Yellow Breeches, Cumberland County (4/30)

[Lunker_Bacon]

Fished a few miles down from the run from about 10:30-1:15. Very overcast day, windy at times and about 52 degrees out. The water levels weren't as high as expected despite the influx of rain over the past week.

Started things off with a size 14 copperback stonefly and got no action for about 25min. I changed over to a size 16 PT frenchie nymph and fished riffles, little channels and drifted past overhead cover and got no bites for the next hour. At around 12-12:15 fish really started sipping and rising. I'm not great at identifying specific flying bugs so I slapped on a size 16 BWO and thought it would be a great chance to land my first trout fly fishing. I fished the banks hard, let it dead drift, and was even giving it the "skittering" motion on the surface of the water when I could, and no action for another hour.

Left after a large amount of frustation when an older gentleman with fly fishing gear came into the strech that I just fished for ~3 hours and pounded 3 exceptional brook trout (the size of nice browns) in a matter of 20 minutes. After complimenting his catches, he shared that he caught 2 on an olive beadhead nymph, and his most recent one on a griffith gnat.

Maybe this just isn't my thing

 

[FLY_Mike]

Stay with it, and ask all the old timers all the questions you can. I was in your shoes a few years ago and I had no luck and thought about quitting, then I just started asking questions and people gladly showed me what I was doing wrong. I also joined a local FF club which helped greatly.

Just don't give up, the tug is the drug.

Once I even stopped in the FF museum at Yellow Breeches and the gentlemen there was more than happy to point me in the right direction.

I was there on Saturday and had luck on caddis, no brooks but I pulled a few browns out.

 

[SteveG]

Not to be a jerk, but the good news is that your problem is likely an easily fixed detail, which has a big impact on your success. Have you ever fly fished with anyone more experienced? They can likely point out what you're failing to do properly.

 

[Lunker_Bacon]

@SteveG,
I have not fished with experienced people, I've mainly done research on this forum, stream report sites and several tutorial youtube videos on how to cast and what to look for on a stream. Tying my own flies helps visualize how each fly will behave in the water, but I think more research and practice on when to fish certain flies will benefit my future decision making when I am scouting spots in the stream

@FLY_Mike You make a good point. I was spectating some of his casting techniques and some of those fine details you can not pick up from the internet. I'll have to make it a point of emphasis to continue exposing myself to the FF community to try and get a push in the right direction

 

[Van_Cleaver]

Have to agree you can learn a lot from asking an experienced angler. I had almost the same thing happen on French Creek (Southeast PA) probably about thirty five years ago. After being skunked and frustrated I watched an much older gentleman steadily catch trout in the same water I had just fished. He ended up landing a double in the pool I had just vacated. I politely asked what he was using and he showed me some beautiful woven stoneflies he had tied and even pointed out the spots to target. Tied on the closest stonefly imitation I had and soon landed my first trout of the day. My guess would be you weren't getting your fly deep enough when fishing down, or you just weren't getting a good drift. Trout will often hit the "wrong" fly if it is presented right. Stick with it, cause when it clicks you will be hooked!

 

[Shaner]

LUNKER_BUNKER "Southeast-central pa"...York??? if you wanna get out sometime I can put you on some wild fish and help anyway I can. I'm sure you will catch fish and change your mind "Maybe this just isn't my thing". just PM me if interested

 

[fishingnoob]

@Lunker_Bacon...As everyone else mentioned, DON'T GIVE UP!!..I had the same thing happen to me this past saturday while at the Tully in Reading where I was trying every dry caddis and emerger pattern I had and was getting nothing on top while everyone else there was. I was about to give up after a few hours of trying, but I saw another angler catch 3 trout within a span of 5 mins. I walked up to him and asked him about what he was using. Very nice guy who told me he was using a mole fly (great emerger pattern, look it up) and actually told me that he was watching me cast and elaberated on the fact that it was my casting and line presentation that was causing me not to catch anything. After a few pointers helping me with my cast/presentation I started catching trout on the top water. I was so appreciative of his advice and sometime a helping hand and a a few tips it all it takes. I have been fly fishing going on 6 years now but its an every day learning experience. I live outside Marietta and am willing to meet you at a stream to help you out and give any tips that I can. PM me if interested and good luck on the water!! 🙂