Wanna float the Lehigh?

[Ryan R]

Just wondering if any of my fellow flyfishers are interested in trying to plan a few pontoon floats for the Lehigh over the next few months? I've got a pontoon (actually 2 but I may need to make a small repair to the frame) but it's a one man so its hard to plan shuttles since I have no other passengers. I need to find another single floater, or several. It'd be nice to put some trips together, Let me know?

 

[brough]

Hey Ryan,

I would be more than happy to tag along with my yak if you get another angler for your pontoon. That would get another vehichle into the mix. If you want to schedule something up let me know, I can usually make time for a good float down the river.


Now if I could only find a little time this week to get the yak and canoe ready for the season.

 

[beeber]

Ryan,

I am game for a Lehigh toon float.

Bill

 

[Ryan R]

Cool, seems like we have some interest. I've got a bunch of things onmy 'to do" list for this weekend but I'm going to try to get my 'toon together as well so I'm ready to rock & roll.

Are you guys familar with the launches on the Lehigh at all? Have you ever floated it?

 

[beeber]

I've been on the Lehigh a bunch of times, both the upper and lower gorge areas. There's some nice floats on both sections, depending on conditions. Last year with the wet summer there were a lot more holdovers lower in the system.

 

[Ryan R]

I've fished it a bunch but have never floated it on my own. I did an upper gorge float though with a guide- it was awesome. For floating I was thinking mostly in the stretches from Jim Thorpe to Treichlers- especially the Bowmanstown to Walnutport stretch.

 

[beeber]

Those are the sections I was thinking about too. Plenty of good water there. How's your schedule(s) look for something the weekend of 5/22-23?

 

[Ryan R]

Those are the sections I was thinking about too. Plenty of good water there. How's your schedule(s) look for something the weekend of 5/22-23?

Lookin' good.

 

[LehighRegular]

Hey Ryan
Don't bother...river's been fishing horrible...no fish.... JUST KIDDING.

Have fun...the stretch's you have planned have been fishing well. That weekend is a non-ww weekend, so flows should be good.

Good luck, check those fins and fill out a survey when your done

:: Online Survey Card ::

 

[Ryan R]

Hey Ryan
Don't bother...river's been fishing horrible...no fish.... JUST KIDDING.

Have fun...the stretch's you have planned have been fishing well. That weekend is a non-ww weekend, so flows should be good.

Good luck, check those fins and fill out a survey when your done

:: Online Survey Card ::

Definitely will fill out a survey card. I was checking out an on-line report out of Rivers and one of the guys caught an adipose fin-clipped rainbow. The surprsing thing was how far downriver it was caught- downstream of Walnuport I believe near Treichlers.

We ever get the gate situation improved at FEW and get more coordination/cooperation with using Beltzville to augment coldwater habitat this place will explode as a premier tailwater destination.

 

[brough]

Those are the stretches I am most familiar with as well, and would certainly enjoy fishing them on a float with you. I have maps that cover all the access point, rapids, obstructions, etc. Should be easy logistics.


Brough

 

[LehighRegular]

On a side note - we are turning up fingerling clippies up and down the river. the Rainbows are in the 13" range and the browns are a bit smaller.

Lotsa bugs hatching right now, so enjoy the trip.

 

[Ryan R]

On a side note - we are turning up fingerling clippies up and down the river. the Rainbows are in the 13" range and the browns are a bit smaller.

Lotsa bugs hatching right now, so enjoy the trip.

Thanks. I also just saw a photo of another adipose fin-clipped trout, a brown. I think this is really good news, the PFBC should be pleased. And with the growth rate they are showing it proves the fantastic potential of that river, something we've all been saying and now have proof of.

 

[Ryan R]

Well Beeber and I hit the Lehigh on Saturday(5/22) in our pontoon boats (or as the loveable Comparadun calls 'em "stinktoons.") We floated from the Glen Onoko access down to the new Bowmanstown boat ramp. It was a fun ride with just enough "whitewater" to test out my boat and skills. We had a good upstream wind of about 10mph or so but we still made great time getting down the river. I think the wind affected the amount of bugs on the water and the fishing was a little slow, although we both managed to bring several fish to hand. My first fish was my best fish, a 16-17 inch Brookie (un-clipped) that nailed an Orange Blossom. The other fish were smallies and a fall fish (Lehigh River whitefish I like to say.) I did have a 13" rainbow follow my bugger to the boat before turning back- would've loved to have seen if it was fin-clipped. The rubber hatch wasn't bad at all, only one large group instead of several large groups all day. Beeber's a nice guy and a great person to float with. He's got his floating "system" down pat and was real helpful to me. I look forward to more river floats.