Valley Creek, Chester County, 3/19/2012

I think the spookiness of VC's trout is overstated. I fish crouched down or on my knees on that stream 90% of the time, but that's mostly due to the size of the stream and clearness of the water rather than the spookiness of the fish. In those conditions, a giant shadow looming over the water would spook any fish. That said, they don't spook to lines and leaders most of the time, don't spook to rods and when rising, often won't spook to seemingly anything.

With the number of running trails and foot traffic near that stream, those fish see a ridiculous amount of people. I think this has made them a bit more accustomed to disturbances in their window than your typical trout.

If memory serves, you fish a lot of wild brook trout water. Don't you find the fish at VC considerably less spooky than those fish?
 
englishprof wrote:
Who will be the first to tell him they are not "natives".
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As usual that would be you Prof :hammer:
 
Don't you find the fish at VC considerably less spooky than those fish?
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I find em pretty spooky on VC.

However, it may have less to do with the nature of the fish themselves, and more to do with the water. VC is much slower than your typical brook trout stream. Fish in slow water are FAR harder to approach than fish in broken, fast water. And second, again, I only ever see rising fish in a spot here and there, it's mostly been a nymphing thing on VC for me, and nymphing requires you to get closer than dries do. With brookies its mostly dries.

I try to kneel and crawl, and I do it some, but I just don't keep up with it through a whole day like I used to. Bad back. I guess I do crouch quite a bit, though, and that funny looking "duck walk" while crouched.

There are trails, but not a ton of foot traffic. We may be talking about different areas, though. I've fished a couple of different parts of it, but I've yet to fish anywhere within the park.
 
My log shows a tremendous sulphur hatch in the twilight some years ago. You could set your clock by it. One sultry august morning I scored on the same flying ants I saw in my driveway the evening before. What a gem.
 
the fish are getting dumber or im becoming a better at fly fishing because i have yet to have a day when i got skunked at valley. i think it all due to this leak. but searously i have caught some my best fish on this stream in the past weeks. i have been putting alot of time on the water. also to you guys who are thinking about hitting it sometime this week you are limited to in the park. a ranger stopped to check me out. haha she totally wanted my CID#. but she said you cant fish past the yellow iron bridge.
caught two fish today nothing big by anymeans. one on a midge size 24 and other on a 22bwo.
 
she said you cant fish past the yellow iron bridge.
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Wonder if that has something to do with the sewage leak? VC is not an ATW, and is a class A, so from a season's standpoint, you can legally fish it anywhere that's not posted.
 
I hope all you Lurkers are learning something. Apparently nobody else has. Two words: jack rocks.
 
Good discussion. I've done a lot of fishing on Slate & Cedar Runs where the fish are notoriously spooky, and VC fish are right up there on the spookiness scale IMHO. One major spookiness factor is proximity. Joggers and other passers-by do so at a distance, whereas we tend to be right on top of the Trout's holding & feeding lies. For context, you may notice a helicopter 1/4 mile away, but when it's hovering 100' from your house that's all you'll notice...

In general, I agree with Pat regarding flow rates - all of my 20+ days on VC have happened when the flow was 45cfs or higher. I don't "avoid" VC on low flow days, but it sets my expectation on how I'll need to fish (crawling around on my knees, longer leaders, etc). That said, I watch water clarity (Turbidity) more than anything. All of my larger fish (14"+) have been caught in above average or murky water conditions, regardless of flow. Fish spook less easily in murky water so you can get closer which means better line and drift control, and all of this adds up to greater catching potential. The rest is up to you. ;^)

EG
 
Surfer,

Are you actually threatening people with Jack Rocks over a fishing spot?
 
salvelinusfontinalis wrote:
Surfer,

Are you actually threatening people with Jack Rocks over a fishing spot?
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Sal I looked up "jack rocks" in the Urban Dictionary and the meaning is to throw a jagged object at the tires of an automobile. Whoa Surfer are you really threatening to slash tires? Do you live in the Mayfair section of Philly by any chance?
 
Surfer's profile claims he's a lawyer. No additional information needed. I rest my case!!!!!
 
englishprof wrote:
Surfer's profile claims he's a lawyer. No additional information needed. I rest my case!!!!!
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You just defamed both Jack and I. Besides you are a Prof not a lawyer so you have no case to rest.
 
Also throw them at cheating spouses,according to google.
 
Jack knows what rocks. And I'm assuming that if you're replying, you're not a lurker. So, in that sense, you don't know Jack.
 
It is "Jack and I if used as the subject of a sentence, as in "Jack and I went down to Valley Creek and threw rocks at the guys bait fishing with size 1 baitholder hooks." It is "Jack and me" or "me and Jack" if used as the object of a sentence, such as "The guys on PAFF really gave Jack and me a hard time for throwing rocks at the guys bait fishing with size 1 baitholder hooks."
 
And I would suggest that throwing rocks at people engaging in perfectly legal behavior should be discouraged!!!
 
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