Recent Trip Report

Oliver came all the way from Wyoming to catch some steelhead in PA!

March is a strange month for fly fishers in the Keystone State.  Winter lingers as driving snow and freezing cold are nothing out of the ordinary, as are torrential rains that swell streams to dangerous levels.  Certain waters shut down in anticipation of April's trout opener, and yet other streams don't receive their spring stocking until late into the month.  Throw in the fact that steelhead season begins to wane and the result is a time of year where anglers look back, or forward, for better fishing opportunities!

With that said, the fishing has been good to us lately.  Some local trout streams are open year-round and in between the snowflakes the trout have cooperated nicely.  Small black stonefly nymphs and a smattering of BWO's have been the bugs du jour.  A good strategy for this time of year is to check the extended weather forecast  and fish the warmest day out of the bunch.  While trout don't mind the cold, there will be increased bug activity during the warmer days which in turn will stimulate more trout feeding! 

Steelhead are still in the streams and there to be caught, but the PA season is definitely on the downswing.  Fish will hang around through April, but it hasn't been quite as productive as the winter months. If you observe fish in extremely shallow water in groups of two or three, odds are they are spawning. Please be mindful of this and consider pursuing other fish that might be more willing to eat! Take special care of any fish that are caught, as they have braved some harsh conditions throughout the last few months and have earned the right to head back to the lake until September!

As a side note, the catch and release, fly fishing only section of Little Sandy Creek (Venango County) is set to receive trout on Friday, March 29th.  Any local fishers (or non-fishers!) who are free should think about going to help out.  It's a fun event and a great chance to check out what fish are headed into the stream this season! 

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