DoctorWater15
Member
- Joined
- Dec 8, 2016
- Messages
- 50
Fished Valley Creek today from about 10 AM to 3 PM. Weather was pleasant, with air temperature between 40 and 44 degrees F, no wind, and overcast with a few spots of sun here and there. I fished from the Knox Quarter's parking lot to a little past Bradford Road.
I forgot to get a water temperature, but the flow was slightly above 20 cfs (has been about 14 cfs for the last few weeks) thanks to yesterday's rain. The water was slightly off color (noticeable dark green in deeper pools/runs) compared to the normal gin clear that Valley Creek runs. Turbidity was 4 FNU, yet has been under 2 FNU for the last few weeks as well, again thanks to the rain.
There were no noticeable hatches, but I did see some small fish causing splashy rises in the foam and film in some slower pockets and eddys (I'm guessing rising to midges). I targeted the slower and deeper runs, as well as outside deep banks and some riffles too.
I caught 15 fish today with the biggest being about 9 inches. Almost all took a size 20 black beadhead zebra midge. There were a few takers on a size 18 beadhead walt's worm. I lost 3 or 4 more, and had tons of little nibbles as well. 7 of the 15 fish came out of one deep bucket under a tree. I stuck to nymphing all day, and used a yarn indicator in an attempt to not spook any fish.
I'm attributing this successful day mostly to the slightly higher and more turbid water, and the fish being keyed in on their winter staple of midges, but it sure was a great way to spend the day, and I'm glad that they were willing to eat what I had to offer!
I forgot to get a water temperature, but the flow was slightly above 20 cfs (has been about 14 cfs for the last few weeks) thanks to yesterday's rain. The water was slightly off color (noticeable dark green in deeper pools/runs) compared to the normal gin clear that Valley Creek runs. Turbidity was 4 FNU, yet has been under 2 FNU for the last few weeks as well, again thanks to the rain.
There were no noticeable hatches, but I did see some small fish causing splashy rises in the foam and film in some slower pockets and eddys (I'm guessing rising to midges). I targeted the slower and deeper runs, as well as outside deep banks and some riffles too.
I caught 15 fish today with the biggest being about 9 inches. Almost all took a size 20 black beadhead zebra midge. There were a few takers on a size 18 beadhead walt's worm. I lost 3 or 4 more, and had tons of little nibbles as well. 7 of the 15 fish came out of one deep bucket under a tree. I stuck to nymphing all day, and used a yarn indicator in an attempt to not spook any fish.
I'm attributing this successful day mostly to the slightly higher and more turbid water, and the fish being keyed in on their winter staple of midges, but it sure was a great way to spend the day, and I'm glad that they were willing to eat what I had to offer!
