Valley Creek, Chester Co, 6/25 & 6/26

[wvuandy1]

Orvis in Media (Sporting Gentlemen)
I'll tell you though, if it was not over 64 all day yesterday maybe it does hold. Your take ?

 

[JasonS]

My take is that is complete and utter BS. Those guys (and girl) should know better. That stream easily gets into the 70's during the summer and should not be fished.

 

[wvuandy1]

Hmm could be and I'll respect your opinion and get myself a thermometer. I'm new to this and want to keep the stream as healthy as possible. Thx

 

[pcray1231]

I do not know what summertime base flow temps are on Valley. I'd actually expect it to stay fairly cold. It's something I should know, but I don't.

I do know it gets temperature SPIKES after summertime rains. Water hits hot pavement, goes straight to storm drains, straight into the stream. I have no doubt it's too warm to fish during direct runoff.

Anyway, that point is my contribution here.

 

[Swattie87]

Doesn't really matter what the shops (or anyone else for that matter) says...no substitute for simply getting a stream thermometer and using it when in question.

 

[salmo]

Okay. What temp. is too hot to fish? 65, 68, 70, 75????

 

[englishprof]

Swattie, stole my thunder. Just take the damn temperature. Use 65, 68, whatever. I don't fish if it reaches 70.

 

[Swattie87]

salmo wrote:
Okay. What temp. is too hot to fish? 65, 68, 70, 75????

salmo - There's another thread going in the General Forum that gets into a good bit more detail. I think the consensus opinion over there is about 70, give or take a degree or two either way. My personal opinion is a couple degrees lower, especially for Brookies, but 70 is a good general rule I think.

Realistically there's no hard, fast number. Depends on species of trout, gradient of the steam, DO in the stream, whether there are thermal refuges in the form of spring seeps or colder tribs, etc. A stream maxing out at 70 degrees in the late afternoon and then dropping down into the mid 60's at night is different than a stream at 70 first thing in the morning, and then going up into the mid 70's later in the day. Time of day when the temp was taken, and the degree of falloff at night matters too.

 

[wgmiller]

Swattie87 wrote:
A stream maxing out at 70 degrees in the late afternoon and then dropping down into the mid 60's at night is different than a stream at 70 first thing in the morning, and then going up into the mid 70's later in the day. Time of day when the temp was taken, and the degree of falloff at night matters too.

Agreed! This summer is shaping up to be a hot one and I think an ethical trout angler will gave the trout a break as the streams warm. Not every stream will, but we all know many of the streams will go above 70 degrees.

I implore all the trout guys who can't get to cold water to start thinking about smallmouth and/or other warmwater species when the trout streams heat up. It's a refreshing break from finicky trout, no doubt!

 

[FlyFisherMin]

Quick question, has anyone used a skilton's quick sight ant at valley creek? If so, how effective is it?

 

[wvuandy1]

I have with limited success. IMO you are way better off with black or brown parachute ants.

 

[PSUFishMenace]

I have as well, have had some pretty good days with them (especially brown in size 18) but in general I prefer wet ants for brown trout. The foam ones seem to only work in either fast water (which is not that common on Valley) or if you get a looonnnnnngggggggg drag free drift. I've had fish smack the brown ones while ripping them across the surface but they are probably mistaking them for caddis or something when that happens.