Tabasco-Joe
Member
Since its mid-February and a good time for story telling I finally sat down and put a few of my more notable winter fishing experiences to paper.
Here is my first. More to follow.
The good news about fishing in the winter is there is no worry about snakes. At some point I'll write a series about my snake/fishing encounters.
My family is from Union County (PA). Although I grew up in Allentown I spent most summers, holidays, and vacations in Union County. After my parents retired, they moved back to Mifflinburg. So, I spent many days fishing, hunting, exploring the state land in the area. I am a seasoned outdoorsman and am completely at home in the forest under almost any conditions.
Since it’s now February and one of my favorite times to fish, I thought I’d share a few experiences I’ve had winter fly fishing. This one occurred in about 2008. My father had passed, and my mother was undergoing treatment for breast cancer. My work situation allowed me to work from her house while taking her in for treatments and doing a lot of house work she couldn’t due because of fatigue. The treatments and after recovery ran about six months. I was able to arrange my workday so I could get my work done and fish most afternoons. Mifflinburg allows quick access to several nice trout streams including Penns, White Deer, Buffalo Creek, etc.
One outing in mid-February was memorable for a near disaster on the water. The temperatures in town were around freezing and snow was expected to start around noon. With temperatures dropping. Perfect. No one on Penns. It should be a great day. The trusty RAM was outfitted with a lot of safety equipment, so I headed out to the lower end of Penns. As I parked by the Cherry Run parking spot a light snow started. I moved into the run just below the start of the special regs section and noticed a few rising fish. I couldn’t see any hatch, so I tied on my usual go to for Penns in the situation, a size 18 BWO emerger. My pattern was a simple wood duck tail, dark olive Super Fine body, and a tuft of natural CDC as a wing. I had a hard time spotting the fly and detecting strikes in the snowfall but did land a few small browns.
I decided to get a little more adventurous and struck out for one of my favorite spots on Penns, the terminus of Old Mingle Tail. This spot has a deep channel next to the parking spot and must be forded to get to the best fishing spots. I carefully got into the water and crossed. The stream was waist deep with a swift current but crossable with great care. I moved upstream fishing nymphs and streamers. I measured the water temp in the mid-30s and the air temp was now down to 25. I was fighting ice build up on the line but still managed to land a few 8-9” browns. I think a chub or two as well. By now it was snowing harder with an inch or so accumulated on the ground. I figured I should start heading out before it gets too deep. On my way back across I lost my footing and was completely dunked. Chest waders are now full of freezing water. It was only about 25 yards to the truck but by the time I got there I was already shivering uncontrollably. The truck had a cap with Yakima bar racks which I usually use to hold the rod while I change gear. I put the rod on the bars, quickly stripped down to my underwear, threw the wet gear in the back, and jumped in the truck turning up the heat to the max. I had a thermos of hot coffee and after about ten minutes drank a few cups. It took about a half hour to get back to normal. When I’m traveling I usually keep a duffle bag of spare cloths in the back seat and this time they really came in handy. I got dressed and decided I had enough excitement and started to head home. By this time there was about three inches of snow on the ground. I went up Old Mingle Road and then up Cherry Run Road heading to Bear Run Road and Rt 45 to get back to Mifflinburg. About the time I got to Bear Run Road I realized I had placed the rod on the roof. And, you guessed it, it was not there. I retraced my path all the way back to Penns but couldn’t find the rod. It was an Orvis with a nice Ross reel. The only rod I brought up to my mothers. Well now I was pissed. Mulling this over on my way back out to 45 I decided there was enough time to get up the Flyfisher’s Paradise and see it Steve had any rods in stock.
I arrived about half an hour before closing but he rigged up a couple of rods he had left and let me cast them in front of the store. He gave me good discount on a two piece Sage he was having a hard time selling and it became one of my favorite rods.
Sometimes GOD looks out for fools. Especially if they are fishermen.
And to anyone who found the rod, it's yours.
Here is my first. More to follow.
The good news about fishing in the winter is there is no worry about snakes. At some point I'll write a series about my snake/fishing encounters.
My family is from Union County (PA). Although I grew up in Allentown I spent most summers, holidays, and vacations in Union County. After my parents retired, they moved back to Mifflinburg. So, I spent many days fishing, hunting, exploring the state land in the area. I am a seasoned outdoorsman and am completely at home in the forest under almost any conditions.
Since it’s now February and one of my favorite times to fish, I thought I’d share a few experiences I’ve had winter fly fishing. This one occurred in about 2008. My father had passed, and my mother was undergoing treatment for breast cancer. My work situation allowed me to work from her house while taking her in for treatments and doing a lot of house work she couldn’t due because of fatigue. The treatments and after recovery ran about six months. I was able to arrange my workday so I could get my work done and fish most afternoons. Mifflinburg allows quick access to several nice trout streams including Penns, White Deer, Buffalo Creek, etc.
One outing in mid-February was memorable for a near disaster on the water. The temperatures in town were around freezing and snow was expected to start around noon. With temperatures dropping. Perfect. No one on Penns. It should be a great day. The trusty RAM was outfitted with a lot of safety equipment, so I headed out to the lower end of Penns. As I parked by the Cherry Run parking spot a light snow started. I moved into the run just below the start of the special regs section and noticed a few rising fish. I couldn’t see any hatch, so I tied on my usual go to for Penns in the situation, a size 18 BWO emerger. My pattern was a simple wood duck tail, dark olive Super Fine body, and a tuft of natural CDC as a wing. I had a hard time spotting the fly and detecting strikes in the snowfall but did land a few small browns.
I decided to get a little more adventurous and struck out for one of my favorite spots on Penns, the terminus of Old Mingle Tail. This spot has a deep channel next to the parking spot and must be forded to get to the best fishing spots. I carefully got into the water and crossed. The stream was waist deep with a swift current but crossable with great care. I moved upstream fishing nymphs and streamers. I measured the water temp in the mid-30s and the air temp was now down to 25. I was fighting ice build up on the line but still managed to land a few 8-9” browns. I think a chub or two as well. By now it was snowing harder with an inch or so accumulated on the ground. I figured I should start heading out before it gets too deep. On my way back across I lost my footing and was completely dunked. Chest waders are now full of freezing water. It was only about 25 yards to the truck but by the time I got there I was already shivering uncontrollably. The truck had a cap with Yakima bar racks which I usually use to hold the rod while I change gear. I put the rod on the bars, quickly stripped down to my underwear, threw the wet gear in the back, and jumped in the truck turning up the heat to the max. I had a thermos of hot coffee and after about ten minutes drank a few cups. It took about a half hour to get back to normal. When I’m traveling I usually keep a duffle bag of spare cloths in the back seat and this time they really came in handy. I got dressed and decided I had enough excitement and started to head home. By this time there was about three inches of snow on the ground. I went up Old Mingle Road and then up Cherry Run Road heading to Bear Run Road and Rt 45 to get back to Mifflinburg. About the time I got to Bear Run Road I realized I had placed the rod on the roof. And, you guessed it, it was not there. I retraced my path all the way back to Penns but couldn’t find the rod. It was an Orvis with a nice Ross reel. The only rod I brought up to my mothers. Well now I was pissed. Mulling this over on my way back out to 45 I decided there was enough time to get up the Flyfisher’s Paradise and see it Steve had any rods in stock.
I arrived about half an hour before closing but he rigged up a couple of rods he had left and let me cast them in front of the store. He gave me good discount on a two piece Sage he was having a hard time selling and it became one of my favorite rods.
Sometimes GOD looks out for fools. Especially if they are fishermen.
And to anyone who found the rod, it's yours.
