W. Br. Bandywine, Chester Co. 4/24/2014

[Van_Cleaver]

Took a break from sanding, painting, etc. to explore what will be my new "home" stream. Got out about 2:30 and fished a few hours.
Weather: sixties, sunny with a breeze
Water temp 60, clear and low. Lots of algae and slop likely due to the unseasonably warm Spring.
Hatches: Midges and Tan Caddis
Started in the fast, big boulder stretch and worked upstream. Weather was gorgeous, and there were lots of bugs but no risers. Most anglers were throwing in the towel though I'm certain everywhere I fished had been pounded. Didn't do much with my pet caddis pupae (chubs), so I added a black ant dropper after noticing several on the rocks. Turned up two fish in short order on the ant. Worked my way up past the bridge and short lined a nice rainbow above the bridge. Explored up into the park where it was more crowded but there were also seemingly more trout. Took a couple more out of a fast run right next to the walking trail. Went up further and found some risers, so I tried a tan caddis (16). Missed three or so, before going back to what was already working. The water was painfully slow where they were coming up, and there were anglers below me limiting my options. First cast after putting the pupa and ant combo back on resulted in a fat rainbow that was close to 14". Summary: Felt lucky to get out out on a beautiful day, and rusty or not I still managed some trout. Now if only it would rain....

 

[Fredrick]

You can only go down hill from Media 😛 How's the new place treating you ?

 

[Van_Cleaver]

Still working on it; maintaining two properties is stressing me out! I'm liking what I'm seeing from a fly fishing perspective, so I guess the paint can is half full. I'm less than ten min. from the West br. and about 15 min. from the East br. of the Brandywine. Also very close to warm water (Chambers and Marsh Creek) Speaking of Media, I'll be performing with my band for the fourth time at the State Street Blues stroll June 9th. BTW, went back yesterday and redeemed myself on the W. Brandy with some nice dry fly action on caddis. (14-16) conditions were about the same minus the Sun. crowd.

 

[Fredrick]

That's good sounds like Chester Creek is going to be a little less crowded these days . Blues what are the blues 😛

 

[Van_Cleaver]

I'll send you a pm. Much as I'll miss fishing all the spots I found at Chester and Ridley, exploring new waters usually broadens the fly fishing skills. The blues are when you are stuck inside painting instead of fishing.

 

[JackM]

When you ain't got no money to pay the rent, you darn sure got the blues...

-- Howlin' Wolf

 

[Mike]

You are also fairly close to the stocked section of Pequea Ck, Lancaster Co, and its wild brook trout tribs coming out of Chester Co. Those Pequea fish see a lot of night crawlers and paste baits,,but I would bet not too many flies.

 

[HopBack]

I've always thought of the pequea as a mudhole....at least in the stocked portion. The Amish take everything out of that stream with a fin. You are much closer to some wild trout streams as Mike mentions.

 

[Van_Cleaver]

I'll be doing more exploring but thanks to all for the advice. I'm less than 20min. from Pequea. I'd love to catch some wild (or stream bred) fish. Hoping to get my family moved in the next couple weeks . Meanwhile I'm pretty much relegated to any short day trips I can manage.