Thursday, July 18, 2013

Summer Slowdown Fly Fishing in the Pocono's - June/July 2013

I had been fishing weekly prior to this heat wave. Streams I fished were Brodhead, Pocono, and Pohopoco Creeks.

The Brodhead slowed once the water started getting warm. Fish were active in the morning/evening but now I'm guess the low water and high temps are killing off some of the remaining stockers. I didn't witness any slate drakes the past 2-3 weeks but I'm guessing they are still around. I came across a very small BWO (18-20) a couple weeks ago. They were coming off in a fast riffle right below a Brodhead style plunge pool. I didn't land many fish. I missed a few as well. I haven't caught any bass yet this year on the BHC but based on previous years, I'm guessing there are some nice smallies in there now.

Pocono - I landed some large wild browns in June in the Pocono headwaters in a place I'd wanted to try for years. First cast produced a gorgeous 15 inch wild brown. I caught 3-4 other nice browns all on a wooly bugger. The place I fished sees very little activity as there was no trash or trails next to the stream. I also caught some nice sized brookies that were all over 12". If there is a local stream that would have a tiger trout, it would be this section of the Pocono. Funny thing, I fished the same stretch with the same fly 5 days later and got skunked. I fished longer (duration) and further downstream even but the fish weren't hitting it. If I didn't catch those larger browns/brookies 5 days earlier, I wouldn't even think they got that big in that section of Pocono.

Pohopoco - I fished one evening on the Po headwaters. I caught several fallfish and then a small evening hatch came off before dark. I landed a couple of smaller browns on a light cahill. I noticed this section of the PO has grasshoppers and the tall grass is right over top of the stream bank. It reminds me of what a  Montana stream would look like. I think I could do well fishing a hopper/dropper especially on a windy day. Also, I don't know why the PO headwaters don't get above 70 degrees even in this recent heat wave. Tobyhanna creek is almost 80 degrees while the PO is 64-68 in the heat of the day. Spring influence up above along Rt. 115? Something is going on there. Whatever it is, it helps create a good Class A wild brown trout fishery.

I surveyed the Lehigh headwaters this week in the Gouldsboro area. The stream is very tanic and looks like it should hold brookies. It was so hot and I was paranoid of snakes so I didn't venture too far. I'll wait to fall and take the 3 weight with me. I'll be fishing Colorado streams next week and then to Alaska in the beginning of August so I'll get some colder water fly fishing in soon again!

Upper Lehigh

Upper Lehigh

Upper Lehigh

There were hundreds of these blue and black butterfly looking guys fluttering around