Summer and Fall 2011 Recap

I haven’t posted in a long time.  Weather and the hustle and bustle of life have kept me from the stream lately.  I haven’t been able to fish much, leaving very little to post about.  When I have gotten out the fishing has been ok at best so I didn’t feel a pressing need to write about it.

2011 posted the most precipitation on record and we still have over a month to go.  All the rain and flooding changed the rivers and made for few days with decent fishing conditions.

The summer smallmouth fishing was tough.  When the rivers were fishable, I found the stream bed was gouged to clay in areas that used to have good fish holding habitat rendering the spot barren of fish.  I’m not sure if the fish got washed down stream or if some were killed by all the flooding, but it seemed like numbers were down sharply from years past.

I made a trip to Spring Creek on Columbus Day since the conditions around here were supper low and clear.  The fishing was ok, but not as good as Spring can be.  I caught a few trout, none of any size.  I did manage to bring a few fish to the surface prospecting with a caddis pattern.  I fished the newly opened canyon section of the creek which was nice.  The highlight of the trip was a chance to fish a handmade bamboo rod.  As I was walking deeper into the canyon I met an old timer who had made this beautiful bamboo rod.  When I complimented him on his rod, he offered to allow me to fish it.  I reluctantly accepted.  I had never cast a bamboo rod before.  I’ve wanted to try a bamboo rod out and not that I’ve had the chance I really want to get one someday.   

Dawn on the drive to State College

I only got out a couple of times in search of steelhead, and have yet to catch one this fall.  I hear the fishing has been good, but school has consumed me and I have not had a chance to get out when conditions were prime.  The two times I have been out, the water was low and clear and fish were not present.

In summary, between getting married, work and school I have been very busy.  My schedule coupled with very few days when the rivers have been fishing has led to limited time on the water and less than ideal conditions; the end result is crappy fishing.  I still cherished every moment I’ve had on the water.  I often daydream of the next chance I’ll have to be on the water, I envision the perfect cast to the perfect lie and subtle take before the violent fight, then photographing a trophy fish before releasing it.  Until the next time…