Tulpehocken, Berks Co., 3/26/18

[jmig1]

Fished the Tulpehocken downstream from Rebers Bridge from 1500 -1900. Shutout no hits no runs nobody left on. Fished small stuff (for me) size 18-20 olives, midges, emergers, finished with a bead head caddis emerger. Nice day 50 degrees, winds light and variable. Water was cold and stained, didn't measure temp but I'd say low 40's, level and flow about average. Lots of midges in the air but no risers. About half a dozen other anglers talked to three of them. One said he got one underneath, another said he dropped one on spinning gear no luck with the fly. The third I think was a guide with 2 sports, who reluctantly said they did 'well' underneath. I think the spinfisher was the only one truthing. I'll get em next time.

 

[SurfCowboyXX]

+1 for proper usage of "sports" as opposed to "clients". The pedant in me is very satisfied.

 

[outsider]

I know the Tully like the back of my hand. High water levels and low water temps usually don't equal success there. The flow is above average.

 

[Opie610]

The water is definitely cold at 43 degrees but i' m not so sure I would say the flow is above normal. 248cfs is not that high for this time of year. Really not that high for anytime of the year. Some might even call that a optimum level for fishing the Tully, jusy my opinion though.

 

[outsider]

Opie,

You and I have a distinctively different opinion about this, but I respect your opinion. I, along with the regulars I fish with consider 150 cfs +- to be optimum. At 245 cfs (current) the water level overflows the upper deflectors. I do take into consideration the deflectors have degraded a bit.

 

[afishinado]

Opie610 wrote:
The water is definitely cold at 43 degrees but i' m not so sure I would say the flow is above normal. 248cfs is not that high for this time of year. Really not that high for anytime of the year. Some might even call that a optimum level for fishing the Tully, jusy my opinion though.

outsider wrote:
Opie,

You and I have a distinctively different opinion about this, but I respect your opinion. I, along with the regulars I fish with consider 150 cfs +- to be optimum. At 245 cfs (current) the water level overflows the upper deflectors. I do take into consideration the deflectors have degraded a bit.

^ I agree with both of you....lol.

The flow is close to average for the season, but 150cfs is close to the ideal flow for fishing.

 

[geebee]

when the water is high, i go to the flats above Rebers Bridge up to the island.

at 350cfs its perfectly wadeable right across to the other side.

the creek is wider there and so the current is slower.

 

[wbranch]

As a fellow who typically fishes waters with no less than 500 cfs I find flows of 200 - 250 cfs perfect on the Tully. As most know I fish dry flies 95% of the time and these are nice flows for my game.

 

[FCP]

It appears that the ACOE is starting to hold back water to fill the lake to summer pool, Elevation 290 ft. Winter pool is 285. They will hold back about 170 cfs of the inflow to bring the lake level to summer pool. That usually takes about 2 weeks. You that have been complaining about the high flows now is the time to get out on the Tully. The flow was about 250 cfs and it is now 180 cfs. Water temp is slowly rising. It is now in the mid 40s. Have fun

FCP

 

[outsider]

My son and I fished the DH for a while this afternoon. We started at the upmost end but were quickly discouraged. There were several fisherman there (which is OK) but there was lots of evidence of illegal fishing. We picked up several bait containers and someone built a campfire pit out of rocks, certainly evidence of night fishing. I'm sure the COE does not allow campfires on their property.

We moved further downstream and the wind was brutal. My son couldn't buy a hit. I hooked at least a dozen trout but only released 5. Some days are like that. And I caught the biggest sucker I ever caught on a fly rod. Easily 19-20".

 

When I lived on the Tully I considered 250 to be perfect flow.
Might not be perfect for some.

 

[Mike]

The fire ring has been there since the winter according to the WCO. It is not a post-stocking indication of poaching.

 

[salmonoid]

outsider wrote:
My son and I fished the DH for a while this afternoon. We started at the upmost end but were quickly discouraged. There were several fisherman there (which is OK) but there was lots of evidence of illegal fishing. We picked up several bait containers and someone built a campfire pit out of rocks, certainly evidence of night fishing. I'm sure the COE does not allow campfires on their property.

We moved further downstream and the wind was brutal. My son couldn't buy a hit. I hooked at least a dozen trout but only released 5. Some days are like that. And I caught the biggest sucker I ever caught on a fly rod. Easily 19-20".

Elaborate - how does a fire ring indicate night fishing (and poaching)? I night fish all the time, legally, and don't leave fire rings behind.. Night-fishing is legal on DH sections, unless the land-owner prohibits access to the land during certain hours.

 

[outsider]

Every campfire I ever came across at special regs. streams also had evidence of illegal fishing. And building a fire on COE property is prohibited. So there was illegal activity at the Tully campfire site.

 

[outsider]

I fished the Tully for an hour today. Made the mistake of not wearing heavy thermals. I was in water up to my crotch, and in the end my legs were totally numb. And the wind was terrible at times. I caught 3 bows. I was fishing small nymphs on 5X tippet. The highlight of the day was catching and releasing a bow that was a solid 22" and very heavy. It was hooked in the far corner of the mouth from where I was standing, and I released it without taking it out of the water. The flow was 350 cfs.

 

[geebee]

nice !

i hooked one of those last year and it went off like a freight train and i lost it.

 

[outsider]

I hooked a larger fish about a week ago. Got it to the surface and all heck broke loose when it rolled. Destroyed my leader.

 

[wbranch]

I netted this measured 22" brown for a fellow last year below 222 bridge. It was foul hooked but we still took a picture. Nice looking hatchery fish.