been using the 5x more often just for the ease of use, my buddy as lost a few bigger trout on the 7x though so I will let him know to try it out also. We just started fly fishing recently so were still learning the ropes.

 

[RyanR]

Woolybuggin wrote:
appreciate the info I haven't lost many flies on the 7x although I have been using the 5x more often just for the ease of use, my buddy as lost a few bigger trout on the 7x though so I will let him know to try it out also. We just started fly fishing recently so were still learning the ropes.

Stick to 5x, especially if you're just starting out. I've been flyfishing for a number of years and I only use 4x & 5x for trout, occasionally 3x on certain rivers during specific conditions. I hate using flies smaller than #18 and almost never do, even then I wouldn't go lighter than 6x. IMO 7x is mostly unnecessary.