Yellow Breeches, Cumberland county, 2/20/17

HopBack

Well-known member
Joined
Aug 5, 2013
Messages
1,210
Time Fished: 7:30 AM – 12:30 PM
Weather: Partly cloudy, started at 45 - 55 degrees
Water: No temp taken, low and clear
Dry Flies Used: #14 Tan Caddis, #14 adams #14 Dark Caddis
Nymphs Used: #14 Hares Ear, #18 Sparkle Caddis Puppa


I have made it a yearly tradition to take a day off from work in February so that I can fish the open water on the breeches one last time before it closes in March. I'm not a big fan of the regs section.

As luck would have it, I picked a beautiful day and the fish cooperated. I started off quickly by nymphing several runs with a generic hairs ear and picking up a few.

Around 9:30 I observed what I believe to be a spotted sedge hatch. Quite a surprise for February. I'm positive they were not little black stone flies and they were a bit too light to be little black caddis flies. Sorry for not getting a picture, maybe someone who was around the area could comment.

I don't usually ever fish dries unless I observe steady risers. I dont carry any exact matches in my box so I worked through a couple of different fly selections before I found a winner. #14 dark caddis that I tied with some dark green dubbing, natural deer hair and grizzly hackle.

It turned out that I had the best dry fly fishing in recent memory. In one small stretch I landed a dozen wild browns ranging from 8"-10" Action was fast and furious and takes were down right vicious for about an hour and then it was all over. It was truly a sight to see, It reminded me of those summer sulfur nights.


Best flies of the day were # 14 dark caddis and # 18 Sparkle caddis pupa. All fish caught were wild.
 

Attachments

  • Winter on the breeches.jpg
    Winter on the breeches.jpg
    97.2 KB · Views: 7
  • Wildbrown1.jpg
    Wildbrown1.jpg
    110.8 KB · Views: 5
  • wildbrown2.jpg
    wildbrown2.jpg
    107.2 KB · Views: 11
  • dryfly.jpg
    dryfly.jpg
    93.8 KB · Views: 10
  • sparkle caddis pupa.jpg
    sparkle caddis pupa.jpg
    86.8 KB · Views: 16
  • Caddisfly.jpg
    Caddisfly.jpg
    33.5 KB · Views: 15
Nice report and good lookin fish.
 
Fished that same stretch last Saturday and saw the light colored flies also, but did not fish on top. Looks like you had a good day, thanks for sharing.
 
I was out yesterday too and fished behind Allenberry. Lots of guys out because of the holiday. Missed two on top on a 22 griffiths gnat. Saw some little black stones flying around as well as plenty of midges.
 
I also saw plenty of midges in the morning but the trout weren't interested until the caddis came to the party. I didn't see a soul in the open water. It was a nice relaxing day.
 
Back
Top