Water levels central PA

Smith_pafly

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Nov 6, 2024
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Collegeville
I’m planning on heading up to central PA this coming weekend. It’s a very long drive for me so I want to know at least somewhat what I’m getting into. I know the flows right now are up (according to TCO), but it doesn’t look like any rain is in the forecast and some of the charts I’m reading actually say the flows are normal and falling. Does anyone know what the levels are currently at and what I can expect this weekend. Any advice helps!
-Tight lines-
 
Barring a change in forecast you will have lots of options depending on ehat you consider central pa. Conditions will be pretty good for much of the region for this time of year
 
Penns is mean and green. Probably around 550 cfs. Was there today. Grannoms and hendricksons. Plenty of people. E-bikes are contributing to the crowds. The fish bros and girls are flying up and down the path with their flat brims and mono rigs. Canoes out in full force already too. Also, is school out already?
 
Penns is mean and green. Probably around 550 cfs. Was there today. Grannoms and hendricksons. Plenty of people. E-bikes are contributing to the crowds. The fish bros and girls are flying up and down the path with their flat brims and mono rigs. Canoes out in full force already too. Also, is school out already?
I’m curious - were fish rising well. I was on the little j today and grannoms were coming off pretty heavy most of the day - very few fish rising. Which really had me scratching my head. Flow literally perfect. Color perfect. I’m guessing the water a little cold from earlier in the week - but geez what are they waiting for??
 
I’m curious - were fish rising well. I was on the little j today and grannoms were coming off pretty heavy most of the day - very few fish rising. Which really had me scratching my head. Flow literally perfect. Color perfect. I’m guessing the water a little cold from earlier in the week - but geez what are they waiting for??
IMG_7668.jpeg
Subsurface action was great on the LJ today though. I only hooked one on top and saw less than 5 rises in 2 hours
 
I don't know my bugs - we were showered with little black bugs the size of a grain of rice tonight.
 
Penns is mean and green. Probably around 550 cfs. Was there today. Grannoms and hendricksons. Plenty of people. E-bikes are contributing to the crowds. The fish bros and girls are flying up and down the path with their flat brims and mono rigs. Canoes out in full force already too. Also, is school out already?
Lol love it flat brims and mono rigs lol lol..just hand em a spinning rod with 4lb mono..easier and less down time when fishing that way lol lol
 
I’m curious - were fish rising well. I was on the little j today and grannoms were coming off pretty heavy most of the day - very few fish rising. Which really had me scratching my head. Flow literally perfect. Color perfect. I’m guessing the water a little cold from earlier in the week - but geez what are they waiting for??
Fish were not rising well. All told I found three consistent risers to Hendricksons. Any grannom on the water surface was untouched. I think it will really start to pick up next week with this warming trend.
 
Lol love it flat brims and mono rigs lol lol..just hand em a spinning rod with 4lb mono..easier and less down time when fishing that way lol lol
As a frequent mono rig fisher but anti flat brim hat wearer... I think a mono rig is easier than a spinning rod. Personally I think the comparison to a spinning rod is streamers. Sometimes when I fish streamers I think to myself man I’d be more effective with a spinning rod or Baitcaster throwing a jerk bait or fluke.

I can’t think how a spinning rod would be better for Nymphing than a long Nymphing rod. However I’ve wondered what it would be like to nymph a 10 ft ultra light spinning rod with a spinning reel but I think a fly reel still makes more sense.

Also I fish conventional for smallmouth all summer and I’ve decided spinning rods are absolute garbage and Baitcaster are superior. Clearly I’m not scared to fish whatever I’d like, but I’m gonna bend my hat brim.
 
Dry fly fishing on the J during grannoms can be amazing or search and destroy. Walk enough find that riser and present a good drift and you can really have a good day when there doesn’t appear to be many risers. Be observant, I mean really observant.
 
Dry fly fishing on the J during grannoms can be amazing or search and destroy. Walk enough find that riser and present a good drift and you can really have a good day when there doesn’t appear to be many risers. Be observant, I mean really observant.

Yeah that’s pretty much what I did yesterday. Although I realize now that I spent way too much time just “prospecting” between finding the few risers that did. It was a waste of time. The risers were all taking pupa near or in the surface film. And there were a good many one and done rises. I figured I’d eventually fool one prospecting or that more fish would start rising - lots of anglers out there so it’s a little hard to just cover as much water as you want. First time I’ve ever thought that it would have been nice to have 2 rods with me.
 
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