Ridley Creek, Delaware Co. 4-10-2011

[Van_Cleaver]

Fished the upper section of open water for a few hrs. starting around 1:30 or so. Mostly coudy weather in the low sixties; the water temp was 50. Lots of bugs in the air at times, a large gray stone being most prominent. Took me a little while to figure things out as it was first fly fishing outing. My best fly was a no 14 soft hackle with a gray body. Landed a few rainbow, a few browns, and one small brook trout. My first fish was my best, a 13'' brown that looked like a hold over. Had to dodge a lot of bait fishermen, but managed to find a couple nice spots, and the scenery in the upper park is always a treat. If only the stream fished as good as it looks. Anyway, there were plenty of fish, though they seemed a little more shell shocked than usual. I'm hoping we keep getting rain. On a positive note, a few of the anglers I encountered were actually releasing fish, although I only noticed a couple fish being caught in my travels.

 

[Fredrick]

Nice to see your getting back in the saddle . Thxs for the report

 

[Van_Cleaver]

Between work and my music schedule it has been hard to find the time. BTW, my band will be appearing at Central Park in Springfield this Sat. Looks like we are about to get another shot of rain and the timing couldn't be better. (unless you wanted to fish this afternoon) The upper part of Ridley is supposed to be stocked today, and the weather should be nasty. With luck it will dirty up the water to the point that the meat fishermen actually have to fish for the trout, thus ensuring a higher than normal survival rate. I'll try to investigate later in the week.
Another Del Co. Frederick

 

[englishprof]

Love the upper section of Ridley which can be accessed by walking down an extremely steep trail from one of the Park's parking areas. The climb back up is a bit@&. Caught a bunch there last year including a small Brook Trout which apparently was stocked by some club. I believe many of the fish in ths section are holdovers which moved. Can't believe the State guys are going to stock down there. It's beautiful and pretty damn remote for Delaware County. Any of you guys know if it actually was stocked today given the weather?

 

[Van_Cleaver]

I went to check out the creek late afternoon (2:30), and it was still really off colored and high. I didn't take out my fly rod, though I was tempted, as the clarity was a little better at 4:30 when I left. The anglers were pouring in when I got back to the truck, so i just bagged it. Guessing it was stocked, since I talked to a minnow fisherman that took five, but even with spinning gear I didn't move many fish; landed one nice rainbow just above the bridge (Gradyville). Took a nice walk upstream, but the water was a bit high to read properly, and since I don't know that area really well it wasn't all that exciting, though it is pretty scenic for Del. Co. What was encouraging was the hatch of size 16 tan caddis that came off steadily, though I didn't see any real risers. Some stones mixed in as well. Tomorrow should fish well, though I am happy to be working again, so I won't be out.

 

[Van_Cleaver]

Fished above the Gradyville Bridge to way down into the park from 8:30 to late afternoon. Drizzle and rain almost the whole time, and the air was in the low to mid fifties. Water temp was 52; running a bit high, but dead clear. Fish were tearing up every fly I tossed, and had my most productive day ever on this stream. It was definitely stocked on Sat. There were fish spread out everywhere however, and I didn't realize til I hit the "High Bank" that most of the fish I was catching were in there before the latest plant. One of the guys that helped told me that was where they started on the Sat. stocking. Anyway, best flies were a bh soft hackle in 14, 16, and a 14 Z-wing caddis. Everything I tried had it's moments; dead drift (especially in the fast water) swinging, and drifting with subtle twitches. Caught mostly rainbows, about 3-1 ratio over the browns. Best fish went 14'', but there were a lot of chunky12-13'' specimens, as well. The least no. were the brookies, and I still got around a dozen of them; all short but fat; courtesey of Delco Anglers. I was told they were planted up by the Golf course, but they were a ways down below Gradyville bridge as well. Got cold and wet, but had a blast with my GL-3 3-wt.

 

[Van_Cleaver]

Apologies for reposting this, I was really tired and forgot to re date it so it looked like a comment, rather than a report.

Fished above the Gradyville Bridge to way down into the park from 8:30 to late afternoon. Drizzle and rain almost the whole time, and the air was in the low to mid fifties. Water temp was 52; running a bit high, but dead clear. Fish were tearing up every fly I tossed, and had my most productive day ever on this stream. It was definitely stocked on Sat. There were fish spread out everywhere however, and I didn't realize til I hit the "High Bank" that most of the fish I was catching were in there before the latest plant. One of the guys that helped told me that was where they started on the Sat. stocking. Anyway, best flies were a bh soft hackle in 14, 16, and a 14 Z-wing caddis. Everything I tried had it's moments; dead drift (especially in the fast water) swinging, and drifting with subtle twitches. Caught mostly rainbows, about 3-1 ratio over the browns. Best fish went 14'', but there were a lot of chunky12-13'' specimens, as well. The least no. were the brookies, and I still got around a dozen of them; all short but fat; courtesey of Delco Anglers. I was told they were planted up by the Golf course, but they were a ways down below Gradyville bridge as well. Got cold and wet, but had a blast with my GL-3 3-wt.