North Central PA - What flies, tips and tricks?

[osprey]

sniderrj.............I have good friends who have had a cabin in Bennzette for over 50 years at least , trout run is one of the streams they took me to that was great , we went and saw the elk up over the hill from a Tavern/restaurant , there was a farm there with a small apple orchard , they were feeding on the apples. Do you know of a place on Trout run where there is a granite , tombstone type marker about a guy that shot 2 mountain lions? He was a relative of the folks i know.

 

[salmonoid]

If you grew up in the area, you're probably aware of the coal mining in the region, and naturally, the acid mine drainage that it leaves behind. If I recall correctly, from a few years ago while backpacking the Elk Trail, which I believe follows Trout Run into Benezette, there are mines in the headwaters of that stream. The stream looked ok down towards Benezette but I'm sure it's impaired in some places the further upstream you get. So a tool that you mind find useful is a pH meter, to test the acidity of the streams. Some of them are obviously impaired - the one photo shows Bell's Branch as it flows into Dents Run. Bell's is unimpaired; Dents at that point is loaded with yellow boy. It was one of those moments that struck me, because there was a pretty clear interface between polluted/unpolluted, and the brookie I caught was pretty much guaranteed to have been spawned and grew up in Bells' Branch. Other streams may look fine, because the AMD has been diluted somewhat by the time you get downstream a bit, but their aquatic life is fairly limited.

The elk are on Trout Run road, as it comes into Benezette - a fitting ending to a hike on the Elk Trail. There was a second smaller bul that wandered down behind the big guy.

 

[wgmiller]

I'm sensing a "mini-jam" come opening weekend in April. How about the Driftwood Branch of the Sinnemahoning Creek? :lol: We have a cabin in Sinnemahoning and I'll be up there that weekend. The kids like to fish the kid's derby at the Wykoff Nursery and hopefully I'll be venturing off for some grown-up fishing.

As far as "wild" brookies, you really can't go wrong with fly selection (within reason). The biggest trick is not spooking them...

If you want to catch a brookie off the top, a "Humpy" is a sure-fire bet! Nothing like taking a rising fish - your heart will be pounding! It's a stimulator fly that grabs the attention of the fish.

Internet photo of a "Humpy"

Good luck and welcome to the board!

 

[sniderrj]

Hey Osprey,
I've been "out-of-pocket" from the forum for a while. My apologies for the delay. It sounds like you may have been at the top of Winslow Hill (about a mile up the mountain from Trout Run). The Game Commission has placed 2 Elk Viewing areas up there and a huge Elk Visitors complex is supposed to be finished this year. I grew-up as a kid exploring the mountains for miles around and I can't ever remember seeing a tombstone type marker about a guy shooting 2 mountain lions, but I can tell you that there are still a few old-timers in the area that have mountian lion stories (not to mention stuffed mountain lion displays). This year during deer season, with snow on the ground, I saw several sets of mountain lion tracks.

Where is your friend's cabin? Chances are, I probably know them, or at least know of them.

I did indeed do my first real 'fly-fishing' at the local reservoir a few weeks ago! Because the water was cold, the fish weren't very active (a little lethargic). It took me a little over an hour to find a fly that worked. The bead-head did the trick for me! I used a small strike indicator and the sunnies were loving it! As a long-time bait fisherman, I was amazed at how well that tiny replication worked! I'm hooked!

 

[sniderrj]

salmonoid,
You are correct, the final portion of the Elk Trail runs along Trout Run (although the Elk Trail didn't exist when I was a kid). Thanks for sharing the photos! From the place where the photos were taken of the Elk, the local Trout Run watershed chairman lives off to the right about 100 yards away. The last time I spoke with him, he reported that the PH levels were acceptable and a couple of Acid Mine reclamation points had been constructed in previous years to stop some of the run-off. The mines weren't in the head-waters, but rather closer to the end near Benezette. About 3 miles north of Benezette, Spring Run enters Trout Run. Both waterways have fortunately remained relatively healthy. Just last fall, I camped and fished up-stream for about 10 miles...it's healthy and extremely beautiful. Nothing like taking your evening bath in a cool mountain stream with a bar of soap! Near town, I usually catch brookies that range anywhere from 10 to 15 inches. A buddie of mine actually caught a 24" brookie near town a few years ago.

I loved the native brookie photo! : )

The photos of the Elk were taken around 200 yards from my cabin. From the cabin, I see the Elk daily.

Thanks for your response and the beautiful photos!

 

[sniderrj]

wgmiller,
Humpy it is! I'll be either trying to tie a few or ordering some. Thanks! If you're in the Benezette area, please don't be scared to stop-by and say "Hello.". My cabin is on the bottom street of Benezette, straight past the Benezette Hotel...Cabin Creek Lodge.

I can't WAIT 'til April!

 

[PACOFRANSICO]

Sniderr,

You might want to get some or tie beadhead hare ear in sizes 12 to 16 in black olive and natural hare's ear colors. Always have done good early season with them.