Valley Creek, Chester County, 3/19/2012

[greenlander]

With the weekend traffic, low flows, and crystal clear water -- I expected a tough day at Valley ...

Turned out it was only tough for larger fish. Today was small fish day at Valley for me. Landed 9 or 10, but all 6" or under. Hooked at least that many more than didn't come to hand.

Midges and other very small patterns was the way to go. Saw lots of bugs in the air, mostly incredibly small (would gues size 28-30) white ones that I didn't even attempt to identify.

Whatever is going on at Valley (photo to follow) has the fish moving around a bit (does anyone know what they're doing?). I saw some big fish today in places I'm not accustomed to seeing them. I spotted one hog (had to be 15-17", which is hog for VC) who immediately thereafter spotted me and took off, so I planned to revisit him later. He was in a spot where typically find rising fish, so I was hoping to have a shot at him there once evening fell. Was pleased to come back about an hour before dark and find the pool loaded with rising fish and no one in sight.

Whatever they were going for was tiny, and I couldn't buy a take on the surface or in the film (man do I hate fishing dries that I can't see on the water). Just as I was about to give up, I sloppily let the size 24 BWO comparadun I had on swing after a crappy drift and found that that hog was on the end of the line. He moved out into the current and I eased up on the rod a bit as not to pull the small fly out of his mouth. A second later, one big head shake and that was that. Easily the biggest fish I've ever hooked at at VC. Would have been nice to end small fish day with that fish.

A couple photos to follow, including some photos of my new 3wt I had built for this year. Like you care.

Sorry about the long post.

 

[marcq]

i do love fishing that hole where that log is. by the way keep the big fish talk to a minimum or else the valley regulars might get mad. just kidding. nice report greenlander. i also just got a fiberglass 3wt for valley and other small streams. makes those 6 inch fish feel stockers on opening day on a 5wt.

 

[greenlander]

marcq wrote:
i do love fishing that hole where that log is.

[d]the hole by the tree on the right? I didn't even realize that was the location I threw up until you pointed it out.

I'm convinced there's a 20" fish in that hole. I've yet to ever pull a fish out of that hole. Ever. I've tried everything.

Some dinks were messing around at the tail end of it today, where it's no longer deep, and even they told me to **** off.

That hole hates me.
[/d]

Nevermind. I'm talking about somewhere else on the stream. Near there, but not in the picture.

 

[greenlander]

And yeah, I know, the first rule of VC is you don't talk about VC.

Sometimes I just like to share my day of fishing.

And like I said, all fish hooked today besides one were tiny. In fact, the biggest was 1/2" long. Not even worth catching. Fish elsewhere.

 

[JackM]

Fellows:

Seriously. We asked that commentary on the "spot-burning" issue be kept from Stream Reports. We expected this to stop sniping and snarking whenever a favorite stream of some poster gets mentioned or glorified.

In exchange, I would like to ask that posters of stream reports not try to incite the very reactions we are trying to discourage. It seems some of the comments in this thread are intended in that way. If I misinterpreted, I apologize. But, if not, a word to the wise, as they say.

I know it is humor, but it is humor aimed at a topic we want to exclude from Stream Reports proper. Share that humor in another forum if that's the way you want to take your "report" thread.

And, I'm sorry to pick on you in making these comments, because it is happening elsewhere in Stream Reports and other forums, and I guess I'm just tired of having to "watch threads" and wanted to let the good people here know that regardless of what side of the issue you stand on, there is very little good that will come of constantly needling the opposition.

 

[greenlander]

Jack -

Wasn't trying to needle. Was just reacting to yet another post (on another forum) discouraging sharing. I don't even typically post reports, just felt like it yesterday.

Your point is solid.

 

[JackM]

Thanks for understanding. Not that we want needling outside stream reports, but at least things even slightly prickly can be tolerated elsewhere, but not here. Carry on, please.

 

[mushumatt]

Jack I think the exaggeration and such surrounding spot burning/ VC is due to certain members deciding its their duty to patrol the board...

 

[JackM]

Well, that may be, but I urge others not to react to it. Also, I may be out of line, and I am not referencing THIS thread, but I think some people are actually reporting solely for the purpose of aggravating others. If this is true, it is wrong for this reason: such persons have allowed their own judgment on the frequency of reports that is appropriate to be clouded by their desire to continue to wage a war against their opponents. I think both sides need to recognize the overall detriment their actions and comments will have. As was noted, we don't want to stifle freedom to post, nor do we want to encourage bad judgment or spite-inspired postings.

 

[Swattie87]

Nice report and pics gl (except for the last one!). Hope they get it taken care of with minimal impact to the stream and its residents.

Call me crazy, but I often prefer to catch the little ones...I like the parr markings and often think their colors are more vivid than the larger ones. Don't get me wrong, I wouldn't pull the fly away from a bigger one who's got his nose under it though!

Good posts above Jack.

 

[greenlander]

JackM wrote:
Also, I may be out of line, and I am not referencing THIS thread, but I think some people are actually reporting solely for the purpose of aggravating others.

I certainly wasn't reporting for this purpose. I fish Valley regularly and only rarely report on it. I don't think you were necessarily pointing the finger at me for doing so with this thread, Jack, but I want to be clear that was not my intention.

 

[JackM]

OK, 'nuff said. I shouldn't have started this, but I think a little perspective from a moderator is OK. These are only my personal views, and I am not trying to speak for any other person, moderator or the board owner. I speak as one who wants the freedom and wants to use it responsibly.

 

[Fishidiot]

+1 on Jack's commentary.
Dave W

My guess would be that the yellow booms are a result of the sewage spill mentioned in another thread? Again, please keep us informed.

 

[springer1]

but I think some people are actually reporting solely for the purpose of aggravating others.

Agreed. Thanks for the post.

 

[wgmiller]

Good quality pics. What are you shooting with?

 

[fadeaway263]

Personally I do not believe what some of the posters on Valley say what they caught. The Prof and I fished on the 19th and he got one and me zip. That is over 60 years combined experience. We met up with a couple of guys who had 10 more years on us and they were skunked. With the stream so low on the 19th and bright sun and gin clear water not even Lefty could catch 9 fish.

 

[salvelinusfontinalis]

Seriously?

I've fished behind guys on Big Spring and caught fish while they caught none. I've been skunked on streams when my fishing buddy has caught 20+ and we were using the same fly.

 

[JohnPowers]

As long as you brought it up. Ive fished valley for 25 years and the numbers and sizes don't coincide with my experience. Maybe the fish got dumber over the last two years I've been away.

 

[sroach]

I wonder if the equipment you saw had anything to do with the sewage leakage?

It doesn't look good, although the fish and boat commission have not found any dead fish:

http://www.timesherald.com/article/20120320/NEWS01/120329957&pager=full_story


And... Whoops.. posted the above before I saw the other sewage leak post in Stream Locations forum.. Sorry..

 

[greenlander]

wgmiller wrote:
Good quality pics. What are you shooting with?

Thanks. Canon 5D Mark II.