W. Branch Octararo, Lancaster Co., 4/13/15

[dc410]

Stopped by the FFO area of the West Branch of the Octararo Creek the other day for a very short outing. Conditions were tough with very bright sunshine and relatively breezy conditions. The water was low and very clear. The water temp was already 59 degrees which I thought was fairly high for mid April. This is a real good indicator of the thermal issues that this stream always has on an annual basis. I saw a few small, darker colored mayflies (didn't manage to catch any but they looked to possibly be Blue Quills) and also some craneflies were hatching. I did not see any surface activity. Managed to bring a few stocked rainbows to hand fishing nymphs, wet flies, white wooly buggers and an orange egg pattern. It seemed like the most productive technique was to keep the flies very low in the water column in the deeper runs and pools. Overall, it was a very enjoyable couple of hours on a stream where I spent a lot of time when I was younger learning the basics of flyfishing. I took a few photos and even took a couple of snapshots of a couple of wild fish. :-D

 

[The_Sasquatch]

gross!

 

[salvelinus]

Kissin' trout! They shore got purty lips!

 

[Fishidiot]

Now that's a mighty fine RBS. You gotta love the colors on those native gems.

 

[McSneek]

The lack of a blue eye spot on the sucker is an indication that its a stocked fish. Maybe held over since last fall but a stocker none the less.

 

[dc410]

Oh no! This one is definitely a wild fish. Look at the full spawning colors. I know it is not very sporting to catch a fish that may still be spawning - let alone take the time to take a picture of it. I tried to very quickly take the picture and gently release it, just in case that it was still in the spawning process. Look at those fins, I heard that all of the suckers that are stocked have a fin clipped. :lol:

 

[geebee]

i love that RBS