Valley Creek 5/22/08

[Wmass]

Got there about 10am and fished until almost 3pm. The water was running high, cold and almost clear. I fished two pools up from the metal bridge and then downstream to the first large bend. There were brown mottled caddis coming off all day, they looked to be Grannoms (belly was pale green). I caught 8 total, most on #18 elk hair caddis.

The fish have probably been feeding well because they had great color, fought hard, and some had fat bellies. Two biggest were 10-12".

 

[WaterScientist]

Sounds like it was fishing great! I will be heading out the Valley and then Pickering on Monday with my buddy, so thanks for the timely report!

It is our third (or maybe fourth) attempt to fish Valley, and first time this year to boot. This will also be our first time exploring Pickering. I am hoping either place won't be crowded due to the holiday, but I'll take what I can get!

 

[Wmass]

Waterscientist If you need any tips on fishing VC just let me know. Best of luck.

 

[mute]

ill be heading to those 2 streams on monday also watersci. not sure what time of the day though.

 

[WaterScientist]

On 5/26/08 -

My buddy and I got to Valley Creek around 10 and found the stream empty despite the full parking lots elsewhere in the park. The water was slightly off color but not higher than usual. We fished from the metal bridge up upstream past the turnpike. I saw some bug activity and was able to raise a few browns on various caddis, sulfur, and stimulator patterns but only landed one 8-in brown. My friend also got a small brown using nymphs.

We fished for about 2 hours and then drove over to Pickering. We parked at the top of the DHALO section and worked our way downstream. This was my first time here so I don't have any means of comparison but the water seemed low. Not much bug activity. We nymphed the deeper pools and each landed a couple more browns and rainbows before calling it a day around 2.