Yellow Breeches/Letort/Mountain Creeks, Cumberland County, 10/19/13

[klingy]

Had a full day to fish today and I took advantage of it. Started out on the Breeches for a couple hours. Was on the water by around 9:30. Air temps were in the 40s, water temps probably low 50s. Clear skies, slight breeze. No hatches noticed. Nymphed pretty much the whole time. Caught quite a few of the typical upper-Breeches hand-sized wild browns. Also hooked into a couple decent fish. Some of them are really starting to color up nicely. Headed over to the Letort around 1:00, determined to catch a biggie on a streamer. Skies had clouded up by then, and the breeze kicked up a little. Chucked a big sculpin pattern and a couple other meat-monsters for a couple hours. Rolled quite a few, including one pushing 20" that inhaled the fly a couple times after circling it like a shark. Every time I twitched it would suck it in, but spit it right back out. Couldn't get a hook set. Talked with a landowner who was duck hunting along the creek. He informed me that he would be posting his section soon (which is quite a nice stretch of water) due to people messing with stuff on his property and putting stuff in the stream. Good news, however - he said the fly fisherman will still be welcome. Glad I had a chance to talk with him before I see the posted signs. Anyway, gave up on the Letort after a couple hours, and then headed to Mountain Creek. Even though I never have really great numbers on that stream, I still find it really fun to fish. Caught two small browns today on size 14 BHPT, and spooked a few others. Ran back over to a different stretch of the Breeches for the last couple hours of light/rain/wind. Had a blast as the fish really turned on with the rain and wind on the water. Landed probably 10-15 more little browns, a couple rainbows, and decided to call it a day. A nice way to spend a fall Saturday.

 

[LetortAngler]

Great report, as soon as I read that the landowner was posting his land, I sorta stopped breathing til the good news. Them are also some great lookin fish. I had that same problem with a big ol letort brown down by shady lane a couple weeks ago that would circle it and spit it out before i could even react.

 

[barbless]

That "fall" photo? Pretty cool.

 

[tomitrout]

Were you parked in my spot Saturday after lunch? (doubt it, that car had Maryland tags). Went to fish some of the lower water on the Letort, but it didn't work out...opted for Plan B and found some olives coming off around 2 o'clock or so and some fish working 'em under the grey skies and occasional pittering raindrops. Nothing of exceptional size, but the fish I brought to hand were definitely well fed...girlfriend & I spotted a few nice fish today over the gravel beds in the regulated water, everybody please watch your step.

 

[klingy]

timitrout,
No, that wasn't me. I was actually going to hit that stretch but that same car was there when I went past too. I parked at the next bridge downstream from there. Was hoping to see some olives, but didn't see any bugs or even a single rise in the time I was there. Didn't see any spawners, though the area I was in doesn't have the best spawning habitat over most of the stretch. I love going up to the quarry just to walk and watch them during this time of the year. I could sit all day and be entertained. Good to know that they've started. Some more cold nights should really get them going, though I've seen them spawning into January some years.

 

[IdratherbePhishing]

I hit the stretch you showed me on the breeches yesterday. Must be why some of the bigger fish were put down lol😉. Still had some great numbers. If that bow was outta that same riffle might be the same fish. Anyway nice report pics as per usual.

 

[klingy]

IdratherbePhishing wrote:
I hit the stretch you showed me on the breeches yesterday. Must be why some of the bigger fish were put down lol😉. Still had some great numbers. If that bow was outta that same riffle might be the same fish. Anyway nice report pics as per usual.

Hey man - glad you got out! Seems like the stream being up a little helped in not spooking so many. The bow was actually about a mile downstream from the one you caught, so it's unlikely, but I guess not totally out of the question.

 

[steve2u42]

anyone have any idea if there is any fish left near McCormick Road off 114 on the Yellow Breeches?

 

[Fishidiot]

steve2u42 wrote:
anyone have any idea if there is any fish left near McCormick Road off 114 on the Yellow Breeches?

There are fish throughout Breeches. Take some time to explore and there's a good chance you'll find fish, although sometimes you have to put in some time to find the best sections this time of year.

 

[Maurice]

Fishidiot wrote:

steve2u42 wrote:
anyone have any idea if there is any fish left near McCormick Road off 114 on the Yellow Breeches?

There are fish throughout Breeches. Take some time to explore and there's a good chance you'll find fish, although sometimes you have to put in some time to find the best sections this time of year.

Typically the summer is not kind to the McCormick stretch. But I have caught wild fish (small) on top in spring and this summer was mild so there is a chance there are fish there. That is one of the best reaches of water on the breaches for holding water and habitat. Its a shame it gets warm in summer.

 

[Night_Stalker]

I have not fished McCormick recently. The biggest fish I have encountered on the Breeches (excluding the water below the New Cumberland Park Dam out to the river) have been from McCormick upstream to above Messiah at Grantham. These have been all stocked fish though...

McCormick is really a pretty spot with the fir trees and steep bank.

Years ago, I purchased a Kayak just so I could access the water near Messiah that is surrounded by private property. I would be going upstream from Bowmansdale...while hundreds of tubers/kayakers flew past me going downstream. If you are looking for hold-overs...I would suggest going up-stream from McCormick...or down-stream. It is just too popular of a spot.