Slippery Rock Creek FFO, Lawrence Co, 6-25-22

Prospector

Prospector

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Butler Co home, Forest Co camp
This evening I went to SR creek to see if the water was cool enough to fish. Water temp in the main creek was 74 degrees. From fishing here a lot as a kid I knew how many fish congregate at the mouth of the tribs (above and below the bridge).

Skunk Run, below the bridge always had the biggest group (20-30). Today Skunk Run had a temp of 62 and there was not one trout at the mouth.

The Unnamed Trib above the bridge only has half the flow of Skunk run but it was 60 degrees. Again no trout at the mouth.

I concluded there are no trout in this stretch, maybe a couple stragglers that were barely hanging on.

I fished for smallmouth but I never had a strike.

This area has evolved from a nice FFO area with many knowledgeable anglers to an area to bring the kids to play on the shore. Skip and throw rocks. In fairness I typically don’t find myself here until mid June or later. I did see stoneflies & mayflies

Has anyone had a good fishing experience on this half mile of water this season?
 
I hooked into two trout when I went in early June, but there didn't seem to be much activity at all. I've had better luck upstream in the open water section.
 
I haven't had good fishing there in over 20 years!
Although I haven't tried it very much lately.
Beating a dead horse gets old!
 
I've always felt kinda bad for the fish in that stretch.
You know the water is going to get very warm in summer.
But the fish are blocked from moving upstream by the dam at Heinz camp.
And have nowhere to go, other than seek some relief from those two small runs
 
I’m a fly fishing newbie and live in this area. Is there anywhere to fish for trout on the Slippery Rock during the summer or is the water essentially too warm for trout?
 
Lionsbluewhite said:
I’m a fly fishing newbie and live in this area. Is there anywhere to fish for trout on the Slippery Rock during the summer or is the water essentially too warm for trout?
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Hi Lions,
Since this is a Stream Report forum, I recommend a look at some of the other Forums for this discussion. (I apologize for going against my own recommendation.) Summer fishing for trout has been discussed since the old-timers ever wetted a flyline. Generally, 67-70 DegF for prolonged periods are considered too stressful for hooked and played trout. That said, if you, friends, or family like to eat trout, there's nothing wrong with keeping 3 from any of the DHALO sections that are typically in yours and every PA county. Otherwise, summer flyfishing means bass, panfish, and even carp in warm water and rivers.
Regards,
Glenn
 
Lionsbluewhite said:
I’m a fly fishing newbie and live in this area. Is there anywhere to fish for trout on the Slippery Rock during the summer or is the water essentially too warm for trout?
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Yes, The Slippery Rock creek gets too warm for trout in summer. The smallmouth bass fishing can be good in some places. The White Fly hatch (sometime in first 2 weeks in Aug) is the best time to catch the smallmouth bite. However you don’t need to limit yourself to that timeframe. They are receptive through the summer.

I believe a contributor to the warm water in the SR are the various dams. Here’s 5… Crolls Mills, Rt 173, Frew Mill road, McConnells Mills, Heinz Camp. I might have missed a few. There are some cold water refuge locations but the dams make it hard for fish to freely move to colder water.

6xAdams(Jones) gave sound advice.
 
Prospector said:
The White Fly hatch (sometime in first 2 weeks in Aug) is the best time to catch the smallmouth bite.
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Anyone serious about hitting the whiteflies should start looking out for them the last week of July. It's as simple as checking the various bridges for dead flies in the morning.
 
I’ve fished the white fly there, comes off pretty heavy. You won’t miss it if it’s happening while your there. Thing is they comes off near or at dark- I don’t like fishing in the dark. I’d say a white mayfly size 10,12,14 will work fine. Haven’t been there in probably 8-10 years.
 
Lionsbluewhite said:
So can you show me what a white fly looks like so that I can get a few and be ready to go.
Regards,
JP
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The fish are not picky. White Wulffs in #14-10 are good choice if you like classic dries. Small panfish poppers or flies tied with foam are good choices as they stay floating and are less to fuss around with in the dark.

Again, anything floating will work. Things like Clouser Floating Minnows can be good too.
 
Acristickid said:
Thing is they comes off near or at dark- I don’t like fishing in the dark.
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Yeah, a lot of people expect it much earlier than that and end up getting discouraged and leave. The intensity of the hatch accelerates quickly right before dark. It goes from a few bugs to millions very quickly, but you might only have 20 minutes of light with both bugs and feeding fish, then maybe another 20-30 minutes after dark of peak fishing. The window in which you see (or hear) a lot of rising fish is relatively brief.
 
Pardon all my questions but are these white flies in play for both trout and smallmouths at this time of year and time of day or night?
 
Lionsbluewhite said:
Pardon all my questions but are these white flies in play for both trout and smallmouths at this time of year and time of day or night?
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Well that goes back to the original discussion and the fact that Slippery Rock really isn't trout water in the summer. Sure you might find some trout still around and get a few when the white flies are hatching but smallmouth are where the action is.
 
Lionsbluewhite said:
So can you show me what a white fly looks like so that I can get a few and be ready to go.
Regards,
JP
Click to expand...
Aside from the white fly hatch you can have a 5-10 bass evening anytime in the summer. I feel poppers are better than just drifting a dry fly. Bass like the movement.

You will just have to find the holes where the bass hang out. Not hard.
 
There is also a hexegenia hatch in August that can overlap with the white flies. Don't be afraid to throw a #4 mayfly...
 
I've only fished the FFO section. I've fished it a lot over the years but not much in the last three years. Seemed every time I went, it was blown out and I headed up to the Neshannock. The area below the Heinz Camp Rd. bridge is rocky and difficult to wade. If fish aren't rising, it can be difficult. Before the bridge, I've done well on using Hare's Ears and Bead Head Hare's Ears nymphs. Did well one year in early June with Hare's Ears before a sulphur hatch. I've mainly used Adams and caddis for dry patterns. I've fished it in the Fall and have caught a few. Adams and Light Cahills should work for the white Mayfly hatch. Might be twenty years ago now, but fishing there one late May afternoon, I was on the bridge conversing with two gentlemen older than me at the time. The one fellow said that there were about eight guys that helped stocked that section and he was the youngest at 72. He said most of the fish were put in at the bridge. I would see guys fishing about a hundred yards up from the bridge but not many lately. I have caught smallmouth in that section below the bridge in the summer. I was using a ***** Creek stonefly pattern.
 
SRC is a put-and-take trout stream. imo trout fishing is a waste of time after early June. Bass fishing can hit or miss. Whiteflies help turn it on for sure. There are muskies in the creek too if you know where to look. Always carp. Stream has always been somewhat of an enigma to me over the years, especially for fly fishing. Not consistent at all. I've seen live crayfish anglers make a killing on the stream throughout the summer. If I knew how to flyfish the crayfish patterns I suppose I wouldn't be bitching and moaning so much. lol
 
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