Trindle Spring, Spring Creek, 10/30/2007

[Dances_With_Brookies]

I've been pretty busy with law school, but I had the oppty. yesterday afternoon to briefly check out Trindle Spring. Water was gin clear and the rainbows were spooky as usual. I did manage to bring in four beautiful dinks on a #16 beadhead prince, and missed about five more. I started at the mouth of the Connie and worked upstream. Best area with the most action was the stretch just before the Carlisle Pike bridge. After that, things went cold real fast. My nymphing technique needs a bit more work as I am predominately a dry and streamer guy.

This morning I hit Spring Cr. in HBG. Irrespective of the recent rains, the flow is still down and the water was pretty clear. This turned out to be a pretty good choice...1. I wasn't shot at/physically assaulted and my car was not vandalized. 2. While the browns were engaged in spawning, they were still quite receptive to a beadhead olive/black bugger-I hauled in 9 with the biggest topping 18" on my rod mark. I saw several fish exceeding 24" but they also saw me long before I could even cast. If you know the history of this watershed, it is amazing to see how well it is doing in spite of its past. Bob Pennell and all who helped to bring it back should be commended for their fine work! Many challenges remain however-I took note of people literally dumping trash right out of their back door within the housing project. I waded around a shopping cart, junk tires, and various other items. Someone liked Milwaukee's Best beer in the park because I have 13 of their cans. If you do decide to come here, my advice is to bring a friend-the setting might prove to be a culture shock for some, but the fish are there...

 

[VTPAangler]

I have a question for you. Please don't feel obligated to answer it as I know the last thing many of these streams need are more "friends", and people are often hesitant to provide access information.

I fished Trindle Spring briefly (passing through the area) in 2000. I returned back in July of this year on my way to the Letort. The whole area had changed. What I recall as a small residential street running along the creek between Rte 11 and the Connie was no longer there. Instead a drive leading to a shopping mall was in its place, providing no real access. I drove it down to the Connie, and couldn't find a place to park. I crossed the Connie, and found no parking there as well.

My question is, where do you access Trindle Spring these days?

 

[salvelinusfontinalis]

ok i copied this from a previous post and actually used these directions and it was a nice place to park and easy to access the stream:

There is an easy way into the stream where you don't have to deal with the construction. If you are headed north on route 11 from 114 you want to take the left at the second stop light onto Sample Bridge Rd. You are gonna take the first right onto a dirt road. I'm not sure of the name but it is right before you go across the Conodoguinet. Follow the dirt road to the end where there will be an entrance to the quarry and a small park with soccer fields. You will see the Conodoquinet on the other side of the park. Along the creek you will see a large open path. Follow this path downstream for about 100 yards. I have not been back there yet this year but the path gets a little brushy towards the end and you may need to wade down the stream for the last 30 yards. This will bring you out to the mouth of the stream.

i will add a update though........when you are on sample bridge road......the right you take before you go over the Conodoquient is no longer a dirt road. they are slowly making a devolpment back there. follow that rd until it ends and the soccer fields are on your left. good luck man the stream was beautiful when i was there and the fish are pretty. :-D 😎 😛

 

[Dances_With_Brookies]

Sal-
Thanks for responding to him...I'm a pretty busy guy, and this was the first oppty. I had to reply. You're on the money with the directions :-D and there are a few other access points available to him as well. Sometime I will have to meet up with you on Lititz Run as I fish there too when time allows. Keep the pictures coming-its a nice change of pace from when I have my face buried in Criminal Law books.

 

[mattd]

bogus directions! :lol:
I didn't even realize they connected the paved road. It was still dirt a couple weeks before you were in there Sal. Can you tell how many houses they are planning to put back there?

That was all one farm and I remember many days trespassing there as a youngen. Many BIG deer and those woods have the highest population of owls I've seen. Just isn't the same anymore but what is.

If you go up the connie there you will hit some fantastic smallmouth waters. All the land up to it is posted and you have to make about 3/4 mile trek up the stream but I never left without a hurting back. Some 6+ pounders and many in the 14-18in range.

 

[VTPAangler]

Thanks for the assistance guys. I'm happy to hear that the fish are still there despite the development. Next year I'll stop by when I'm passing through.

 

[Docm]

DWB,

Please exercise some caution with your posts. These streams you frequently mention are small and most importantly flow on private land that access is questionable. So far the landowners have been rather tolerant of open traffic, but that is given a very low volume of traffic. All it will take is a few bad experiences for these landowners, or maybe an increase in traffic, and then they're lost. Just look how many views your posts have...

If you don't think this is true, then ask the fly shop owners and senior TU guys why they don't press C&R regs for the entire stream... out of sight, out of mind....

 

[albud1962]

Actually there are people behind the scenes pressing for catch and release on trindle springs. Its not as easy as you think. I have spoken to several of the fish comissioners to make this happen and I know cumberland valley tu has been lobbying as well. I will keep my up my efforts. I often see many people post about these things, but how many actually take the time to call or email the fish comission? Please register your opinions and get involve. Thats the only way its going to happen.

 

[spectorfly]

Trindle is by no means a secret to anyone nor does it get much pressure even with all who know about it.

 

[salvelinusfontinalis]

thats great albud! i also believe trindle spring should be catch and release. most of the fish in it are small anyways and besides that.....while its not famous it has had some legends on its banks. also with a FFO musuem going on its banks i would only see it proper to make it Heritage Water.
DWB i do agree with spectorfly. trindle is no secret and it doesnt receive a lot of pressure. on the otherside of the spectrum it only takes one careless fisherman to wipe out a stream like this. overharvest, bad techniques and "bad equipment" could all lead to a dangerous impact with this stream. this isnt the letort where the fish are real difficult to catch lol. but i do enjoy your posts and stream reports. mi see your a fan of limestoners like myself.
more berks county limestone spring creek reports coming from me towmorrow........wish me luck!

 

[martinlf]

I would love to see Trindle as Heritage Water, and a little stream work wouldn's hurt now that the dam is gone. I'll bet the museum increases pressure some, possibly a lot.