Mike,
Thanks for your report on the Tully. Just a few observations; your angler survey was done during the week on a Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday. I’ve been lucky enough to be able to fish during the week the last couple of months, but I am usually like most guys, a weekend warrior. In addition, in the summer, most of the fishing pressure is in the early morning and evenings. I would like to see a survey done on a Saturday or Sunday, or late afternoon and evening during the week (after work for most people); the parking areas will be full.
As far as where the fishing pressure is, with the low flows < 200 cfs and the warm temperatures, the amount of fish holding water at the Tully is limited. Of the 3.8 mile SR section, less than a mile of the stream in the section holds fish in the summer. I agree, most of the fisherman cluster near the bridge over “the road to no-where”, the paper mill, and Rebers bridge. Guys catch fish there, but there are reasons for that. Many may not realize that the release at Blue Marsh is only marginally cooler (2 or less *F) than above the dam at the Bernville gauge. Plum Creek at Rebers bridge and Cacoosing stream at the papermill flow into the Tully. At this time of year, the temperature near these feeder streams is actually lower than upstream at the dam – and the fish know it. Also the overall water quality may be better near the tribs. The waterworks area that you mentioned has one small stretch that’s holds fish near the steps, upstream you can walk for a long way in ankle deep flats and never see a trout in the summer. The Palisades is great looking water but is usually more lightly fished after the spring for the reasons stated above. The slow water at the covered bridge area is also tough in low flows and higher temperatures since the fish tend to hold in areas with more current in the summer. To sum it up, fisherman tend to fish in the places were they are / were successful, even if they don’t know the reason for it.
We had a discussion in the spring on the board about the change from fingerling to adult stocking on the Tully. In my experience, the fishing has been good overall on the Tully. One thing we must remember is that an extra amount of juvenile brown trout were stocked in the fall, adding to the number of fish. I would like to see the fingerling stocking resume in the Tully, but if stocking adults is the only alternative, we’ll have to live with it. Just my opinion.
