Spring Creek Centre Co. 3/10/2010

[Alpabuck]

Made the trip out to State College to fish Spring for the first time. Spring Creek in awesome! I did quite well taking fish with Olives which hatched at a pretty good clip for about 45min, and the rest of the day I spent midging which was productive as well. I really need to learn to fish nymphs better because I struggled big time in that area today. It was an awesome day to be on the water and 13 fish for my first time there I think is pretty good. I still cant get over how many fish are in that stream. Here's a nice pic of Spring Creek brown!

 

[jayL]

Nice outing and report.

How did the snow pack look? I am hoping the last of it melts soon.

 

[Alpabuck]

The last of the snow should be melting soon. I'd think with the rain forecasted for the next few days it should pretty melt whats left. The rain will have a greater impact on the stream then whats left of the snow.

 

[MKern]

Great outcome for your first time on Spring.

IMO, this is the best time to fish Spring. The fishing is great, less guys, and the fish fight a lot harder than they will in a month (conditioned).

 

[PennKev]

The fishing is great, less guys, and the fish fight a lot harder than they will in a month (conditioned).

There was no shortage of guys out fishing on Spring this past weekend. It was like a mid April weekend.

For what it is worth, the only snow left this past weekend was on the shady sides of the hills and mountains. I'd imagine there is even less now.

Kev

 

[MKern]

PennKev,

At the location I was at there was about half the guys as usual. I've seen more guys in July on a weekday too.

I bet it's going to be packed this weekend rain or shine.

 

[troutslammer]

last weekend benner springs was full , no more room for parking when we left ! once the olives really kick in , ikt will be packed from then on !

 

[MKern]

That's where I was.

Normally when I go up there the cars are way up the road. I was the only one who parked there.

 

[Alpabuck]

There was one spot when I got there at around 3pm

 

[pcray1231]

There's not many "spots" there. If they aren't lining the road going up the hill, it's not crowded by Spring Creek standards.

 

[MKern]

I left at 2:30, must have got busy after that.

 

[jayL]

What time did you arrive, Mkern? My guess is that we have different ideas of crowded. There was a period between 10:30 and 1:30 or so that it exceeded my threshold. When I drive three hours, I don't want to be within earshot of anyone.

 

[MKern]

I was there from 10:30 -- 2:30 and I was the only car parked up the road (I didn't have to be, but I like my car space).

Most of the fishermen that were there were in groups, and over half of the ones I saw were spin casters, which limits the water that they were fishing.

I fished all of my favorite spots, and usually was the only one in sight.

If I was fishing dries, I would have had my favorite spots for that open too.

Less than 10 cars is a good day at Benner. Like pcrey said, typically the vehicles are parked on both sides of the road for like 70 yards.

 

[MKern]

There is one spot on Spring that I've only seen people on once, and I used to fish it once a week.

Caught a lot of fish there too. Once 9 fish in 11 cast in the same riffle.

 

[jayL]

I know there was room downstream, but it's about the illusion of solitude for me. I'd rather go and be the only car in another parking lot and see as many anglers on the stream. It just makes me happier.

If I see more than 5 or 6 cars in the lot, I roll.

 

[JackM]

At Benner Springs, 5 cars could ruin your day and 20 cars can be AOK. It all depends upon where they are all fishing. You never know until you walk the stream. That said, more cars probably means more angler encounters, and, as a player of odds, I'd rather go elsewhere too.

 

[dryflyguy]

I also fished spring creek wednesday. Downstream of the paradise.
Did well on midges in the morning. Around 1:30, the fish got going pretty well to BWO's for about 45 minutes - while it was cloudy.
Then the sun came out, and that was pretty much it for risers for the rest of the day. I caught a dozen while the gettin was good though.

That was about as crowded as I've ever seen spring creek in march.
Maybe it was the nice weather.

 

[skybay]

Good thread,
anybody photographed insects there?

 

[MKern]

Skybay,
I saw a couple with a bug net catching midges and bwo as I was walking out. I know oldlefty has some pics.

 

[pcray1231]

Instead of adding a new topic, I'll piggyback here. Mods, if you'd rather it have its own topic, feel free.

I was out on Saturday, the 13th, from about 11 till a little after 3:00. Driving rain all day. It wasn't crowded but there were 6 or 7 guys out from 550 up to the Paradise. Water started off a bit high and green, and slowly changed to brown by the time I left. I ended up with 9, all browns, including one that probably went 17-18" and 2 in the 14-15" class. Sorry, no pictures, it wasn't the "camera" sort of day. Most fish were caught pounding sculpins to the banks. There were a handful of sporadic risers in the back eddy's, and I somehow managed 2 on top, including the biggest one. I did not see a single BWO all day, but thats what I caught the risers on.