Photos from the West Branch

Despite crazy winds and high sun, we made it happen again. Bob and Rob made their second trip to the West Branch with me this year. After having to cancel three times last year because of high water, we had perfect water levels and rising water temps. Warming water had fish and bugs moving around, Blue Quill and Hendricksons were everywhere, and when the wind died down, the fish were up and munching.

Nice work Guys!

Fall on the West Branch

After a very successful movie night at the shop, I woke up to my alarm at 3 am, in a semi zombie state, I went outside and hooked the boat up. Jack, Casey, and I were headed for the west branch with 6wts, sinking lines, and boat boxes full of streamers. Jack had asked me about 2 months ago if we could go strip streamers on the WB in the fall, umm yeah! So we checked the gauges and it looked perfect. I 100% forgot to look at the wind, opps 10 to 15 mph with gusts up to 40, I rowed my ass off. But we managed 2 fish on streamers, and 2 nymphing the fast water. Cold beer, deer sausage, and brats for a hot lunch, and home made monkey bread for dessert. A short story but some awesome pictures to go with, enjoy!

Trout Fishing in the Summer

Well I cant remember the last time I fished the Tully, the water has just been too warm to fish, or I've been out chasing smallies, either way its been a while. I have made one trip up to the delaware in the past month and fished a little brown trout stream only once since I started for bass. This seems to be the norm for me the past few summers. I do love trout, but when I can float a beautiful river, sight fishing for bass, with almost no one around, I do that. But back to the trout, if you have been thinking about trout fishing, many of the State College streams are still in good condition to fish, Spring has been fishing well, the Little J, has had decent fishing, and Penns is low, but its cold. Also the spring creeks down by Harrisburg have been fishing well with terrestrials, and lots of reports from the Yellow Breaches too. So if bass are not your thing and you are chomping at the bit to get our and find some fish, Check the water temps first, but there are still plenty of trout to be had.

Wild Trout

There is something to be said about an animal that is born and raised in the wild, their outlook on life, their predatory instinct, survival instincts, it just amazes me every time I get to experience it. Trout have to be one of the coolest creatures swimming, when you hold a wild fish, being from a small mountain stream only pushing 4" long or the 20" plus from Montana, each fish holds a story, no fish looking the same.

This past week I mad another trip up to the Delaware river with my lady friend, conditions where tough,   Wind gusts of 30 plus mph, high sun and low water, but the fish were still ready to eat. Mid day between the gusts of wind we found fish rising to just about everything, drakes, hendros, olives, sulphurs, and caddis. We watched fish rise waiting for the chance to make one cast, half the time our flies would just get blown all over the river. We managed a couple fish, and it ended up a good day. 

Then mid week Casey and I headed to a small stream outside of Reading, where yet again, I was amazed at these wild fish, and the size of a couple of them. They are just relentless, a 6 inch fish with the heart of a 20 inched, it will give any 3wt rod a run for its money.