This time each year we take a break and do what we like to call - HARDCORE trout fishing.  Our usual destination takes us to the Upper Delaware to fish the West Branch or Main Stem in the drift boat. Because of erratic cold water releases the past two/three weeks and Hurricane Bonnie and Charley moving through our area we decided to go west and hit some Central PA waters, which did not get the same heavy rainfall that fell on eastern/NE PA.

This weekends outting lead us to our favorite PA stream.  Let me tell you, once again it did not dissapoint us. We got up fairly early and fished hard till the sun got too high in the sky.  For our efforts we were rewarded with some of Penns Creeks most priceless jewels. We fished nymphs (stonefly & isonychia patterns) for the most part. Evenings lead to a few risers and some fish caught on dries.  Water temps and flows were perfect with clairity improving as the weekend progressed. The weather was extremely fishing friendly.  Perfect weekend all around.   With this summers wet weather pattern, we are looking foward to what Fall will bring on Penns.

This brown already looks like it is colored up for the fall spawn!

A super-fat 16" Penns summer brown.

Penns rainbow.

August 11, 2004 - Penns Update and other news....

We had a few trips this week canceled because of high water, one on the Tully and one on the Susquehanna this past weekend.  This cancelation allowed for us to get out and hit some of our states best trout water.

Penns Creek:
You know it is a good water year when you catch fish like this in August. Dean was out on Penns this weekend and did very well nymphing the pockets, seams and heads of the deep pools.  Water temp was 57 degrees and the flow was perfect for this time of year.  The fish have been well fed this summer and fall should be a special time of year to be on the water.

Susquehanna:
Flows are beginning to drop but water is still a bit high yet for the fly angler.  Clarity is going to be the issue for the next few weeks.  The east side is still very dirty and the west is beginning to clear up to a nice flow.  Currently the White Flies are in full swing.  It’s a shame the water is so dirty because this hatch is a must to experience.  While driving up to Penns on Friday night, Dean witnessed many flies over the water and some being blown onto the highway to meet their unfortunate death.

Tully:
Flows are real nice right now. Tricos are in full swing but one must get on the water early to catch this hatch.  Water temps are a bit on the high side (70 degrees) coming from Blue Marsh.  Check with TCO for best locations but we would advise fishing the downstream areas from Plum and Cacoosing Creeks.

Lehigh River:
Flows were about perfect this weekend and temps have really come down due to the cold nights.  Have not heard much as of late.  Dean may be out on the water one evening this week if the weather holds.  Look for Isonychias in the AM and PM as well as a few caddis, small BWOs and summer sulphurs should start hatching soon during the evening hours.  Spinner falls of Isos could happen at any time so be aware of those during the evening hours.  This river has benefited from our above average rainfall this year and there was only a two week period in the beginning of July in which the trout were stressed.  All this rain means a good fall fishing season is in store for those looking to hit the water.

This coming up weekend we are scheduled to be out on our favorite central PA limestoners and possibly even a few freestoners. As long as the rain stays on the mellow side we should be ok. Hopefully Bonnie stays away.

Get out and enjoy this fine water year!!!

A 15" Penns brown.

A 16" Penns brown.

A 17" Penns brown.

Prime nymphing water. This is the water color we look for. This type of water means well fed-fish. I think that is quite evident!

August 9, 2004 - UPDATE

Just check out these flows for August! Pictured at right is the past 30 days of flows measured on Penns Creek. This is really fantastic stuff for all of our free-flowing streams and rivers. Especially so for the natives and wilds that inhabit them. No stress this year - that is for sure.

We should be in for a fantastic season of fall fishing. And as always with an outing in the fall be sure you are fully stocked with all stages of Isonychias. Take a look at what we like to carry or variations of:

We are back from Yellowstone Country and whatta trip it was! Lots and lots of fish landed in some of the most beautiful scenery anywhere. Streams we fished included the Madison, Slough, Gallatin and the Yellowstone. Unfortunately, as has been pretty well documented the eastern streams were blown out - these included the Soda Butte and the Lamar. We only drove by these and scouted them out.

Out of all the streams the Madison and the Gallatin were the best. Big fish on both nymphs and dries provided consistent action each day we fished the Madison. Crowds were not really that bad - you just need to use your two legs to get away from the access points. I just do not get it how people claim that the Madison is crowded…there is so much water it is sickening. It makes any fly fisher from the east coast envious.

Flies of choice for subsurface action on the Maddie included crystal serendipities, nitros, shop vacs, caddis worms along with a heavy stonefly or beefy hare's ear as the lead fly. Load up on the shot too. On top we found the Epeorus hatch each evening towards dark along with some decent dry fly action with size 20 tan caddis around the two famous bridges below Quake Lake. PMDs were also about each day. However, the fish did not seem to pay attention to these. Actually, the fly that produced the biggest fish on top was a size 14 red-brown spinner during the lo-light hours. You just gotta poke around in the waning sunlight for the hogs! They are there!! And for you hopper freaks - these have just started to scatter about in the meadows, but they are not on the water just yet. Any day now I guess.

Shoot us an email if you are heading out this way...we will give you the lo-down!

This beefy brown took a red-brown spinner and proceeded to hammer downstream close to 100 yards.

A blown-out Soda Butte where it meets the Lamar. Double check with the shops before you
drive to this area. However, not all the shops in West Yellowstone always have
a good idea as to the conditions on these eastern Yellowstone streams.

Your about average Madison River rainbow.

The Madison is where it at though if you ask me…. no reason to go anywhere else. Big water, big fish!
What more can you ask for?!?

The Yellowstone River was a little of a downer - it fished well right at the opening of the season, but that was short lived. A combo of some low-flows over the past few spawning seasons, along with the serious chow-down being done by the Lakers (75,000 have been killed so far) combined with the presence of whirling disease has really affected this fishery. There certainly was no lack of bugs though. Yes, there were fish to be found, but they were spotty. Other than that - the only stream inside the park worth fishing was the Gallatin. We ran into some great attractor dry action during the day - humpies, adams and stimulators. And at night we had fantastic spinner falls - all fish ate a red-brown parachute. Just seek out a pool - if you can find one and look for the risers. That is when the little ones go to sleep and the big boys come out.

One area of the state we have been able to hit up in the last week of so in the Loyalsock area. If you're up for an excursion, check it out.

On the open water, water temps were 65-70 degrees. Recent rains have turned water a bit stained, but two rainbows were picked up on a black wooly bugger. No fish were rising. Also got into one smallmouth - about 12". Had one big fish take the entire rig - it slammed the bugger. Noticed a really impressive 4-5lb/24-25" walleye picked up on bait. On the Delayed-Harvest stretch seven browns and bows were picked up. All fish were colored real nicely with the biggest fish being a 17" brown. There were about that many fish missed as well. All fish took a dry/dropper - Iso dun/nymph rig.. Both took fish equally.This water is very impressive, long deep pools and heavy runs for the most part. Cobble stone bottom with some big boulders thrown in for good measure. Beautiful country! Hoagland Branch came up lame - there were no fish seen in the deep pools. If hitting up this area concentrate on the bigger water.

A good friend of ours throwin on the Hoagland Branch.

Iso nymph