Valley Creek, chester co., 4/11

[paparise]

Had 45min to fish VC yesterday after work, 4:30pm. I fished a flat still section (I make this mistake all the time). Didn't have time to do much else but observe and put a fly on the water.

I tied a 14 parachute BWO and wanted to know if it would work. I got a couple of missed takes so I would say it was a successful outing eventhoug I came up short.

It was overcast, flows were at about 25cfs, fish were rising pretty consistently to midges. I managed to spook a lot of them.

The flats are tough (for me at least). I walked away with a few personal observations.

1. fish the riffles - I feel like I would have had more sucess

2. If you must fish the flats fish down and across - I will be sucked into those consistent riser on glassy water, i get sucked in everytime, I feel like I will spook less fish this way - both wading and with my line

3. people are messy - I had a handful of trash by the time I made my short walk to the car. I'll be taking a tash bag with me next time for the walk back to the car.

 

[wildtrout2]

paparise wrote:

3. people are messy - I had a handful of trash by the time I made my short walk to the car. I'll be taking a tash bag with me next time for the walk back to the car.

Let's not candy coat it, people are SLOBS! They don't care where they are.

 

[Mike]

Yes, and I can't understand why apparently so many cigarette smokers think the butts are not litter. They take longer to decompose than any paper products and I cant' tell you how many times I have found them in fish stomachs. If not discarded directly to the streams, they wash in via storm water. Based on the reaction of trout in Maine (recently released study on trout consuming discarded soft plastics in Maine lakes), it is likely that the butts consumed inhibit fish growth if they can't be passed.

 

[NickR]

Mike, I was just thinking the same thing the other day about smokers who litter with their cigarettes!

 

[pro4mance]

I snuff mine out and take them with me, not that hard to do.

 

[marcq]

when I fish valley I generally fish fast water. I usually skip over the flat water unless I am using streamers or their is a solid hatch what I know they are taking dries. they always seem to be sipping some kind of midge. I find that a lot of my bugger fish I've caught there are in fast water. nice report I need to make a trip to valley soon.

marc

 

[SurfCowboyXX]

Your second realization is in my opinion incorrect. Trust me, if you are spooking fish from out of their line of sight, what do you expect to happen when you stand in front of them. Always try to fish upstream when possible. And wear drab clothing. And move when wading at a snail's pace. And make long casts. And tie smaller flies. And good luck.

 

[JackM]

Moving slowly even out of the water is under-rated as a stealth tactic. I tend to agree that fishing downstream in a small clear creek is difficult without spooking. On the other hand, even in small waters, if water clarity is low, then it can be an optional, sometimes better, technique. I fish upstream 95% of the time.

 

[jackstrawphilly]

Great report. Are you guys talking about the flats about half a mile below the wooden bridge that have a parking pull off next to it and a couple trees perennially downed there? Dead water, I often see (or think I see) big fish lurking there and also get sucked in to casting to them for too long. Never successful though I'm no master. Has anyone nailed one of them at that spot?

Along the same line, has anyone had luck at the mouth of the creek and the Schuckyll? I've heard rumor that trout come up in there at some time of the year. Any stories or suggestions?

Thanks, Mike

 

[englishprof]

A few years ago, I was told by a self-proclaimed expert on Valley, that it is illegal to fish between Rt. 23 and the mouth. I don't fish in the Park or anywhere down that way, so I'm not sure of that. And, by the way, unless the water is up and off color, don't waste your time fishing down stream.

 

[SurfCowboyXX]

Listen to the Prof. And Jack. Downstream fishing is best utilized when either swinging wet flies or streamers, or when fishing dries to super expert wild fish in limestone streams where vegetation has caused the currents to "braid", thus making the ideal up-and-across presentation all but impossible. Even direct upstream casts are usually plagued by drag in braided currents. At those times, a downstream cast with a load of slack tippet is often your best bet.

 

[AugustWest]

A couple of years ago, I did see in the PA Fishing Summary that no fishing was permitted between Rte 23 and the mouth at the Schuylkill River, but I just perused the 2012 Guide and could not find that information. I remember that it was hard to find then, so take that for what it's worth. It was in there within the last 5 years.

 

[greenlander]

englishprof wrote:
And, by the way, unless the water is up and off color, don't waste your time fishing down stream.

If you're talking about dry fly presentations, agreed. But, as mentioned, for wet fly and or active nymph presentations, down and across is the way to go.

 

[englishprof]

You may get away with fishing dowstream in the Park where it's a little wider, although I doubt it. No way in the sections I fish where, at its widest, it's about twenty feet. You'll spook fish within a mile. You fish nymphs downstream? The trick to nymphing is getting them deep and fast. How do you that downstream?

 

[SBecker]

English, when fishing wets and nymphs downstream you want them rising in the water column.

 

[greenlander]

englishprof wrote:
You may get away with fishing dowstream in the Park where it's a little wider, although I doubt it. No way in the sections I fish where, at its widest, it's about twenty feet. You'll spook fish within a mile. You fish nymphs downstream? The trick to nymphing is getting them deep and fast. How do you that downstream?

I catch 90% of my fish at Valley fishing downstream. I stay low and am fishing fast water if using this tactic. Given this fast water and that these areas are typically shallow as well, we're talking about fish with a small, distorted window.

Plus, my experience at VC contradicts the whole "Valley trout are so spooky" claims. Those fish see people constantly (both in and out of the park). I find them to be particularly tolerant to anglers. I can't count the amount of times I've stood over fish I know can see me, only to have them completely ignore me and go about their business. These trout are the rule at VC, not the exception, in my experience.

 

[afishinado]

Downstream tactics have their place, but I nearly always try to fish upstream, and not downstream, especially in small streams...here's why:

Since the fish face upstream in the current, they are more likely to spot you or become spooked by your casting movements.

And again, since the fish are facing you upstream, you are much more likely to pull the fly from the mouth of the fish rather than into it and in the corner of the mouth when fishing downstream.

All the disturbance in the water and silt are carried downstream when wading, the same direction you are fishing.

When drift your fly downstream, your fly is drifted over and past the fish until it drags, so you are showing a dragging fly to the the fish you will be targeting next, when travelling downstream. And worse yet, you must pick up your line for your next cast right over those fish.

 

[greenlander]

afishinado wrote:
Downstream tactics have their place, but I nearly always try to fish upstream, and not downstream, especially in small streams...here's why:

Since the fish face upstream in the current, they are more likely to spot you or become spooked by your casting movements.

And again, since the fish are facing you upstream, you are much more likely to pull the fly from the mouth of the fish rather than into it and in the corner of the mouth when fishing downstream.

All the disturbance in the water and silt are carried downstream when wading, the same direction you are fishing.

When drift your fly downstream, your fly is drifted over and past the fish until it drags, so you are showing a dragging fly to the the fish you will be targeting next, when travelling downstream. And worse yet, you must pick up your line for your next cast right over those fish.

All of this is true, but none of it means that downstream presentations should be avoided. As long as you're aware of the caveats and potential drawbacks of fishing downstream, it is just as acceptable/viable a choice as any other method.

Again, if you're fishing a presentation when the fish are taking nymphs rising in the water column, or otherwise trying to present a dynamic nymph and not a dead-drifting one ... downstream is a way to go.

I've nymphed stretches on the stream in question and taken no fish, walked to the head of the riffle, fished tandem nymphs on a downstream swing, and taken 5-6 fish out of the riffle.

 

[JackM]

I think both methods have their virtues and drawbacks. As I said, for me, 95% of the time, an upstream or upstream and across cast is my preference.

 

[JackM]

I should add that your knowledge of the water may effect your strategy. There have been days, on the Youghiogheny River, where anything but downstream presentation was a complete waste of time. If these fish did not see the fly before the line, they would not bite. Now, they don't know what a flyline is exactly, but they will at times not like it in the least.