Spruce Creek access

[jifigz]

That’s encouraging to hear you say that, Josh. I’m curious, what has given you the indication of a huge comeback?

That is just anecdotal speculation, but I come to those conclusions because I see more bats in places where there had once been many, then they disappeared, and now they appear to be gaining some traction again. I don't know about all species, but I think the little brown bats and the big brown bats are doing fairly well.

I have several outbuildings at my house, and the one outbuilding is just entirely a bat house. I mean, it is a nice cinder block building, but each year, the bats move in during the spring, and they migrate away again during late autumn. They roost in there at night, raise pups in there, and fly out each evening in droves. It is actually quite satisfying to observe.

 

[Jemoca75!]

I've caught two bats. one during a cast. another when it took a fly on the surface.

So how do you unhook a bat ? I imagine they're not to cooperative

 

[lars]

i usually hope they get off.

there used to be clouds of them up on the brodhead. caught my first one there. kinda weird when you're fishing in the dark and your line doesn't feel quite right and then you realize it's gaining altitude.

 

[dryflyguy]

So how do you unhook a bat ? I imagine they're not to cooperative

For the couple that I hooked, they just kept flying around - like a "bat out of hell"
Had to wait awhile for them to finally settle down some, and get on the ground.
Allowing me to finally walk up and gently pin their wings to the ground with my feet.
Then unhook the fly with my hemostats

I rarely see bats around here anymore now

 

[Swattie87]

Yeah, they’re not horrible. I’d rather unhook a bat than those stingrays the size of manhole covers I catch surf fishing sometimes.

 

[wildtrout2]

I rarely see bats around here anymore now

I definately don't see as many as I did while growing up, that's for sure. I used to see them every late evening, swooping around chasing bugs. Now, it's a rarity to see them.

 

[lars]

I definately don't see as many as I did while growing up, that's for sure. I used to see them every late evening, swooping around chasing bugs. Now, it's a rarity to see them.

definitely way less. jifigz had it right with the cause being the white nose disease/fungus. apparently it wakes them from their hibernation when there are no bugs to eat and they starve.

 

[jifigz]

definitely way less. jifigz had it right with the cause being the white nose disease/fungus. apparently it wakes them from their hibernation when there are no bugs to eat and they starve.

And I believe that spelunkers were a major cause for spreading the fungus around. There are people really dedicated to exploring grottos. I guess that it is another human pastime that seemed innocent enough that had some pretty major repercussions to it.

 

[wildtrout2]

And I believe that spelunkers were a major cause for spreading the fungus around. There are people really dedicated to exploring grottos. I guess that it is another human pastime that seemed innocent enough that had some pretty major repercussions to it.

Good point. I'm sure the intrusion into caves has had a negative effect on them.

 

[Jemoca75!]

For the couple that I hooked, they just kept flying around - like a "bat out of hell"
Had to wait awhile for them to finally settle down some, and get on the ground.
Allowing me to finally walk up and gently pin their wings to the ground with my feet.
Then unhook the fly with my hemostats

I rarely see bats around here anymore now

I hooked a mallard in a farm pond with spinning gear once years ago, that was interesting

 

[Swattie87]

There’s a video somewhere online of a guy (inadvertently) hooking or tangling a Bald Eagle. Then the eagle proceeds to blow up the guy’s drag system at it flies away. I don’t remember, or maybe the video doesn’t clearly show it, but something between that guy’s fly and his arbor knot did fortunately fail.

 

[dryflyguy]

Back to the original topic here:

Doing some much needed housekeeping in my fishing files this morning.
And came across an old rothrock state forest map, put out by the DCNR. Prolly from the '80's.
It's very detailed, even showing topography levels.
According to it, the Forest boundary does actually butt right up to the stream, but only in one small stretch.
Short sections just below and above the Colerain road bridge - including the park.

The rest of the boundary lines dont quite reach to the waters edge, meaning private land on both sides of the stream for the most part I guess

 

[jifigz]

Back to the original topic here:

Doing some much needed housekeeping in my fishing files this morning.
And came across an old rothrock state forest map, put out by the DCNR. Prolly from the '80's.
It's very detailed, even showing topography levels.
According to it, the Forest boundary does actually butt right up to the stream, but only in one small stretch.
Short sections just below and above the Colerain road bridge - including the park.

The rest of the boundary lines dont quite reach to the waters edge, meaning private land on both sides of the stream for the most part I guess

I wish we had a "wet-feet law" like Montana. That would make PA just a little bit cooler...

 

[DomR]

And I believe that spelunkers were a major cause for spreading the fungus around. There are people really dedicated to exploring grottos. I guess that it is another human pastime that seemed innocent enough that had some pretty major repercussions to it.

another hobby that I can't quite reconcile in my mind, crawling into tight spaces that also have bats in them! I do have some claustrophobia. I got invited to do it once in New Paltz, NY - hard pass, I went fishing instead. 🙂

 

[Swattie87]

And I believe that spelunkers were a major cause for spreading the fungus around. There are people really dedicated to exploring grottos. I guess that it is another human pastime that seemed innocent enough that had some pretty major repercussions to it.

I was going to give you credit as being the first person is site history to use the term “spelunkers”.

But, and admittedly, probably should have seen this coming…the search function indicates pcray first used it in November 2021.

 

[jifigz]

I was going to give you credit as being the first person is site history to use the term “spelunkers”.

But, and admittedly, probably should have seen this coming…the search function indicates pcray first used it in November 2021.

He's been rather quiet around these parts lately. We are missing someone who is going to write posts that are the equivalent of a 5,000 word essay.

 

[Swattie87]

He's been rather quiet around these parts lately. We are missing someone who is going to write posts that are the equivalent of a 5,000 word essay.

I text with him regularly and fish with him a couple times a year still. He’s doing well. Busy with life, kids, etc. He pops on still from time to time.

 

[Hackle]

Back to the original topic here:

Doing some much needed housekeeping in my fishing files this morning.
And came across an old rothrock state forest map, put out by the DCNR. Prolly from the '80's.
It's very detailed, even showing topography levels.
According to it, the Forest boundary does actually butt right up to the stream, but only in one small stretch.
Short sections just below and above the Colerain road bridge - including the park.

The rest of the boundary lines dont quite reach to the waters edge, meaning private land on both sides of the stream for the most part I guess

Not according to dcnr and dept. Of forestry. They firmly state that the line is in the center of stream. I find it hard to believe the state would make an incorrect assessment of their own property line.

 

[dc410]

That is just anecdotal speculation, but I come to those conclusions because I see more bats in places where there had once been many, then they disappeared, and now they appear to be gaining some traction again. I don't know about all species, but I think the little brown bats and the big brown bats are doing fairly well.

I have several outbuildings at my house, and the one outbuilding is just entirely a bat house. I mean, it is a nice cinder block building, but each year, the bats move in during the spring, and they migrate away again during late autumn. They roost in there at night, raise pups in there, and fly out each evening in droves. It is actually quite satisfying to observe.

Thanks, that does sound encouraging.