Spruce Creek 5/1/09-5/3/09 Wayne's Private Section

[kheher01]

Fished with a group of 12 guys on three separate sections of the stream named "the cabin", "the cottage", and "Wayne's Private." First time on the stream but would guess flows were normal to slighly low. Water was clear. Weather was picture perfect on Friday night, partly cloudy/(sunny?) on Saturday and colder with light rain showers on Sunday.

Fishing was good with more hook-ups coming below the surface vs. above. Fish were taken on a variety of nymphs. Patterns mentioned most frequently to me were bead head prince size 12-16, and green caddis pupa 14-16. I personally fished a size 12 copper john below a 16 pheasant tail "crashing" the flies into the turbulent water below the various jack jams, with most of my fishing coming on the copper john. When fishing the riffles, runs, and glides, I had success fishing a chartruse stimluator with a size 18 bead head trailer, taking fish on both flies.

Overall hatch activity was sporadic at best, with evening "action" between 6-8 and late morning from 10-1. I fished a tan 16 elk hair with a cdc caddis emerger behind it floating in the film, both taking fish. During the evening hours I heard guys mention success with a sulphur pattern.

One of the best fisherman on the trip caught trout throughout the day Saturday with a size 14 black "griffith's" parachute pattern and below with a size 16 soft hackle, but between you and me he could probably bring them to the net with a shoe on the end of his line.

Good guys, good food, good fishing, good trip.

Tight lines

 

[tomgamber]

12 guys on spruce...sounds like opening day...

 

[Bruno]

What did that cost you? 500 bucks ?

 

[Fishidiot]

kheher,
Welcome to the PaFlyfish forum and thanks for the stream report. In the event you haven't had a chance to scroll through past threads, please be aware that there are many on this site (myself included) who are not particularly fond of privatized or fee fishing areas. Of course, this doesn't detract from what sounds like a great day of fly fishing - nor should it be construed as personal criticism - but this stream reports section is geared toward providing information for board members who might consider fishing that same water. Obviously, the posted sections of Spruce Creek would not fall into that category for the vast majority of our readers.

 

[jayL]

Agree with fishidiot. Nice story, but reports about fishing in the land of Oz don't provide much useful info.

No hard feelings here, but that's how you'll find things to be here.

Welcome!

PS: I think I saw you guys on my way to the J.

 

[tomgamber]

Hey, he got the format as close to correct as anyone...that should count for something. Maybe in the professional reports.

 

[JackM]

I would think that water conditions and hatches would be consistent along the creek so that even if the water fished was private, the information could be helpful to someone planning to fish the George Harvey waters or any other areas they can gain access to.

 

[ezpickins]

JackM wrote:
I would think that water conditions and hatches would be consistent along the creek so that even if the water fished was private, the information could be helpful to someone planning to fish the George harvey waters or any other areas they can gain access to.

That's true what JackM says. Even though there's not much open to the public - stream conditions and hatch information would pertain to those sections too.

Also - How many would refuse a chance to fish those waters if we had the opportunity?

 

[littlejuniata]

Nice report just a free Ad for Harpster or a guide? I would think business is way down this year?

 

[kheher01]

I understand everyone's feelings towards private fishing and the laws of PA. Believe me I considered it before accepting the invite as i appear to agree with the majorities view point on this site and yes going was hypocritical.

I considered its applicability to all before posting since it was a trip to private waters, but as someone mentioned although there is only a 1/2 mile or so open to the "public" i thought the information would still translate or perhaps someone would be "fortunate" enough to fish the same section in the near term.

In case you wondered there were about 3 miles of stream we were "allowed" to fish. The weekend cost me $500 bucks including food and lodging. And no I am not a guide or promoting the owner's property, just giving the report of a weekend fishing trip with my Dad.

Hopefully someone finds this useful and sorry for the rant and post. I stumbled across the site and want to give back since I enjoyed reading the reports as I was getting excited for my upcoming trip.

 

[albatross]

Kheher01,

Thanks for sharing your day. Hope you and your dad had a nice time. I'm sure you can understand why many of the regulars on the site would grumble a bit about the private water aspect of your post. Please don't be frightened off, you really did make an excellent report on your day. Give us a report of your next trip to open water!

Welcome to the board and hope to hear from you again soon.

 

[Fishidiot]

kheher,
I'll second Alby's advice - by all means stick around. And don't be too hard on yourself. Taking the opportunity to fish private water from time to time isn't hypocritical. Through a family connection, I get to fish a posted section of Spruce Creek on occasion (just a private section, not a fishing club). It's a nice experience and I have caught some enormous trout there but I don't post reports on that section nor do I post the fish photos out of courtesy to those on the board who don't have the option to fish that section. While Jack makes a good point about water flows and hatches (the section I've fished is not far upstream from the PSU section) the nature of Spruce Creek is such that the posted sections are quite a different fishing experience from the small PSU stretch.
Anyway, don't sweat it.

 

[Acristickid]

I would not feel the least bit bad about it. It was $850 in 2006 for two days with meals, lodging etc.... You might consider $500 a bargin.

It's private property and not public like Beaver's so in my mind it is two different things.

Never have paid to fish anywhere and probably never will but if I got an invite for free I sure would go.

Here is a story of Harpster- 4 pages.

http://www.agriculture.com/ag/story.jhtml?storyid=/templatedata/ag/story/data/1138295021584.xml


Then on the other hand..........

 

[afishinado]

I fished the Harpsters stretch of Spruce a few years ago. It was before the Beaver thing got all the attention. I was never a big fan of fishing private water on principle. A while back, I bought a new house and I was beefing to my wife about not getting out-west on a fishing trip, so she booked me long weekend trip to fish Spruce at Harpsters. I caught a ton of hog bow and browns on the trip, but was actually disappointed. I had envisioned fishing for wary wild browns on the stream, but found it to be stocked to the gills, and wild fish were few and far between.

Akid is right to make a distinction about Beaver and the SRC, versus the Harpster family opening up their land for fishing. Still, I am not a fan of the privatization of streams and rivers, but I believe landowners have a right to control their own property and raise cows, plant their fields, or let people fish for a fee on their land and stream. Now Beaver is a different story altogether.

 

[jayL]

Don't sweat it. I pay $30 to fish the douglaston salmon run every year, so it's not like we're all above it. Like the others said, the spring ridge club is a different story. I respect their right to do what they do, but they still violate the one governing rule of the universe: don't be a douche.

 

[fishrich]

Hey man , Fishing is fishing! If it is a pay per fish stream or a charter boat down the shore, it is still fishing. If this gentleman wants to pay for the right to fish , I am ok with that. With that point there are plenty of great streams that are free and open to the public. I think that if you caught a wild 20 incher it would be alot more rewarding then a stocked 20.I have to admit , I spend alot of time on charter boats down the shore.

Kheher01 THANKS FOR THE POST

 

[jayL]

fishrich,

I have a hard time equating a charter boat or guided trip on public water with fishing a private stream. Two completely different concepts. I certainly enjoy taking a chartered boat out in the ocean or on a large lake.

As you said, it's just fishin.

 

[albud1962]

I am not sure why everyone is coming down on this guy. I enjoyed his report even though I'll probably never fish that creek. I have seen reports for streams were public access is not available or limited and no one makes a peep. I wonder sometimes why a few on this board are quick to judge and critical. Any one who trout fishes regardless of where or how he or she does it should feel some sort of kinship. Many of those who are frequently ridiculed on this site could become advocates and supporters of trout and their habitat needs if only given a chance. If this is not the case, then we are truly destined to see trout and for that matter fly fishing a distant memory.

 

[flyfish1955]

I've been a member of this forum for a long time. I rarely post or reply because there are a small number of members who want to criticize anything. Just because someone can afford to fish Harpster's section of Spruce Creek, travel to Montana or Colorado to fish, or hire a guide in the Florida Keys doesn't give anyone the right to sarcastically comment on their situation. If you can't afford it or don't want to spend the money, that's fine but why jump all over someone else just because they do. I've seen criticism concerning purchasing $500.00 fly rods or $300.00 vises. To each his own. Live and let live. I guess an open forum is interpreted by some as a place to rant and criticize. How unfortunate!!!!!

 

[jayL]

I found another forum for those of you that are afraid of criticism and debate: http://www.mlparena.com/Forums.html 😛 :lol:

Also, who has ever criticized anyone for chartering a boat or hiring a guide? Privatized streams are wholly different, and it's been expressed clearly.