This year we tried something new with the annual Quill Gordon Summit-we bumped to the Fall in hopes of better fishing. I would say the move was the right thing to do. The conditions were tough in God's Country, as water was low and gin clear in most every place we went. Despite tough conditions, everyone was able to find trout and the fishing was much better than it had been when we had our summit in the Spring. Mid to late April is simply too early to have great fishing in the Potter/Tioga/Clinton area.
My dad, Sal, and I arrived at camp around 9am on Thursday after what was possibly the fastest stop in at Sandfly's shop, Big Meadow Fly Shop, in history. Camp was in good shape, and we unpacked, got the cabin's heat and plumbing up and running, and Skybay arrived around 11:30am. He didn't even unpack his car. We headed straight for the first stream of the weekend.
The hike in was beautiful. We split into 2 groups. On the first stream, there's a series of beaver ponds. My dad and I cut off the trail at the first pond and fished upstream. Skybay and Sal headed up a way to the second pond and fished downstream. I picked up a nice brownie in the first pond, but because of the low, clear conditions, that was the only trout we were able to pick up. Sal and Skybay met us halfway between the two ponds, and fishing was slow for everyone. After hiking out, we headed straight for Lyman Run. We dropped Sal off at the beaver pond just upstream of Thompson Rd, and Skbay, my dad, and myself drove further upstream and met Sal in the middle. Lyman fished a little better. The three of us all picked up some small brookies and brownies, nothing of great size. Sal picked up two absolutely beautifuly brookies out of the beaver pond and just below.
We arrived back at camp to find Artifishal sitting around the fire ring playing guitar and enjoying a quiet evening on top of Denton Hill. Bikerfish, Night Stalker, and Wetfly01 all arrived Thursday evening, and plenty of good beer and food was had.
The next day we headed south and fished the Kettle Creek watershed. We began on Cross Fork. Wetfly divided us up into 4 groups of 2, broke us off into 4 different sections of the creek with two cars between each of the two groups, and we all covered some serious water upstream. Again, conditions were low and clear, but everyone got into some nice fish. It was a good mix of brookies and brownies, and from what I understand a few nice holdover bows made their way upstream as well. After fishing Cross Fork, we headed over to Kettle. Wetfly, Skybay, Night Stalker, and Artificial fished up through Ole Bull. Dad, Sal, Biker and I fished at Oleona with two of us going downstream, and two going upstream. Fishing on Kettle was solid the whole way. Lots of good sized fish were taken.
Back at camp, we found newer board member Brutus waiting for us. He had arrived a little earlier, headed out to Genessee Fork for a bit, and had just enough time to drink half a beer before Biker, Sal, dad and I pulled in. Then the waiting began...we sat around camp waiting and waiting for the other group of guys. I'll let others in that group tell this story, needless to say it involved Skybay, the deep dark woods of Ole Bull State Park, a policeman and a speeding ticket. More beer and food flowed Friday night. DaveS also popped in for a night of food and beer on his way up to the Upper D to fish with Krayfish.
Saturday the temps were cold in the AM, so none of us were pushing to get out the door. It had rained most of the night before, so water was a bit better. Dave took off around 9am for the Upper D, the rest of us got out around 10am or maybe a bit later. Most of the guys headed down to fish the big Pine. Some fished in Gaines, others a little further up. Wetfly and I fished a smaller stream and man we got into it. Lots of brownies and brookies, all the browns were SOLID. We met up in Ansonia around 3pm. The plan was to fish the big waters all together, but Wetfly and I decided to go back to a lower section of the same stream we fished in the AM. Glad we did because we hit it good. Solid browns, all over 12", fat and buttered up, great runs and deep pools, some were taken on dries, some on my dropper, and the flows were solid on this stream. This is a stream that we will certainly focus on next year We learned of several solid stretches, and we plan on doing a similar setup like we did on Cross Fork this year.
The other guys were able to get into some trout on the big water as well. A few big fallfish, rainbows, and browns were taken. Saturday nigh ended with some epic burgers, more beer, and good times.
A few guys stopped on the way home on Sunday to fish, they'll have to give their reports. I'm particularly interested in hearing how Artificial did on a certain small stream that flows behind Coudersport.
This was by far the best fishing we've had at the NCPA summits. We have decided the first weekend in October will be the date for next year, so clear the calendars. Bow hunters, wait til the 2nd week to go out and get to this summit. The comments were made at how affordable this is. Your lodging is pretty much free (by donation to my family's hunting club), everyone brings plenty of food and beer, its an issue of getting to the cabin.
Next year's jam is officially titled the "Where's Jared Summit" because that seemed to be a common question throughout the whole weekend. Gotta love Skybay. He keeps us all entertained!
We're gathering the pictures from the weekend. There will be plenty of fish porn posted soon.
Follow more photographs and comments in the forum thread.
The hike in was beautiful. We split into 2 groups. On the first stream, there's a series of beaver ponds. My dad and I cut off the trail at the first pond and fished upstream. Skybay and Sal headed up a way to the second pond and fished downstream. I picked up a nice brownie in the first pond, but because of the low, clear conditions, that was the only trout we were able to pick up. Sal and Skybay met us halfway between the two ponds, and fishing was slow for everyone. After hiking out, we headed straight for Lyman Run. We dropped Sal off at the beaver pond just upstream of Thompson Rd, and Skbay, my dad, and myself drove further upstream and met Sal in the middle. Lyman fished a little better. The three of us all picked up some small brookies and brownies, nothing of great size. Sal picked up two absolutely beautifuly brookies out of the beaver pond and just below.
We arrived back at camp to find Artifishal sitting around the fire ring playing guitar and enjoying a quiet evening on top of Denton Hill. Bikerfish, Night Stalker, and Wetfly01 all arrived Thursday evening, and plenty of good beer and food was had.
The next day we headed south and fished the Kettle Creek watershed. We began on Cross Fork. Wetfly divided us up into 4 groups of 2, broke us off into 4 different sections of the creek with two cars between each of the two groups, and we all covered some serious water upstream. Again, conditions were low and clear, but everyone got into some nice fish. It was a good mix of brookies and brownies, and from what I understand a few nice holdover bows made their way upstream as well. After fishing Cross Fork, we headed over to Kettle. Wetfly, Skybay, Night Stalker, and Artificial fished up through Ole Bull. Dad, Sal, Biker and I fished at Oleona with two of us going downstream, and two going upstream. Fishing on Kettle was solid the whole way. Lots of good sized fish were taken.
Back at camp, we found newer board member Brutus waiting for us. He had arrived a little earlier, headed out to Genessee Fork for a bit, and had just enough time to drink half a beer before Biker, Sal, dad and I pulled in. Then the waiting began...we sat around camp waiting and waiting for the other group of guys. I'll let others in that group tell this story, needless to say it involved Skybay, the deep dark woods of Ole Bull State Park, a policeman and a speeding ticket. More beer and food flowed Friday night. DaveS also popped in for a night of food and beer on his way up to the Upper D to fish with Krayfish.
The other guys were able to get into some trout on the big water as well. A few big fallfish, rainbows, and browns were taken. Saturday nigh ended with some epic burgers, more beer, and good times.
A few guys stopped on the way home on Sunday to fish, they'll have to give their reports. I'm particularly interested in hearing how Artificial did on a certain small stream that flows behind Coudersport.
This was by far the best fishing we've had at the NCPA summits. We have decided the first weekend in October will be the date for next year, so clear the calendars. Bow hunters, wait til the 2nd week to go out and get to this summit. The comments were made at how affordable this is. Your lodging is pretty much free (by donation to my family's hunting club), everyone brings plenty of food and beer, its an issue of getting to the cabin.
Next year's jam is officially titled the "Where's Jared Summit" because that seemed to be a common question throughout the whole weekend. Gotta love Skybay. He keeps us all entertained!
We're gathering the pictures from the weekend. There will be plenty of fish porn posted soon.
Follow more photographs and comments in the forum thread.
