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Post by brandon on Jul 7, 2015 20:44:33 GMT -6
Going to pa in september for a family trip. Any good. Flyfishing in the area?
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Post by dainw on Jul 8, 2015 6:17:41 GMT -6
I've never been to Pennsylvania but do know there's some good fly fishing there. State college is supposed to be a great fly fishing town and Letort Spring run is a place that's on my bucket list. Here's an article I found that has the top ten places: www.trails.com/toptrails.aspx?area=12708
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Post by brandon on Jul 8, 2015 9:07:54 GMT -6
thanks dain
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Post by golferjeff on Jul 8, 2015 9:58:50 GMT -6
All depends on where you are going. I grew up in PA, and I know the western 1/2 of the state pretty well. Tell us where in PA
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Post by brandon on Jul 8, 2015 10:24:07 GMT -6
I'll be flying into Philidelphia, staying there one nights and then driving onto Hershey. After that we will head northwest about 70 miles to the cabin in Richfield. We will have about 4 days to spring off for day trips from there.
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Post by Fenwick on Jul 8, 2015 19:26:43 GMT -6
Aw man take me back 35 years will ya? You are in easy range of the best fly fishing in all of Pa. as there are numerous south central Pennsylvania trout streams of legend and lore awaiting you. Google the Letort, Yellow Breeches, Big Spring, Falling Springs, limestone fishing in Pennsylvania or go to limestoner dot com. I used to fish there when I lived in D.C. and have fished all those places plus the Antietam as well. You didn't need a 9 ft 5 wt for those waters. You'll be doing spring fed limestone stream fishing running through farmland amongst lush hills and sprawling valley floors. Trout fly fishing is closely regulated there and rules are enthusiastically enforced. You really want to obey the rule signage posted on the trees, fences and parking areas. I dunno if the links I've entered will remain here so read 'em and print them quickly. I had the pleasure of meeting Charlie Fox in 1980 while he was at his streamside bench there lording over "his" water. www.limestoner.com/Legendary-Pennsylvania-Spring-Creek-Fly-Fisherman.htmlI have fished the "best stretch" mentioned in this link. www.orvis.com/fishing_report.aspx?locationid=6015I have fished the area mentioned in the "best access point" in this link. www.orvis.com/fishing_report.aspx?locationid=6020You might as well phone that shop and let them know you are coming and ask for pointers. Your go to fly pattern will be what they call cress bugs, what we call scuds as they live year round in the watercress that lines those streams. The trout love to nudge them loose and gobble them up. It can often be a challenge to get a good drift because the watercress is often thick in places but that's where the shade and the cress bugs are and the trout patrol the seams where the flowing water runs through channels in the mats of watercress. You might do well to high stick. More of a challenge are the crazy current eddies that can put a horizontal W in your fly line wrecking your drift. If the weather is rainy the water is muddied up because of the farmland runoff, if the weather is nice the water is so incredibly crystal clear that you must be a gently moving wary sight fisherman lest the browns see you and spook. The native trout there are not dumb stockers and do spook easily and for a long while so don't wait five minutes thinking they soon return to normal after being spooked. Move to a new spot. Good luck!
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Post by brandon on Jul 8, 2015 21:11:23 GMT -6
Awesome info. Thanks so much. Gonna look into all this. What fly shop do you recomend?
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Post by Fenwick on Jul 8, 2015 23:55:17 GMT -6
Google the phrase south central Pennsylvania fly fishing shops and take it from there. Any in the Carlisle or Chambersburg or Harrisbug area will suffice. Maybe try yellow breeches outfitters or look for an Orvis shop in one of those communities. All the shops will know all the waters in that region of south central Pa.
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Post by golferjeff on Jul 13, 2015 12:33:32 GMT -6
Yep, you are on the central to eastern 1/2 of the state. The closest fly fishing I have done to your cabin would be in Tyrone and State College areas. The Little Juniata and Fish Creek are the best in that area.
Have fun and good luck!
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Post by brandon on Jul 13, 2015 13:30:25 GMT -6
I have been seeing some talk of manhantango creek. it appears to be a couple miles from the cabin I will be staying in . also, I will take the kido's to penns cave one day and it seems that penns creek fishing area is near that.
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Post by brandon on Jul 13, 2015 13:31:43 GMT -6
what would be some good flied to start with for that area in late September....I have no clue where to start...
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Post by Fenwick on Jul 14, 2015 5:13:48 GMT -6
Gooooooogle. Google the name of the waters or location you are headed. Perhaps Google responds with a map that shows the waters and indicates roads and the nearest town if you incrementally zoom out or in on that map. Google for a fly shop in the general vicinity of that town. Even if the shop is 50 miles from where you intend to go the staff will probably know about the location and offer advice. Phone the shop, tell them you are new and ask where to go, what to do and what to use. Make Google do the heavy lifting for you. Just keep feeding Google enough clues to search and you'll eventually get a response you can use to make phone calls to area fly shops for tips and guidance. You might do well to patronize the shop that helps you out. Everybody wins. You might also try this link: www.orvis.com/pennsylvania-fly-fishing-reportsWhen you land on that site you might cross reference one of the listed waters that a map might show would be near to where you are going and gauge it from there. And don't forget a license. I don't know if a short term license and or/trout stamp is available. It'd be handy if you could purchase it online and print it off. Hmm, I bet you can Google for that!
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Post by bradbessett on Jul 16, 2015 14:30:39 GMT -6
Amen Grant!
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Post by brandon on Jul 16, 2015 14:57:32 GMT -6
Brad - who's Grant?...lol
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Post by Fenwick on Jul 20, 2015 13:28:10 GMT -6
Out of curiosity I Googled the phrase Fly fishing in Manhantango Creek, Pa. and then the phrase Fly fishing in Penns Creek, Pa. and doncha know Google came back with all sortsa useful information. Give it a try.
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Post by brandon on Jul 20, 2015 14:26:15 GMT -6
Fenwick - thanks for your help....you've been very helpful. I have googled, googled, and googled some more. I have called fly shops, spoke to guides, purchased and read books, researched magazine articles, etc. I wasn't posting my question on here as a replacement for doing my research, or being lazy, or hoping you would do my research for me. Since this is a forum I was just asking for personal experience with the area, observations, advise, etc. Basically just trying to make friendly conversation and discussion with a group of guys that's knowledgeable in and share interest in fly fishing. EVERYTHING can be googled so really there is NO need for a discussion forum at all....however I still enjoy forums and discussions with like minded people. Thanks again for your help.
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Post by brandon on Jul 20, 2015 14:43:07 GMT -6
also, just to clarify - I do not know anyone's name on here...only user names. Possibly your name is Grant since Brad replied to Grant under a post from you. I never meant to offend or annoy anyone with my post about PA. I had done tons of research and already purchased all required licenses and stamps before posting this question and never meant for anyone to do my research for me. I was simply making conversation and trying to get personal experiences with the area. You are correct in that lots of information is available on google. I met a gentleman in the fly shop about a month ago that was with Brad but didn't get a name. Perhaps that was you. If so, I apologize for not getting your name an properly introducing myself. If that was you, it was nice meeting you and talking with you and Brad. Hope to see you on the water. Take care.
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Post by golferjeff on Jul 20, 2015 18:28:40 GMT -6
Grant Holez, AKA Fenwick. GolferJeff AKA Jeff Cook. Brad Bes'sett AKA Brad Bessett'
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Post by Fenwick on Jul 20, 2015 19:34:21 GMT -6
Brandon's personal message to me has been answered. He's been duly warned of just how dangerous that Bessett guy really is. Boy do I have stories! And golferjeff gets a Double Hauler rating in here because being a real slick cheater in Poker he double hauls your money. Don't ever accept his invite to a friendly Apres fishing hand or two around the campfire. He's twice had to drive me out to 259 so I could find an ATM to pay him.
You've been warned.
- Fenwick
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Post by brandon on Sept 27, 2015 7:20:51 GMT -6
I just got back from the pa trip. Was awesome. I'll get some fishing pictures posted when i get baxk to rhe office
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Post by Fenwick on Sept 28, 2015 9:22:10 GMT -6
Hey Brandon. You finally made it to Pa. What waters did you hit? That next to last photo looks kinda odd. Is that a little chub?
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Post by dainw on Sept 28, 2015 10:29:37 GMT -6
That looks like a Red Spot Creek Chubb to me. On one of my smallmouth trips this summer I caught like 10 of those lol.
Nice pics, looks like fun. Very nice brown trout.
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Post by brandon on Sept 28, 2015 10:32:03 GMT -6
I don't know what those fish were but I caught several of them. I fished Penns creek around Weikart.
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Post by Fenwick on Sept 28, 2015 15:24:45 GMT -6
I Googled Penns Creek. Very cool. I have not fished that water. And clicking on that photo to enlarge it I see it indeed is your everyday common chub. I've caught them in the LMF too.
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Post by golferjeff on Sept 29, 2015 7:52:04 GMT -6
Love the native Brookie. I have not fished Penns Creek - a little too far east from where I grew up. I fished the little Juniata in May during higher water.
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