Spring Creek (Fisherman’s Paradise), Centre Co, 5-18-2024

[Prospector]

Time Fished: 1200pm - 200pm

Weather Conditions: Mostly Cloudy, Air Temp 70 degrees

Water Conditions: Very high, 290 cfs, just a little off color, water temp 57 degrees

Insects: saw very few insects

I chose Fisherman’s Paradise since I had a great day the last time I fished Spring 6-7 years ago. That day had a lot of color in the water and the browns were on. I had hoped the overnight rain would have added that color but it did not.

I was able to get one fish to swipe and miss. Later a 6” brown took my streamer and while I had it hooked a bigger brown was chasing him (presumably sizing him up as a meal). I released the little guy. Then down below (almost to the truck) I put a cast in deeper water under a tree and a nice 14” brown ate the streamer.

I was lucky to get 3 strikes in 2 hours with many other people fishing over them since daylight.


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Spring Creek, Centre Co, 5-18-2024

Time Fished: 350pm - 845pm

Weather Conditions: Mostly Cloudy, Air Temp 70 degrees

Water Conditions: Very high, 290 cfs, just a little off color, water temp 57 degrees

Insects: saw very few insects, some sulphurs, some small BWO or Para’s (they both look the same in the air.

I wanted to fish a few miles upstream from Bald Eagle Creek but the current in Spring Creek was wicked down that far. As I drove around everyone I talked to in the parking lots said the stream was dead. Many people I spoke to were from our group at the Jam. I eventually committed to a stretch of water. This section had slower water upstream and more broken water downstream. I went downstream hoping that maybe this area wasn’t hit as hard as the nicer dry fly water.

I started out swinging 2 flies (royal coachman wet and point fly was a prince nymph). As stated, most of the water was riffle but it had nice holding water too. I got to the third pool (it was moving pretty good). About 2/3 of the way to the end a nice brown came to the top chasing the flies but I never felt him. That was the only strike I had and there was a guy below me so I decided to work to get that trout. I replaced the prince nymph with a larger woolly bugger but the large fish never showed. Next pass I changed out the woolly bugger for a black nymph with huge white rubberband legs. I got down to the spot and the brown took the Royal Coachman. He measured 16” and he never struggled as I removed the hook. The next hour I tried various things but didn’t have a strike. I saw an occasional sulphur but it didn’t look promising as 8pm rolled around. At that point I had only seen 2 rises. Mayflies were starting to work but it was slow. A trout chased some baitfish in the shallow bank area about 20 feet away. I could not tell how big it was but the splashing made me feel it had some size. There would be no hatching insects and no spinnerfall.

 

[nymphingmaniac]

Time Fished: 1200pm - 200pm

Weather Conditions: Mostly Cloudy, Air Temp 70 degrees

Water Conditions: Very high, 290 cfs, just a little off color, water temp 57 degrees

Insects: saw very few insects

I chose Fisherman’s Paradise since I had a great day the last time I fished Spring 6-7 years ago. That day had a lot of color in the water and the browns were on. I had hoped the overnight rain would have added that color but it did not.

I was able to get one fish to swipe and miss. Later a 6” brown took my streamer and while I had it hooked a bigger brown was chasing him (presumably sizing him up as a meal). I released the little guy. Then down below (almost to the truck) I put a cast in deeper water under a tree and a nice 14” brown ate the streamer.

I was lucky to get 3 strikes in 2 hours with many other people fishing over them since daylight.


=================
Spring Creek, Centre Co, 5-18-2024

Time Fished: 350pm - 845pm

Weather Conditions: Mostly Cloudy, Air Temp 70 degrees

Water Conditions: Very high, 290 cfs, just a little off color, water temp 57 degrees

Insects: saw very few insects, some sulphurs, some small BWO or Para’s (they both look the same in the air.

I wanted to fish a few miles upstream from Bald Eagle Creek but the current in Spring Creek was wicked down that far. As I drove around everyone I talked to in the parking lots said the stream was dead. Many people I spoke to were from our group at the Jam. I eventually committed to a stretch of water. This section had slower water upstream and more broken water downstream. I went downstream hoping that maybe this area wasn’t hit as hard as the nicer dry fly water.

I started out swinging 2 flies (royal coachman wet and point fly was a prince nymph). As stated, most of the water was riffle but it had nice holding water too. I got to the third pool (it was moving pretty good). About 2/3 of the way to the end a nice brown came to the top chasing the flies but I never felt him. That was the only strike I had and there was a guy below me so I decided to work to get that trout. I replaced the prince nymph with a larger woolly bugger but the large fish never showed. Next pass I changed out the woolly bugger for a black nymph with huge white rubberband legs. I got down to the spot and the brown took the Royal Coachman. He measured 16” and he never struggled as I removed the hook. The next hour I tried various things but didn’t have a strike. I saw an occasional sulphur but it didn’t look promising as 8pm rolled around. At that point I had only seen 2 rises. Mayflies were starting to work but it was slow. A trout chased some baitfish in the shallow bank area about 20 feet away. I could not tell how big it was but the splashing made me feel it had some size. There would be no hatching insects and no spinnerfall.

this has been my experience over the last two weeks on Spring Creek. I had a busy two weeks at work so I only fished it 4 times over that period ( I will making up for it in the next two weeks!) but I have passed by upper spring creek about 5 other times in that period. I heard similar reports. light hatches that don't get the large fish up. Only the dinky fish cooperated. I hope they are just late. A shot of warmth coming starting Tuesday. Maybe that will get them going

 

[troutbert]

this has been my experience over the last two weeks on Spring Creek. I had a busy two weeks at work so I only fished it 4 times over that period ( I will making up for it in the next two weeks!) but I have passed by upper spring creek about 5 other times in that period. I heard similar reports. light hatches that don't get the large fish up. Only the dinky fish cooperated. I hope they are just late. A shot of warmth coming starting Tuesday. Maybe that will get them going

Has anyone seen a good sulphur hatch this year on Spring Creek?

 

[dryflyguy]

Sulphers were a no show Thursday evening on spring creek, around where Logan branch comes in.

The spring olives were pretty sparse this year too

 

[NittanyBearcat]

I fished the Spring Creek canyon section last evening, 5/18. I saw just a few sulfurs and no rising fish.

I picked up two on a San Juan worm.

 

[sam]

Great report. It was interesting to hear everyone else's view on Spring Creek last week. I fished it on Wednesday and had one of my best days on the creek ever. I used a dry dropper and got an equal amount of action on the top and bottom. What made the day memorable was me hooking into one of the biggest wild browns I've ever had on the end of my line. I thought I was snagged on a log until I walked over to "the snag," and then my line shot upstream. I battled it for a while, but unfortunately, it broke off. And when I say broke off, I literally mean the hook broke off at the bend.