Little J Questions

[Mikey2006]

Tomorrow I’ll be in the area for a college visit and I figured I'd give the little J another shot for a few hours in the afternoon (the first time I fished it this February I took the skunk) and I thought I’d ask for some advice to hopefully avoid having another bad day. I'm not looking for specific spots or secrets or anything, just some general info would be greatly appreciated as I felt completely lost the first time I fished it.

The first time I fished it, I was with two of my friends and we started in the lower river at the mid state trailhead. We fished upstream using a variety of nymphs (pheasant tails, zebra midges, perdigons, a ton of random bead heads, basically everything I had in my box) and I also briefly fished a woolly bugger. Absolutely nothing. My friend got one take on an olive perdigon but other than that we got our asses kicked. We also tried a section of the river above Spruce Creek, where the water was a little murky for some reason, and I chucked a black circus peanut around for an hour until dark without a single strike or follow.

Obviously if I go back and just do the same things again its unlikely I’ll do much better, so I thought It couldn't hurt to ask around on here. Are there any general areas that fish better than others right now? (basically, would I be better off spending most of my limited time on the lower river or sections further upstream where the river isn't as big) Are there any key fly patterns I should try for this time of year? Any help is greatly appreciated because whenever I'm on bigger water I have no clue what I'm doing

 

[dryflyguy]

I don't fish there in winter.
The water is usually too high and cold for my liking

But would recommend fishing upper parts of the river at this time of year - above spruce creek.
You'll have less flow.
Many springs feed the river up there too, maybe leading to little better water temps.

Even in early spring - I usually start fishing there in March - I go upstream

 

[dudemanspecial]

Flow righ now is around 500, thats getting pretty high and fast, very few places to safely wade. I like it more around 350-400 max.
Honestly I would take my chances up at the Spruce Creek George Harvey section if you are stuck to that area. Probably not a lot of people out tomorrow and it will be easier wading.

 

[Mikey2006]

Flow righ now is around 500, thats getting pretty high and fast, very few places to safely wade. I like it more around 350-400 max.
Honestly I would take my chances up at the Spruce Creek George Harvey section if you are stuck to that area. Probably not a lot of people out tomorrow and it will be easier wading.

I’ll probably check out Spruce Creek, although unless the fishing is lights out I doubt the tiny public water section would last the entire afternoon/evening. Would it still be possible to fish on the little J if I fished from/very close to the bank or stuck to the upper river? Even if If the higher water means throwing streamers all day I’d still do it because I’m not sure when the next time I can make it out to the little J will be.

 

[Mikey2006]

Flow righ now is around 500, thats getting pretty high and fast, very few places to safely wade. I like it more around 350-400 max.
Honestly I would take my chances up at the Spruce Creek George Harvey section if you are stuck to that area. Probably not a lot of people out tomorrow and it will be easier wading.

I was already having trouble wading the first time I went and the flows were not very high, so if I do end up fishing the river I’ll be extremely careful. I never even attempted to cross the river, but my friend wasn’t as smart and nearly got taken off his feet trying to get back to the side we parked on. If there wasn’t a big boulder sticking out of the water that he could use to catch himself just downstream it could have gotten ugly.

 

[lycoflyfisher]

You can certainly fish the little J, but wading will be very tough and restricted to the edges unless you are vefy family with certain sections. Look for large rocks and current breaks you can fish along the banks, heavy nymphs or streamers will be your best bet. Be careful fishing alone with the coldwater and high flows. Certain parts of the little J can be very slippery on bedrock and large boulders along the bank.

 

[tomgamber]

WX should be nice

 

[Nocktavius]

Disagree with folks saying 400-500 cfs is too high for the LJ. Keep your head on straight and don’t wade out into anything crazy or dumb but there’s plenty of access points where those flows are optimal for that system, especially if you’re fishing nymphs or streamers. Keep an eye out for BWO’s, I’ve heard sporadic reports of good things up that way. I’d prefer that river pushing 400 cfs to 200 any day. As others have said, I’d skip the gorge and instead hit the more limestone spring influenced portions.

 

[dudemanspecial]

Disagree with folks saying 400-500 cfs is too high for the LJ. Keep your head on straight and don’t wade out into anything crazy or dumb but there’s plenty of access points where those flows are optimal for that system, especially if you’re fishing nymphs or streamers. Keep an eye out for BWO’s, I’ve heard sporadic reports of good things up that way. I’d prefer that river pushing 400 cfs to 200 any day. As others have said, I’d skip the gorge and instead hit the more limestone spring influenced portions.

Currently 569. Big difference in that river between 400 and 500+ imo.

 

[Mikey2006]

I’ll at least check it out and fish for a bit in a few different sections. If it isn’t working out I’m sure Spruce Creek or some of the smaller streams in the area will turn up a fish or two

 

[dudemanspecial]

I’ll at least check it out and fish for a bit in a few different sections. If it isn’t working out I’m sure Spruce Creek or some of the smaller streams in the area will turn up a fish or two

Edited for clarity:

Make sure you are fishing where legal to do so this time of year.

 

[nymphingmaniac]

I'm going out this morning. I will be fishing above Spruce creek. Water has been dropping fast and it will be about 500 this afternoon. There are places to fish, just don't extend yourself and take chances. I will be starting at the junkyard and working up until I find water of good clarity. Sinking run can contribute some mud.

 

[Mikey2006]

I'm going out this morning. I will be fishing above Spruce creek. Water has been dropping fast and it will be about 500 this afternoon. There are places to fish, just don't extend yourself and take chances. I will be starting at the junkyard and working up until I find water of good clarity. Sinking run can contribute some mud.

I’m not gonna be able to get on the water until noon or later, so it sounds like the water should have dropped a good bit by then

 

[dudemanspecial]

I’m not gonna be able to get on the water until noon or later, so it sounds like the water should have dropped a good bit by then

Whatever you do, please be careful and give us a report!

 

[nymphingmaniac]

Remember that you can only fish year round special regulation approved trout waters until opening day right now.

I’m not gonna be able to get on the water until noon or later, so it sounds like the water should have dropped a good bit by then

9am. Passed spruce creek. It’s muddy I’d say unfishable. The J between Tyrone and spruce creek is marginal for streamers but I bet will be streamer fishable this afternoon

 

[Patroutfly]

You never know what it is really like till you put your own boots on the ground. Taking time off the internet to actually do adventuring is what it’s all about. Get out there and experience!

 

[rustbeltwilds]

If the water is high fish tight to the bank on the inner side of fast water big streamers where current slackens dont let high water deterr you..some spots you may never even have wade at all..

 

[Roofin' Trouter]

Remember that you can only fish year round special regulation approved trout waters until opening day right now.

Huh? I thought we could fish pretty much anywhere that is not between upper and lower limits of sections designated Stocked Trout Water. Maybe I'm wrong..

 

[lycoflyfisher]

Huh? I thought we could fish pretty much anywhere that is not between upper and lower limits of sections designated Stocked Trout Water. Maybe I'm wrong..

You are correct

 

[afishinado]

Huh? I thought we could fish pretty much anywhere that is not between upper and lower limits of sections designated Stocked Trout Water. Maybe I'm wrong..

You're right. Unstocked trout streams and/or stream sections are open to C&R trout fishing as well as Special Reg. waters open to fishing before the opening day of trout harvest season. Check the 2025 regulation booklet or the PFBC site for the listings of stocked and Special Reg. waters.