south central pa

[tvoltaggio]

Hello all,
I am looking to get out and try to just have a decent chance of catching some cookie cutter browns (preferably close to 15) or within 1 hour from central maryland as our streams in maryland haven’t been doing too well recently. i’m not asking for specific spots but I just haven’t found enough information on some of the freestoners to justify the driving
(is eba below reservoir worth a look)

 

[jifigz]

Hey,
Streams are ridiculously low. I am not discouraging a fishing trip for trout, but I would temper my expectations at finding great fishing. Of course there are streams that will have more water than others, like straight-up spring creeks that are reliably pumping water from an underground aquifer.

 

[Swattie87]

There’s some Browns (but mostly Brookies) in Michaux SF in SCPA, but as noted they’re likely very, very low right now, and will fish pretty tough. Similar to what you’re experiencing in MD probably.

There’s good numbers of wild Browns in the “Cumberland Valley Limestoners”, and they likely have better, but still not ideal, flows. If you Google that term, I’m sure you’ll come up with plenty of info on the streams I’m referring to. They’re difficult to fish by reputation in their own right, but unique and interesting fisheries.

Short answer, everything will fish better, including the stuff more local to you in MD, after a couple of soaking rains.

Edit: EBA below the dam has wild Brookies, but not many. It’s a jungle gym type stream with lots of deadfalls across the stream. FWIW.

 

[Troy]

Hello all,
I am looking to get out and try to just have a decent chance of catching some cookie cutter browns (preferably close to 15) or within 1 hour from central maryland as our streams in maryland haven’t been doing too well recently. i’m not asking for specific spots but I just haven’t found enough information on some of the freestoners to justify the driving
(is eba below reservoir worth a look)

Cookie Cutter browns around 15 inches? Sorry, but I just know of a place where the cookie cutters are 16 inches.

In all seriousness a brown 15 inches is a nice fish and PA doesn't have those type of cookie cutters.

 

[tvoltaggio]

Cookie Cutter browns around 15 inches? Sorry, but I just know of a place where the cookie cutters are 16 inches.

In all seriousness a brown 15 inches is a nice fish and PA doesn't have those type of cookie cutters.

uh no your wrong 15 like the road. running north through thurmont maryland up into pa maybe you should look at a map.

 

[tvoltaggio]

Cookie Cutter browns around 15 inches? Sorry, but I just know of a place where the cookie cutters are 16 inches.

In all seriousness a brown 15 inches is a nice fish and PA doesn't have those type of cookie cutters.

well aware a cookie cutter is 4-8 inches

 

[Schaefer406]

uh no your wrong 15 like the road. running north through thurmont maryland up into pa maybe you should look at a map..

Your post was not very clear so I don't see how you could be rude his reply.

To answer your question, and nearly everyone on here will tell you this as the same question gets posted in different variations almost weekly --> https://www.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=65a89f6592234019bdc5f095eaf5c6ac Use the PAFBC Trout Maps tool and select Class A Streams and start exploring.

 

[jifigz]

I agree. I, too, thought that you meant brown trout averaging around 15 inches. Maybe just a polite apology instead of inserting a caustic remark along with it would be more fitting.

 

[Swattie87]

I agree. I, too, thought that you meant brown trout averaging around 15 inches. Maybe just a polite apology instead of inserting a caustic remark along with it would be more fitting.

I thought the same thing too. And half started to type a response in that vein. Had to reread it a couple times until I deduced he was more likely talking about Rt. 15.

It was poorly written. OP that was on you, lighten up. Guys are trying to help you here. Keep that up and you’re gonna have a lot of one post wonder threads.

 

[jifigz]

Plus, you'd have to beat me with a stick to get me to voluntarily give info out to strangers who haven't earned my trust yet regarding a stream with many browns averaging in the 15" range....they exist. I learned of one last year thanks to a fellow forum member.

You know who you are. Thanks again. I still can't get that day I visited there out of my mind. I was so pleasantly surprised by that place.

 

[Duriensbane]

Plus, you'd have to beat me with a stick to get me to voluntarily give info out to strangers who haven't earned my trust yet regarding a stream with many browns averaging in the 15" range....they exist. I learned of one last year thanks to a fellow forum member.

You know who you are. Thanks again. I still can't get that day I visited there out of my mind. I was so pleasantly surprised by that place.

One day ill find info on places like that i hope. Including all the beats Dusty fishes.

 

[Swattie87]

One day ill find info on places like that i hope. Including all the beats Dusty fishes.

He leaves enough nuggets between dialogue and background shots that you can figure out some of his if you try hard enough and know what to focus on. He’s pretty tough though. I like that. Most of the popular PA YT FFing channels are pretty easy to figure out where they’re at.

Even if you can’t locate his exact spots, it’s not rocket science. There are certain watershed characteristics that lend themselves to holding big Browns. Hint, they’re much more tolerant of warm water, and much more adept at finding cooler water than we give them credit for.

 

[jifigz]

He leaves enough nuggets between dialogue and background shots that you can figure out some of his if you try hard enough and know what to focus on. He’s pretty tough though. I like that. Most of the popular PA YT FFing channels are pretty easy to figure out where they’re at.

Even if you can’t locate his exact spots, it’s not rocket science. There are certain watershed characteristics that lend themselves to holding big Browns. Hint, they’re much more tolerant of warm water, and much more adept at finding cooler water than we give them credit for.

Swattie, your sleuthing abilities are better than most. You should create the YouTube channel that will explain in detail where all of the other YouTubers are and how to access their spots. This will accomplish a few things.

1) You'll be hated by all others as the ultimate spot burner. Do it under the guise of anonymity, though.. Think of the pot you'll be stirring!
2) you'll have a very popular channel because people will be out there crushing those browns just like their idol, Dusty Rhodes..
3) Fearing their locations will continue to be exposed, many will quit making the videos to avoid their streams and locations being revealed.

Think of the possibilities!

 

[Swattie87]

Na. I know you’re half joking, but I like those channels too much and respect their creators. I enjoy Dusty’s videos. It’s fun trying to put the puzzle together.

I look at it the same way as if I recognize a stream on here. If the OP chose to name it, fine. Fair game to talk about it. But if they didn’t, I assume they did that on purpose, and out of respect for that I’m not gonna name it.

I’ve Trout fished all four corners of the state, and you kind of develop a knack for what streams in certain areas of the state generally look like…geology/geography/topography, presence or absence of certain plant species, what species of Trout is being caught, and some other things unique to certain parts of the state. Most, but not all, of Dusty’s videos are from a certain part of the state. From there, it’s trying to find a couple of very specific, unique features from the video and identifying them using mapping software or photos on the internet. Like I said, some are tougher than others based on how they film themselves. Dusty is definitely on the tougher end, but some of his can be sleuthed if you’re motivated (or bored) enough.

 

[Steelhead_JESUS]

Na. I know you’re half joking, but I like those channels too much and respect their creators. I enjoy Dusty’s videos. It’s fun trying to put the puzzle together.

I look at it the same way as if I recognize a stream on here. If the OP chose to name it, fine. Fair game to talk about it. But if they didn’t, I assume they did that on purpose, and out of respect for that I’m not gonna name it.

I’ve Trout fished all four corners of the state, and you kind of develop a knack for what streams in certain areas of the state generally look like…geology/geography/topography, presence or absence of certain plant species, what species of Trout is being caught, and some other things unique to certain parts of the state. Most, but not all, of Dusty’s videos are from a certain part of the state. From there, it’s trying to find a couple of very specific, unique features from the video and identifying them using mapping software or photos on the internet. Like I said, some are tougher than others based on how they film themselves. Dusty is definitely on the tougher end, but some of his can be sleuthed if you’re motivated (or bored) enough.

i want to be on this level by the time i am 30… long way to go

 

[Swattie87]

i want to be on this level by the time i am 30… long way to go

One stream at a time.

I’m on the other end of it. I don’t have an accurate count of how many I’ve fished, but my guess is it’s somewhere between 300 and 400 streams in PA. (I have 276 stream folders on my computer with pictures in them. And if I don’t like a stream, I sometimes don’t take any pictures, and don’t fish it again.)

I have less than a dozen streams left on my PA “list” I want to try. Which feels like an accomplishment in a way, but makes me sad too. Knowing there aren’t many uncharted waters left for me out there to explore. That was a lot of the fun for me. Spending Winter nights with a strong beer or two and researching streams and looking at maps. Wondering what this and that stream was like.

I was about 25 or 26, when I got this bug. I’m 40 now. Family, kids, etc make it harder to find time to fish than when I was younger. This is normal, and happens to most of us in some way. Extends the duration of time where I’ll still have some new streams out there I guess. Either way, just enjoy the process as you go.

 

[dudemanspecial]

One stream at a time.

I’m on the other end of it. I don’t have an accurate count of how many I’ve fished, but my guess is it’s somewhere between 300 and 400 streams in PA. (I have 276 stream folders on my computer with pictures in them. And if I don’t like a stream, I sometimes don’t take any pictures, and don’t fish it again.)

I have less than a dozen streams left on my PA “list” I want to try. Which feels like an accomplishment in a way, but makes me sad too. Knowing there aren’t many uncharted waters left for me out there to explore. That was a lot of the fun for me. Spending Winter nights with a strong beer or two and researching streams and looking at maps. Wondering what this and that stream was like.

I was about 25 or 26, when I got this bug. I’m 40 now. Family, kids, etc make it harder to find time to fish than when I was younger. This is normal, and happens to most of us in some way. Extends the duration of time where I’ll still have some new streams out there I guess. Either way, just enjoy the process as you go.

It's funny how people take different approaches to it. I am your age and got into it in my late 20's and have focused 85% of my trout fishing on 3 streams and I would be content to spend the rest of my fishing life spending all of my time learning everything I can about them.

I do fish other places, especially if I go with a friend, but I have 3 that just have that magnetic pull for me.

 

[Swattie87]

It's funny how people take different approaches to it. I am your age and got into it in my late 20's and have focused 85% of my trout fishing on 3 streams and I would be content to spend the rest of my fishing life spending all of my time learning everything I can about them.

I do fish other places, especially if I go with a friend, but I have 3 that just have that magnetic pull for me.

Yeah. Everyone’s path is different.

I’ve developed some favorites of course that seem to draw my attention at least once a year. And the ones I have left to try are all complicated in some way…places I wouldn’t go alone, long drives requiring overnight stays of some kind, needing certain flow conditions at a certain time of year, etc.

 

[Steelhead_JESUS]

One stream at a time.

I’m on the other end of it. I don’t have an accurate count of how many I’ve fished, but my guess is it’s somewhere between 300 and 400 streams in PA. (I have 276 stream folders on my computer with pictures in them. And if I don’t like a stream, I sometimes don’t take any pictures, and don’t fish it again.)

I have less than a dozen streams left on my PA “list” I want to try. Which feels like an accomplishment in a way, but makes me sad too. Knowing there aren’t many uncharted waters left for me out there to explore. That was a lot of the fun for me. Spending Winter nights with a strong beer or two and researching streams and looking at maps. Wondering what this and that stream was like.

I was about 25 or 26, when I got this bug. I’m 40 now. Family, kids, etc make it harder to find time to fish than when I was younger. This is normal, and happens to most of us in some way. Extends the duration of time where I’ll still have some new streams out there I guess. Either way, just enjoy the process as you go.

that was pretty cool to read i know it doesn’t mean anything but that’s impressive but it makes sense. That seems like a good problem to have though knowing you covered that much water but i never thought i’d be reading that as a problem someone would ever it’s pretty cool.. Seems more like a journey lol but that’s where i’m at just turned 25 in Oct really have only covered central, sw, and some of south central and wouldn’t even call it covering. Just like dudeman said though it’s pretty unique the different approaches people take

 

[Duriensbane]

at the rate im going id be happy to have 1/2 that by the time im 60. But i think my friend from work is really helping me explore more. Im turning 39 next week, and he just hit 21. But hes been holding a fly rod since he was 12 and i just picked it up last year. And we have been feeding each other info and desire to explore. As in he has fished Penns a ton, but never tried the little J. Which we are going to correct very soon.