Spring Creek Centre County, Little J Huntington County, October 1-3

[greenghost]

Spend 3 days fishing both Spring Creek and the Little J. In a nutshell, it was a dry fly fisherman's "wet" dream.

Spring Creek on October 1-2. Water flow was perfect for this time of year. Higher than most autumns. Fish were looking up. I caught dozens of fish all on top. Terrestrials-- ants, beetles and hoppers-- and tiny BWOs size 18 and 20. Good strategy was working the banks with terrestrials and looking for rising fish in slower water with BWOs.

Little J on October 3. Around 20 fish... all on Slate Drake dry. Despite the wind and the leaves on the water (there were a lot, especially for early October), I saw many isos floating on the water's surface... so much for the theory of them only hatching on shoreline rocks. They were definitely hatching on top of the film. Not a lot of rises that I saw, but the fish were keyed in. So much so, they were taking every fly deep (forceps were a necessity) . Many leaped out of the water rushing to the fly. It was a case of fishing the water.

Best dry fly trip to Central PA I've had in many years. Hope the cold front doesn't screw things up. I'm considering going back.

 

[evw659]

Nice report, except it makes me regret not fishing the j today. only reason I didn't is because I have a calc test monday...

 

[1hook]

What part of spring were you on if you don't mind me asking?

 

[greenghost]

In the course of two days I fished from near Bellefonte all the way upstream from Benner Springs. Seriously that stream is polluted with fish. There were many stretches where nothing was happening. So I just moved and fished until I caught something. It didn't seem to matter how close to the road or if I had hike into places like the gorge. I just fished my brains out.

 

[troutbert]

greenghost wrote:
In the course of two days I fished from near Bellefonte all the way upstream from Benner Springs. Seriously that stream is polluted with fish. There were many stretches where nothing was happening. So I just moved and fished until I caught something. It didn't seem to matter how close to the road or if I had hike into places like the gorge. I just fished my brains out.

That's a lot of water.

What was working for you? If that's not "fly burning."

 

[TimRobinsin]

Fished LJ with My friend travis and then Albatross. I fished from 7am until 5pm at the confluence, baree, in spruce creek and up. all I can say is Alby is a dry fly tactician and a hell of a caster.

The name of the game is KEEP MOVING. hit a spot fish it throughly but don't camp out. You will quickly know whether a spot is worth it or not.

Luckily we got some water, when we arrived flows were decent and color was great. streamer action was good early in the morning with BIG streamers. Eventually nymphing became more productive but made sure to carry both my nymphing rig and streamer rig so I could quickly switch depending on the water I was covering. Again, the key to success was KEEP MOVING. From 3pm-5pm it was spectacular. olives on top and slates on the bottom. By noon I had half a dozen, by 5pm it was a solid 30+ fish day. If you can get out be sure you are there around 2pm-6pm the fireworks really take off around 3-5.

I will be posting a video of alby casting & catching on my vimeo channel and I will have a more in-depth write up on my site. get out and fish dudes!

 

[albatross]

Great fishing with you Tim. I think just being in the presence of a champion fly caster was all I needed yesterday. Well, that and the new rod (thanks again). Who would have thought I needed a 10 foot rod to deliver a size 22 dry?

The olives petered out just after you left. I picked up a couple bigger fish on ISO nymphs after you left while working my way back up to the car. An epic day on the water!

 

[greenghost]

troutbert wrote:

greenghost wrote:
In the course of two days I fished from near Bellefonte all the way upstream from Benner Springs. Seriously that stream is polluted with fish. There were many stretches where nothing was happening. So I just moved and fished until I caught something. It didn't seem to matter how close to the road or if I had hike into places like the gorge. I just fished my brains out.

That's a lot of water.

What was working for you? If that's not "fly burning."

Ants, hoppers and beetles for fishing the water, especially close to shoreline cover. When I saw rises in slower water, they were usually taking tiny BWO's, size 18-20.

 

[TimRobinsin]

LOL!

I hesitated to use that word because of it's over-use and because I did not want to blow things out of proportion but, yes, it was indeed epic. I have been sorting through the photo's and I couldn't believe how many good fish I forgot.

I picked up a few on the way back to the car and I agree, ISO nymph definitely produced the largest fish.

what a day.

 

[greenghost]

TimRobinsin wrote:
LOL!

I hesitated to use that word because of it's over-use and because I did not want to blow things out of proportion but, yes, it was indeed epic. I have been sorting through the photo's and I couldn't believe how many good fish I forgot.

I picked up a few on the way back to the car and I agree, ISO nymph definitely produced the largest fish.

what a day.

Glad to see others shared the great fishing I had... even 3 days were not enough!

 

[TimRobinsin]

thanks for sharing GreenGhost. your report was spot on.

 

[TimRobinsin]

two of the videos are up if you want to see Alby in all his glory. the third one will be up tonight after I get back from work. great casting, lots of fun.

Alby LJ 3 from Keystone Fly Guides on Vimeo.

 

[1hook]

I'll be on spring all day tomorrow, hopefully I have similar luck!

 

[1hook]

Just got back, was seeing the same thing as you. Fish holding tight to the banks and was able to take them regularly on ants, hoppers, and I did well on an egg off the back of a big meaty hopper.

Fishes benner spring above the bridge on the way in there and a little right by the parking lot there. Had a great day, lots of fish to hand

 

[Acristickid]

Fished J yesterday. Cahills, olives and a lot of caddis. Good amount of risers. However the leaves were madding.

 

[ryguyfi]

Good job on the vids Tim. Catching fish on dries never gets old. EVER

 

[Lutz]

I second Tim's comment about big streamers in early morning now on the Little J...

 

[TimRobinsin]

Thanks ryan. It wasnt me catchin em on top. That was all albatross! You are right, nothing beats top action!

 

[albatross]

Yeah Ryan, did you see me catching little fish after little fish?

Out of character for me I know...