Spring Creek, Centre County, 1/12/13

[skeeter]

Fished all around Shiloh Road from 8 till 4. Water temp was in the mid 40s, air was mid 30s. Flow was about 70 cfs @ Houserville. The water was slightly stained but cleared nicely as the day progressed to a mossy green tint in the deeper runs and pools. Caught about 10 nicely sized browns, not many dinks, on eggs and stones. I looked hard on rocks for some NZ Mud Snails but couldn't ID any. Not to say they're not there, I was just trying to train my eye for future knowledge. This was only my second chance to fish SC and its been about two years since my first time, but has there always been that amount of hydrilla-like moss on the stream bottom? Seemed to be a lot more prevalent on this trip. Almost every cast I was cleaning off my nymphs.

Tight lines!
Pat

 

[Fishidiot]

Excellent report Pat.

Not sure about weeds this year vs most years however Spring Creek has always been weedy in my memory esp the smaller weeds that grow on rocks and extend out about an inch or so (not sure what they're called). Nymphing usually requires a lot of picking of these guys off your hook, even in fast water. Some types of aquatic vegetation, esp algae, is seasonal and tends to get thick in late winter and then die off by mid springtime. It's also possible that that section of SC may be seeing some subtle shifts in water chemistry or nutrients and this may be at play as well.
Hopefully some of the guys who live up there and keep a close eye on SC will chime in about the weeds.

 

[nymphingmaniac]

What I saw two weeks ago looked normal at benner
Nothing unusual at fishermans paradise (today) or rock road (Friday)

 

[BrookieChaser]

Did you see any noticeable signs of the fuel spill?

 

[skeeter]

Like I said, it was my second time fishing SC, and I just didn't recall the prevalence sub-aquatic veg my first time . Good to know, glad its always there.

Eitherway, a fuel spill? I didn't notice any signs of a fuel spill and I didn't hear anything about that. Where did that occur?

The only thing that was really interesting was just downstream of Rock Road parking lot that accesses the trail. There is a shed-like structure with chain link fence around it that apparently houses a spring. Well when me and my buddy fished through that area on Sunday, that spring was pouring sediment laden spring water into SC. Of course on Saturday was the big melt with the rain so there might have been some affects from that. Just something for the locals to keep an eye on or maybe its been like that for a long time. There are a number of things that could be causing it, sinkholes/subsistence, earthwork nearby or 10 miles away, etc. with karst nothing would surprise me.

 

[nymphingmaniac]

no signs of the spill. The spill was small and paradise is quite far downstream.

 

[allan_s]

That fenced in area is a spring house, that is actually the Benner Spring. It shoots out mud anytime it rains now, started after the university airport extended runway years ago. It would be nice for the state to investigate to exactly where the source is, probably wouldn't be to hard.

 

[mario66pens]

That is interesting allan, never knew that about the airport

 

[kelso2340]

I was told that you are allowed to fish downtown bellefonte by the park. Is this true?

 

[nymphingmaniac]

Yes it was opened downstream of the high st bridge. Pretty ugly area though. It will improve soon. Bellefonte has a plan to remove the abandoned factory and construct a river walk. I imagine fishing around there will be disrupted once construction starts

 

[moto450]

that is good to know.

 

[troutbert]

kelso2340 wrote:
I was told that you are allowed to fish downtown bellefonte by the park. Is this true?

Below the park is now open.

In the park is still closed.