Big Spring: First Guide Trip to 30th Birthday

As many of you know, there is a special spot in my heart for Big Spring. I love all PA spring creeks for many reasons, from their stories and their challenging techniques. I did my first trip of 2016 on Big Spring and it was great success. I took long time client Mike Orr out there so he could challenge his fly fishing skills. After a few little guys we got into multiple large ones, we only landed one, but he loved the visual eats and the stealthy approach. Then where else would anyone want to celebrate their 30th birthday than the spring creeks in cumberland county. Rob, Jack and I spent the morning on Big Spring, but it got a bit crowded in the afternoon. So we headed over to the Letort for the afternoon. Big Spring was on fire for us, and it seemed they wanted nothing but sow bugs. The Letort was a different story, but all I really wanted was to see a large "dinosaur" brown trout. After a short walk, there he was. I even hooked him, but he was smarter than I and got off. It was just awesome.

SYE Sow Bug  

Video - Crescent Cress Bug

I have a small obsession with cress bugs, one that rivals my obsession with sculpins. This is a fly that has worked well for me over the past few winters. The first edition of this fly was designed almost three years ago, and after about four re-designs I am very satisfied with it. Life like, but doesn't take a lot of time to tie. Check it out.

Macro Flies

My lovely wife gave me a macro lens for my camera as a wedding present. I have been messing with it for a while now and can finally take a decent picture with it. I am no professional photographer here, but I do love taking pictures. Once we got back from Belize I made a goal to fill all my nymph boxes before I would go fishing. Well the before fishing part didn't work out, but I have completed filling in the gaps of all four boxes. The caddis box, midge box, sow bug box, and general nymph box, are all full. Here are few shots of some of my favorite patterns for most nymphing situations. 

Small Prospecting Nymph.

An Army of Prospecting Nymphs.

Orange Collared Pheasant Tail Nymph.

Pheasant Tail with a Hot shot. 

Psycho Prince Nymph and Pheasant Tail.

Artsy Black and White of a Squirrel Nymph and Pheasant Tail.

Two of my favorite Jig style flies.

Midge, Midge, Midge 

Variety of Midge Fly Patterns. 

Peaking Caddis Jig a 2015 Orvis Tactical Fly.

Simple Caddis Larva.

An army of Cress Bugs.

The Pink Sow Bug Fly.

Natural, Rainbow, and Pink my three favorite colors. 

The natural sow bug or cress bug is a great fly for all winter time fishing.

Featured Fly - SYE Sow Bug

So here it is everyone, the fly that has made me so successful on the spring creeks down south. It is a very simple yet effective fly, and looks very close to the real thing. This sow bug, can be tied in just about any color you want, my favorite colors are, sow bug, tan rainbow, and rainbow. To go with this featured fly, I might as well give the the report from the last trip down on Sunday. Joey and I meet up and fished pretty much until we couldn't see. We had fish rising to Blue Wings, and every now and then one would eat a black stonefly. Sow bugs and little tiny olive pheasant tails where the only two bugs I had success on. It was warm and foggy most of the day, and the water temps stayed at a level 52 degrees.

Materials:

Hook: TMC C200 BL 14-16

Thread: UNI Thread 8/0 - Grey 

Under Body: Lead Wire .020

Dubbing: Sow Scud Dub - Tan Rainbow 

Shell Back: UV Curing Glue -  Loon Thick 

Step 1: This is important, make a very tight and solid thread base. It will help with keeping the lead from sliding around.

 Step 2: Tie in the lead along the side of the hook shank. Do this on both sides, making a thin and wide profile. Use a small drop on UV glue to secure once both sides are tide on.

Step 3: Pick your dudding color.

Step 4: You will need 3 times as much dubbing as you would think you do. 

Step 5: Tightly wrap the body, getting as much dubbing on the hook as possible. This will make combing trimming much easier.

Step 6: Whip finish and cut off thread.

Step 7: Brush and pick out all the dubbing.

Step 8: Once you brush all the budding to the sides, add a coat or two of UV curing glue to form a nice smooth shell back.

Step 9: Trim the sides, I like to keep them a little wider, this give the fly a little more movement. 

Finished Fly:

Joeys Sow Bug eating Rainbow

A chunky wild rainbow that loves Sow Bugs

Big Spring 20 Plus

Jack and I were looking forward to fishing Big Spring all this past week.  After confirming a “no snow” forecast – at least for the morning – we were off on an adventure.

At 7:15AM, Jack and I pulled into Park Place diner – no need to look at the menu - we reflexively ordered black coffee and ‘Lumber Jack breakfast’ - a tradition that started with our first trip to Big Spring earlier this year.

Filled with our diner breakfast, we pulled up to Big Spring and I could tell it was going to be a good day – there wasn’t a person in sight.  The creek always seems to start slow; it takes some time to get into the groove.  After missing two fish due to my own fault, I finally landed a small rainbow.  Time moved on, saw some lunkers but no hookups.

Finally reaching one of my favorite holes filled with big boys, I could see that they were still there.  I changed flies, crawled on the ground and after countless drifts – one ate.  After two jumps, a couple nice runs, the fly popped out.  Disappointed, I looked back at the hole and thankfully the rest of the fish were still there.  Rewind and replay.  A few casts later, I had another crazy fight on my hands that ended in Jack netting an awesome male rainbow for me! 

Later I was fishing a run without any luck catching two nice fish. I was fishing a dry dropper rig but it wasn’t getting deep enough.  Jack was fishing an indicator rig so he came over and gave the same run a try.  I soon heard “JAKE, it’s a good one!”  I ran up and netted Jack’s 20inch fish – Jack was smiling ear to ear.