Saucon Creek, Northampton County, 4/4/2022

[JimNovo]

Weather was low 50s with a sporadic wind.
Water was clear even after spotty showers the day before. Nice flows!
Fished from 11-5 in the Trophy Trout section.

Nymphed several deep runs with no success.
Ended in a long slow pool with sporadic risers who became more consistent when the breeze died and air temp hit its maximum. Saw midges, olives and caddis. The Browns hit my olive CDC loopwing emerger. But when the temperature dropped, everything stopped.

Should be a lot of fun when temps get warmer.
Gotta love dry fly action in April!

 

[DaveKile]

Thanks @JimNovo for sharing your report. I have not been to Saucon Creek. I need to put it on my list this year.

 

[Sylvaneous]

I used to flyfish during lunch at the Silvex St. bridge. It is the most 'rising-est' stream in the Lehigh Valley. If you've never been there, fish in the Silvex St. bridge area. then fish the run underneath the road bridge that is, in turn, under I-78. Then go down into the park were the big rock wall and road run along the creek down to the swinging suspension bridge. Last spot would be the run under the next road bridge down to the DEEP hole under the railroad bridge.
I haven't been there for like 20 years. I miss those creeks, especially Saucon and Cedar. Where else besides Cedar can you fish for wild trout in a legit limestone spring creek on totally public park land and have it just about always to yourself.

 

[Nymph-wristed]

I used to flyfish during lunch at the Silvex St. bridge. It is the most 'rising-est' stream in the Lehigh Valley. If you've never been there, fish in the Silvex St. bridge area. then fish the run underneath the road bridge that is, in turn, under I-78. Then go down into the park were the big rock wall and road run along the creek down to the swinging suspension bridge. Last spot would be the run under the next road bridge down to the DEEP hole under the railroad bridge.
I haven't been there for like 20 years. I miss those creeks, especially Saucon and Cedar. Where else besides Cedar can you fish for wild trout in a legit limestone spring creek on totally public park land and have it just about always to yourself.

A lot has changed in 20 years, especially the place to yourself thing! This is certainly one creek among many in the area that got too much love during the pandemic. I have been pulling bobbers and 4 inch Rapalas out of trees for the last two years!

 

[CLSports]

Yeah, Saucon has gone downhill a lot over the last few years. Fish pops are way down. I have been there twice this spring so far and have not seen much. I always talk to a few locals who always seem to be there fishing or just walking around the park area, and they say the same.

 

[Tok610]

Youtuber's/spot burners have been the most unkind to the creek. Covid most definitely increased the traffic but this year 2/21-opening day put more pressure on the park than I have ever seen. Weekends looked like opening day with anglers using any tackle/bait. Id agree with numbers being on a downward trend. To me and i am not a biologist but i do not think there was a significant reproduction with the wild population the past 2-3 years. It is my home creek and one I love and its surely concerning.

 

[Jaybird]

Having a conservation officer pop in and out a little more often wouldn't hurt . But that could be said of every river lake and stream in PA .

 

[5alp]

I went there for the first time on Sunday. I was below the trophy trout section in Hellertown this past Sunday, not the best conditions with wind and occasional snow/rain but I hooked into a few rainbows and one small wild brown. I had spent most of the day on the Bushkill and stopped at the Saucon on my way back home and only had time to hit a few good looking runs. Given this I'm planning on getting back up there and exploring a bit more.

 

[Tok610]

I can count on one hand the amount of times I've saw a WCO on any Lehigh Valley waterway in 15+ years. Ive called/emailed PBFC, ive tried to get the DEP involved in some issues years past and even the BPD. All have mostly fallen on deaf ears. The creek is on the wayside, much like others in the valley. Conservation and protection are in my eyes the only way creeks such as this will have a sustainable future and it seems like the group of like minded people in this area is shrinking. She is by no means a secret but does not need any more anglers with treble hooks, litter bugs and youtubers/social media hero's chasing a 10% off code for a moonshine rod.

 

[wildtrout2]

I can count on one hand the amount of times I've saw a WCO on any Lehigh Valley waterway in 15+ years.

I haven't seen a WCO one time on any of the streams I fish in the last 20 years. Honestly, not one time. I'm okay with that though, considering these are out of the way, non-stocked streams.

 

[Nymph-wristed]

I used to say something when I see something, and not always in the nicest way. I am the same with dogs off leashes in conservatories and such. I am almost 53, so I have learned less confrontational ways of policing when I see something now, even if it's lie. For a family fishing worms in the Heritage section this past summer, for example, the WCO is around all the time, so they want to be aware of regulations....

Like you guys, I have not seen a real one since I was 20 years old.

 

[JeffP]

I have seen 1 my entire life. It was on West Valley Creek near Exton. He checked my license.

 

[gutbucket]

Hey JeffP, I was there on West Valley that day too! First and last time I was checked, ever. About 20 years ago, I think...

 

[JeffP]

Hey JeffP, I was there on West Valley that day too! First and last time I was checked, ever. About 20 years ago, I think...

No way! I think for me it was about between 25 and 30 years ago. I was living with my future wife before getting married. As a teacher with her working, I spent that summer fishing midges for the 1st time. It was interesting fishing in an urban environment. Left my Orvis 1 weight by the stream, You didn't happen to pick it up did you?