Fishing Private Waters in PA

[AKSkim]

I have been invited again to fish at a private fishing club in Pennsylvania this weekend. Compared to the Spring Ridge Club this one has only 2.4 miles of private waters. It is not the first time I have fished those water at the club and hopefully won't be the last. It is one weekend a year I always look forward to fishing with my longtime good friends. The stream is very well kept and the cabins are very rustic, no electricity, an out house, and propane for cooking & heat which is just great for the whole experience. Best part about the cabins, you have to keep your beer cold on ice all weekend!

Now I know there are those out there who will be reading this and angered by someone looking forward to fishing on a private waters, but hey, unless you have experienced it first hand, you don't know what your missing.

The tough part is that the salmon are running and they had some rain in Pulaski, but after my last weekend fix, I can wait another week to get back up there.

As always, enjoy fishing with great friends.

AK Skim

 

[Future Fanatic]

Now I know there are those out there who will be reading this and angered by someone looking forward to fishing on a private waters, but hey, unless you have experienced it first hand, you don't know what your missing.
AK Skim

Kinda like the private waters out behind The Yankee Fly Shop. Yes, AKDub?

 

[NJFred]

Wouldn't be the Dream Mile would it? Great place. Beautiful. Classic water, Classic lies and lots of stockies and holdovers. Have fun where ever you wet a line.

 

[NJpatbee]

For the most part, many trout fisherman do not begrudge private clubs as long as there are ample opportunities elsewhere.

For example, the Beaverkill, Big Flatbrook, and South Branch of the Raritan all have some private water but still offer fine opportunities on some great open water.

An exception in my area is the Broadhead Creek, where most of the classic and superior trout waters are leased to a private, exlusive, club. I had read of these waters many (25+) years ago and was thrilled to find that they were a short distance from my home. I waited for a perfect day in May and headed across the Delaware and spent several hours in the upper portions of the stream trying to get access and failed. I apparently did not do enough research and most of the waters that Jim Leisenring fished were at one time public had become private. I have to admit to being disappointed and ticked off, but its not like we have a shortage of trout waters in NE Pennsylvania and NW Jersey. I have not attempted to fish the Broadhead since then, but I understand that TU has been working diligently to restore some of the lower waters that were channelized to prevent flooding.

So have a great time and I know that I would jump at the opportunity if I had it. And if you happen to be on the Henryville Club water, catch one for me!

 

[AKSkim]

Rained Out

Sorry to say because of the rain late in the week the stream rose to ungodly hights and the fishing trip for the weekend was postponed.

However no matter how disappointed, there is always a bright spot.

The Boston Red Sox (professional baseball team still playing into the late fall) took it to the Cleveland Indians last night, so I got to watch the game.

Another bright spot, get to watch the NE Patriots (3 games away from clinching the division) play Dallas.

As always, waiting to hear those J-E-T-S... Jets - Jets - Jets
lose..lose..lose..again..again..again...

AK Skim

 

[Scott]

An exception in my area is the Broadhead Creek, where most of the classic and superior trout waters are leased to a private, exlusive, club.

There are three clubs on the upper Brodhead that I know of. The two oldest clubs are partners, and they have been in existence on the same stretch of river for over 100 years, so their ownership of the land and stewardship of the river is not new.

 

[NJpatbee]

Schweibert wrote about the Brodhead in his essay "Homage to Henryville" and if I remember my scouting mission correctly 25+ years ago, the public waters that many of the old timers like Leisenring fished and wrote about have since become private. I believe that the club name is the "Henryville Flyfishers" if I remember the posted signs correctly. There certainly may have been others since I covered a lot of mileage that day, but I have never been back to try to fish since then.

My point was to contrast the difference between legendary fly fishing waters like the Beaverkill that have large public access areas as well as some private sections, with the upper Brodhead Creek that is (or at least was) mostly closed.

 

[onemorecast]

I believe Henryville owns the land along the Paradise too. Every inch of roadside creek is posted along Rt 191. I drool over it every time I drive by.

 

[MACFLY]

I have been invited again to fish at a private fishing club in Pennsylvania this weekend. Compared to the Spring Ridge Club this one has only 2.4 miles of private waters. It is not the first time I have fished those water at the club and hopefully won't be the last. It is one weekend a year I always look forward to fishing with my longtime good friends. The stream is very well kept and the cabins are very rustic, no electricity, an out house, and propane for cooking & heat which is just great for the whole experience. Best part about the cabins, you have to keep your beer cold on ice all weekend!

Now I know there are those out there who will be reading this and angered by someone looking forward to fishing on a private waters, but hey, unless you have experienced it first hand, you don't know what your missing.

The tough part is that the salmon are running and they had some rain in Pulaski, but after my last weekend fix, I can wait another week to get back up there.

As always, enjoy fishing with great friends.

AK Skim

As usual a statement is made that is factually incorrrect. first no one cares where you fish (Can you get me in to fish with you) Second, people are perfectly entitled to own or fish a private river or lake or stream or pond as long as they have researched the law and are in the right. The Donny Beaver situation was a classic example of a guy who did not do his research and subsequently was taken to court because of it. Dont always assume Mr Skim...it makes a you know what out of you know who.

 

[AKSkim]

it makes a you know what out of you know who.

Who ???

Who ?????

 

[MACFLY]

Who ???

Who ?????

Well my limey friend if you have to ask........

 

[sandfly]

I have fished the henryville section with Ernie..He was one of the founding fathers of the club..Great water but has lost alot of hatches over the years. Mostly caddis now...Never been a member just a guest..Also went with Bill White (baseball commisioner), and a WWII P41 pilot who was a founding member..there is some nice water down below too..over the years its made a come back..Theres a waiting line to get in the club...The fish are helped out in the winter by feedings...Was fishing a sz 16 Blue quill and caught a 5lb. brown under one of the bridges...

 

[lastchance]

I live in PA and I agree it's legal to own private access to public waterways. But just because it's legal that doesn't make it ethical or moral. I believe a sportsman wants what is best for all and not the greed of a select well-off few. We are caretakers of the gift of nature that should be enjoyed by all people.
Just my personal feelings.

 

[Future Fanatic]

But just because it's legal that doesn't make it ethical or moral.

Be careful with thoughts like these, or someone just might apply them to your own fishing or hunting.

We are caretakers of the gift of nature that should be enjoyed by all people.

But maybe sometimes, being the caretaker of nature means making sure that the masses DON'T have the chance to spoil it.

 

[NJpatbee]

"But maybe sometimes, being the caretaker of nature means making sure that the masses DON'T have the chance to spoil it."

Interesting - I have never met a person that believes they are a member of one of the "masses". This term was used by the Bolsheviks and others to distinguish and show the superiority of the leaders of the Party from everyone else. Implied adjectives before "masses" include "stupid, ignorant, lazy, dirty (as in "unwashed"), helpless, wretched, directionless, pointless, and hopeless", along with other unflattering terms.

Sorry for the interruption but I received a degree in Philosophy from BC 34 years ago and finally found a place to use it!:devious:

 

[AKSkim]

NJpatbee:

I knew there was something good about you.. but I never knew till now!

Go Eagles!

 

[Corndog]

Hey AK...

Are you ever gonna go on that fishing trip in PA that you've been rubbing in our faces for the last month???

Just curious

Cdog

 

[Corndog]

...Sorry for the interruption but I received a degree in Philosophy from BC 34 years ago and finally found a place to use it!:devious:

Now that's funny...

:rofl:
Cdog

 

[AKSkim]

Rub-a-dub-dub

Corndog in the tub...

 

[Future Fanatic]

"But maybe sometimes, being the caretaker of nature means making sure that the masses DON'T have the chance to spoil it."

Interesting - I have never met a person that believes they are a member of one of the "masses". This term was used by the Bolsheviks and others to distinguish and show the superiority of the leaders of the Party from everyone else. Implied adjectives before "masses" include "stupid, ignorant, lazy, dirty (as in "unwashed"), helpless, wretched, directionless, pointless, and hopeless", along with other unflattering terms.

Sorry for the interruption but I received a degree in Philosophy from BC 34 years ago and finally found a place to use it!:devious:

Oh, when I wrote "masses", I was referring to the collective bulk of all the well meaning sportsmen who loved nature so much that they thought they deserved to trample every inch of it with the weight of their own bodies whether or not the public owned it or some private citizen. I guess I should have made that more clear. My bad.

"Other unflattering terms" such as huddled masses yearning to breathe free?
Damn Lady Liberty I SAY! I mean Emma Lazarus...

 

[Corndog]

Here we go again!

Where's the rock salt grampa...got a another trespasser.

Cdog

 

[Future Fanatic]

Here we go again!

Where's the rock salt grampa...got a another trespasser.

Cdog

Hit 'im agin with that thar scatter gun Clem, he's still movin'. Quick, he's gittin' away...

 

[afishinado]

Be careful with thoughts like these, or someone just might apply them to your own fishing or hunting.


But maybe sometimes, being the caretaker of nature means making sure that the masses DON'T have the chance to spoil it.

That can be a double edged sword. I can show you a nearly 100% privately owned stream that WAS one of the premier wild trout streams in PA - Spruce Creek. I was invited to fish it last year and was shocked to see it stocked to the "gills" with large rainbows and browns. I did see a few wild fish cowering in the shallows behind rocks. Greed has caused many of the landowners and clubs to stock over the wild fish to make the stream a "pay to play stream."

The ultimate insult was when the clients had a hard time catching fish, and the guide brought out a bag of dog food and threw a handfull in the water to chum the fish. Yuk!! Another great wild trout bites the dust!

Just because a stream is in private hands does not mean that the owners will good stewards of the stream.

 

[AKSkim]

The ultimate insult was when the clients had a hard time catching fish, and the guide brought out a bag of dog food and threw a handfull in the water to chum the fish. Yuk!!

Whats wrong with that?

I do it all the time.

How do you think I get all those large fat trout so I can post the photos of me holding them on here?

Myself, I prefer to electroshock them, just need a net then.

 

[millrun]

I don't believe that Spuce Creek was ever a premier Wild Trout stream. I have occasionally fished Spruce Creek over the past twenty years and it was always stocked full of big fish that were pellet fed. Now that Donny Beaver has exclusive leases on much of this water, they are continuing the tradition. I was there, as a guest, two years ago fishing a small pool when the local landowner on the pool below me approached the water with a bucket and spoon. He beat on the bucket and huge fish thrashed about for the pellets he was about to feed them.

There is a lot of great water to fish in Pennsylvania, New York and New Jersey, and for the life of me I don't know why people are so concerned about water they can't fish.

 

[AKSkim]

the local landowner on the pool below me approached the water with a bucket and spoon. He beat on the bucket and huge fish thrashed about for the pellets he was about to feed them.

Thank you for pointing out the Pavlov Trout species that have been introduced into some of these private streams.

 

[MACFLY]

"But maybe sometimes, being the caretaker of nature means making sure that the masses DON'T have the chance to spoil it."

Interesting - I have never met a person that believes they are a member of one of the "masses". This term was used by the Bolsheviks and others to distinguish and show the superiority of the leaders of the Party from everyone else. Implied adjectives before "masses" include "stupid, ignorant, lazy, dirty (as in "unwashed"), helpless, wretched, directionless, pointless, and hopeless", along with other unflattering terms.

Sorry for the interruption but I received a degree in Philosophy from BC 34 years ago and finally found a place to use it!:devious:

Does that mean if you had the money and the ability to buy some portion of a trout stream (assuming it was legal to do so) you would make it available for everyone (I will send you my contact info should this ever happen) you would make it available for everyone to fish. My guess is probably not and you would be well within your rights assuming you did your homework and had the legal access to the stream and the legal right to prevent others from fishing it. As for the "masses" you have to admit that there are at least a small percentage of the masses that fit the implied description and that also affects some of the decisions property owners make to close access to their streams. It is a shame since it impacts the larger group but its just a fact of life.

 

[Future Fanatic]

Thank you for pointing out the Pavlov Trout species that have been introduced into some of these private streams.

They're the same ones our states throw in by the thousands. Haven't you ever seen feeding time at the hatchery?

ONE difference though is that these fish don't see the number of humans they might see, let's say if they were in a public stretch of water. They don't see humans as something to hide from.

Bison in Yellowstone,
Deer in my yard,
Bears in Jersey trash cans.

Wild, not so wild, when humans aren't perceived as a predator but as a provider, their behavior changes.

 

[NJpatbee]

MACFLY - I will contact you on this site when I buy my first trout stream!

My comment on the word "masses" was not an attack on the right to own private property but rather a comment on the how the word has been used in the past and its implications. Most people who have used this term in the past have never included themselves as part of the masses and have positioned themselves as superior in one or more ways.

 

[Corndog]

Most people who have used this term in the past have never included themselves as part of the masses and have positioned themselves as superior in one or more ways.

NJ, Agreed. I would bet most of us here wouldn't include ourselves in the "masses" and think of ourselves as quality sportsmene. We would respect the land and environment, and not wish to do anything that the landowner would be upset about. The guys I've met here, I would feel comfortable letting them on my land to hunt or fish. But, then the other guys, from the "masses", would feel they have rights as well and that's when problems start. I know this from experience.

Cdog