Pocono Fly Fishing: Summer Slowdown Fly Fishing in the Pocono's

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!