Mark Griffin
New member
Yesterday I headed to the Poconos to fish a Lehigh River trib. The water was clear, 56°, and at an ideal level. The weather and water conditions could not have been better. A dry fly after heavy rains has not been productive for me on this creek this year, so I cut to the chase and only used a beadhead copper john w/splitshot, or with a foam indi. I did ok landing a few wild browns, including two at 12" and 13". The creek appeared to be 3-4 feet higher after the Saturday rains, but I only saw one spot where the creek bed changed significantly.
I always fish the Lehigh River near this trib and usually catch something at high water by fishing some slow spots close to shore. But I've never tried it with the dam release at over 7,000 cfs. The speed of the current was amazing and the slow spots near shore were reduced to small pockets. I used a black wooly bugger w/splitshot and quickly got a bump. Then I had a hookup with a nice fish, but lost it. My next hit is when things got exciting. I was into a good fish with my 6.5 foot, two weight and if he got out into the current, I'd have to break him off quick. I leaned on the fish hard and would not allow him to take any line at all. By the time I landed this fat 14" brown, my hands were shaking.
I tried one other spot without a hit and decided one fish landed was enough in these risky conditions.
I always fish the Lehigh River near this trib and usually catch something at high water by fishing some slow spots close to shore. But I've never tried it with the dam release at over 7,000 cfs. The speed of the current was amazing and the slow spots near shore were reduced to small pockets. I used a black wooly bugger w/splitshot and quickly got a bump. Then I had a hookup with a nice fish, but lost it. My next hit is when things got exciting. I was into a good fish with my 6.5 foot, two weight and if he got out into the current, I'd have to break him off quick. I leaned on the fish hard and would not allow him to take any line at all. By the time I landed this fat 14" brown, my hands were shaking.
I tried one other spot without a hit and decided one fish landed was enough in these risky conditions.
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