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Opening Day in PA

onemorecast

New member
My first opportunity to really fish this year couldn't have come soon enough. My job has been requiring me to work really long hours lately and I've had very little time to play.

The day started out with a small disappointment - I was going to take my friend's two young daughters to a kids' Intro to Fly Fishing class at the Wildlands Conservancy along the Little Lehigh. We decided to stop at the fly fishing stretch first, so the girls could see what it was all about. We found out when we got there, that the class was canceled. Well, no harm done. We had just had a discussion in the truck on the way over about anticipation and how life's disappointments teach a person to take the things they anticipate with a grain of salt. A little cynicism for their young minds to mull over.

They weren't too upset, being the intelligent, well-rounded kids they are. So we had our own little casting class in the grassy area below the bridge, out of the way of other anglers. The older one wasn't really into it too much and it didn't take long to see she wasn't too interested in fishing. Later we went shopping, where she was in her element. The younger one picked up the casting really fast and even critiqued her older sister when it was her turn again. If she wants to continue fishing, I'll get her out to some ponds where the catching is easier. I learned a good lesson too - I learned how hard it is to keep kids from throwing stuff in the water! Must be some instinct they are driven to follow.

After dropping them off, I hit the Saucon and got this cute little fella from the Trophy Trout section (my lesson in irony for the day). Finally got to try out the new Optio WP I got for Christmas. Don't be fooled by the fish/hand size relationship. I have smaller hands than y'all. He was only about 8". There very few other people there and I have to admit, this opening day did not bring the crowds I remembered from my youth.

Can't tell if he's wild or not but the absence of the cheek spot tells me he's probably not.

Saucon33107Resized2-1.jpg
 
Thanks for the wild vote. Anyone know if that section is stocked? It was caught behind the crush-crete plant. The section was posted as part of the Trophy Trout regs, but I am not sure if its Class A or not.
 
The Trophy Trout section is not stocked, the fish is wild.

That part of Saucon Ck has a fascinating history. The Saucon was polluted for a century or so by the zinc mines in Freidensburg. The mines closed in the mid 80's and the stream nearly dried up while the mines filled with water. The browns came back by themselves and it was a secret spot for a while. When PA found out the trout were back they started stocking and locals complained that the fishing went to hell. Made it a Trophy Trout area and kept stocking it. Locals still complained. Stopped stocking and the number of trout doubled. This is classic example of letting the wild fish take over. However, success has brought a lot more people.

Can see the biologist reports on the PA Fish & Boat Commision website.
 
i havent had a whole lot of spare time but have tried to fish every day since opening day. have been fishing a lot in town due to time restrictions and this is whats been happening.
saw a guy that killed about 30-50 fish a day. he would just keep filling limit after limit, take them home, then bring other "cousins" most w/o licenses, and fill their limits. this made me mad enough to take down his plate # and program the poaching # into my phone. im sure he will be up to his old tricks when they stock again. probably has a chest freezer full aready.
Have not cought many of the stocked bows but have been doing well with the streem bred browns and occasional wild brook. every now and then will hit the lehigh cannal for what i call "brough's bow relocation service". i catch the stocked bows then quickly run to the river and put em in. have relocated many so far. do i need a realty license?

yesterday hit a few little holes w/ a buddy at lunch break.he threw nyphs and i threw drys. did so well that i never made it back to work:)

saw a bumper sticker. "work is for people who dont know how to fish"
 
Brough,
Unfortunately we have a lot of 'poaching' in Pa.
" Take their license plate number' and report them.....

Enjoy your posts.............
Gg.
 
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