Saucon Creek, Northampton 7-6-14

[Foxgap239]

Arrived at 530 at my normal early monring spot. It was cool for a July morning but I had the place to myself. Didn't temp the water but my guess was low 60's and a very nice flow. This time of year I like to nymph my way until I see the trico cloud although being that things were all late this year I wasn't sure I'd see tricos. As it turned out, I didn't see them but a couple of guys that walked by me later in the morning said they saw a ton of bugs but no fish rising to them.

I hooked 2 smallish fish within the first 10 minutes and then proceeded to not get a sniff for the next 90 minutes. Very unusual for me with my goto fly on this stretch of water. I moved to another tried and true spot, also no joy. I went to my final spot where I like to fish tricos and while I was waiting the guy you all know as "Saucon Danny" walked up and struck up a conversation. I asked if tricos had started yet and he responded yeah but there are no fish left to eat them. I asked him what he meant and his response was that the creek had suffered a "poaching" epidemic and no one was bothering to enforce the regs. He said he personally saw guys with stringers and bait in areas where bait is not allowed. I'm not usually one to buy that kind of a statement but when I couple the fact that I hooked a total of 3 fish and areas on a Sunday during tricos where it feels like opening day, there were no other guys except me and Danny who wasn't really even fishing. I have to say, his words seem to ring true.

Now, I'll be the first to admit that I have had my troubles and been skunked during trcio season more than once here but I'm at least usually being frustrated by rising fish not taking my fly. This time there were no rising fish to speak of in a stretch where that hasn't been an issue in recent years during my visits. Is anyone hearing or experiencing similar things up there?

 

[fly_flinger]

I'd be curious to know what stretch you were on as I too have been experiencing fewer fish than normal and thought it was my lacking fishing skills. Hopefully the trout are just being more selective and in a freezer.

 

[clydeman]

I have noticed fewer fish rising and certainly much poorer catch rate this season. Areas where I can normally guarantee some fish are poor.
I fished it two weeks ago for four hours and hooked two fish - one nice brown of about 14". The pool at the top of the trophy trout section seems empty of fish.
Then again maybe it is my bad fishing.

 

[englishprof]

I know the Fox's fishing ability well. Coupled with the other comments, I believe a State stakeout is in order!!!!!

 

[SlowMutants]

Like any stream in the LV there is a fair amount of poaching. I've seen Asian guys from NY retrieving trot lines for eels in the park and saw some spin guys taking out a 16 incher on Sunday (legally). That being said I'm not sure the impact from poaching would be enough to cause some kind of population collapse. It would take people carrying full stringers on a regular basis to do that.

In general I just find it to be a fickle stream. Some days are great and others leave you frustrated.

I believe they are doing a fish survey on the creek this summer.

 

[LouM]

I went there on a holiday weekend once many years ago. The natives were bait fishing and you couldn't get a spot so I moved on.
I called WCO and he said are they at it again I'll send my deputy over there on Monday. So they are aware of the violators and yet it appears as though nothing is being done.
20+ yrs ago it was a great stream but not any more.

 

[SBecker]

I don't know the stretch you fished but I fished on Sunday and caught plenty of fish. Additionally, there were clouds of tricos and fish feeding on them. I had no interest in them though. Fox you can shoot me a pm and I will give ya more info.

One thing I did notice was a bunch of FF with a lack of stream manners.