Rambler23
L-i-v-i-n'
I had a few personal days that I would have lost had I not used them before the upcoming fiscal year end, so naturally I went back to my former stomping grounds for a few days.
I went to a few of my favorite spots during my college years, most notably Penns Creek (all time favorite), Big Fishing Creek (a close second), one uneventful hour at Spring Creek (15 cars at Benner Springs on a Monday afternoon), and a small wooded stream that shall remain nameless that AK will certainly recognize and possibly a few others.
The destination was State College, but during the trip out I turned off on a desolate dirt road off of I-80, and six miles later I found myself at a spot was all too familiar. The water was low and clear which made conditions difficult, but my expectations of scenery and serenity were on point. For those reasons, I always take a trip off the beaten path to stop here whenever I head back this way.
Day two began with a trip to TCO to say hello to George Daniel and to pick up some size 16 black stonefly dries which I saw hatching in good numbers at the small stream the day before. I went out to my favorite stretch of Penns, but not before a quick stop at the weather rock to check my fortune for the imminent experience
Penns was at a perfect level (for fishing- although scarcely low for March- hoping for a rainy spring), and had that limestone green tint that you dream about. Challenging as usual, I spent most of my time nymphing the riffles with large stoneflies and a few smaller trailers.
If you ask me (though some may disagree), a day of getting skunked on Penns is a lovely day on the water. > or = to 1, success. Catching fish on dry flies in March? Shit, I'll take it. A few fish were caught, nothing to write home about but managed to snap off one pic, along with a few stream shots.
On my way back home I stopped by Fishing Creek, and once again I was fortunate enough to have the entire stream to myself. I spent most of my time on the eminent upper narrows stretch, focusing on the riffles once again. It was a cooler rainy morning, and not much surface action to be found. Spent a few hours there before it was time to head home, and covered a lot more water than I have in the past at this location. Man, what a beautiful stream.
As I was breaking down my gear, I noticed the little guy below had latched on to my gear. Word has it Grannoms were spotted today in fair numbers (Hendricksons too). It's going to be a wild year. I'm hoping to make it back over this way a few more times this year. It's definitely worth the drive.
I went to a few of my favorite spots during my college years, most notably Penns Creek (all time favorite), Big Fishing Creek (a close second), one uneventful hour at Spring Creek (15 cars at Benner Springs on a Monday afternoon), and a small wooded stream that shall remain nameless that AK will certainly recognize and possibly a few others.
The destination was State College, but during the trip out I turned off on a desolate dirt road off of I-80, and six miles later I found myself at a spot was all too familiar. The water was low and clear which made conditions difficult, but my expectations of scenery and serenity were on point. For those reasons, I always take a trip off the beaten path to stop here whenever I head back this way.
Day two began with a trip to TCO to say hello to George Daniel and to pick up some size 16 black stonefly dries which I saw hatching in good numbers at the small stream the day before. I went out to my favorite stretch of Penns, but not before a quick stop at the weather rock to check my fortune for the imminent experience
Penns was at a perfect level (for fishing- although scarcely low for March- hoping for a rainy spring), and had that limestone green tint that you dream about. Challenging as usual, I spent most of my time nymphing the riffles with large stoneflies and a few smaller trailers.
If you ask me (though some may disagree), a day of getting skunked on Penns is a lovely day on the water. > or = to 1, success. Catching fish on dry flies in March? Shit, I'll take it. A few fish were caught, nothing to write home about but managed to snap off one pic, along with a few stream shots.
On my way back home I stopped by Fishing Creek, and once again I was fortunate enough to have the entire stream to myself. I spent most of my time on the eminent upper narrows stretch, focusing on the riffles once again. It was a cooler rainy morning, and not much surface action to be found. Spent a few hours there before it was time to head home, and covered a lot more water than I have in the past at this location. Man, what a beautiful stream.
As I was breaking down my gear, I noticed the little guy below had latched on to my gear. Word has it Grannoms were spotted today in fair numbers (Hendricksons too). It's going to be a wild year. I'm hoping to make it back over this way a few more times this year. It's definitely worth the drive.
