Sunfish around Harrisburg area

[LanguageArtsGrade]

Hello all,

Despite multiple attempts, I have had almost no luck fly fishing this winter. I am a beginner and was told to look for a small pond that holds some sunfish as they are easier to catch on the fly gear for beginners. Any recommendations on how to find a place that may still hold these fish around this time of year? If not, what time of the year should I start? I'm really just trying to catch anything at this point haha.

All previous information in the comments of my last posts were also very helpful and I bet its just a matter of me getting out and just practicing more. All help is very much appreciated!

 

[jifigz]

Not to be a naysayer, but my best advice for you right now is to wait a few months. When spring rolls around, those sunfish will be much easier to catch. Bluegill in lakes and ponds are great, just don't overlook redbreast sunnies in moving waters like the Swatara.

Bluegills caught on dry flies in April - June is a great time.

 

[poopdeck]

I would recommend that you go find a class A stream and pick off the native brook trout. It’s like shooting fish in a barrel and they are way easier to catch then a sunnie in the dead of winter. Sunfish are a warm water loving fish while native brook trout are a cold water loving fish and generally easier to catch most times of the year.

 

[jifigz]

I would recommend that you go find a class A stream and pick off the native brook trout. It’s like shooting fish in a barrel and they are way easier to catch then a sunnie in the dead of winter. Sunfish are a warm water loving fish while native brook trout are a cold water loving fish and generally easier to catch most times of the year.

This is good advice, but sometimes trout have lockjaw mid-winter, too. They are easier to catch, though.

One thing to note about that kind of fishing is that you'll have lots of casting obstacles. That's not a bad thing, but it could be frustrating. It's also a great learning challenge.

 

[PennKev]

If not, what time of the year should I start? I'm really just trying to catch anything at this point haha.

Keep an eye on the fishing reports for larger lakes around the state. When you start to see reports about crappie being caught (April-ish), you should find success for other panfish on smaller water also. Also, don't ignore the bigger lakes. Crappie will often be very close to shore where there woody structure and are not hard to catch at that time. As the water warms other sunfish will move in close to shore until the bulk of spawning wraps up around the beginning of June. Then, they will disperse to deeper water again, only periodically showing up in shallows depending on conditions with mostly small fish hanging out near shore.

In small ponds sunfish will be catchable from shore through the warm months. Some ponds will fish better than others.

 

[Bamboozle]

Small ponds are probably frozen right now. Bigger lakes should have SOME open water.

Memorial Lake in Memorial Lake State Park by Fort Indiantown Gap comes immediately to mind.

Other options are Laurel & Fuller Lakes in Pine Grove Furnace State Park. The good thing about the State Park lakes is you can call the local park offices and ask if the lake is totally frozen before you head out.

Section 2 of Mountain Creek also flows between those two lakes. It is stocked and has wild fish. It may be tricky to wade unless things warm up considerably but you may find open water.

Good luck!!

 

[Swattie87]

I think in general targeting WW species is a good way to start FFing. Most people start on Trout and move to WW later, but I think the opposite makes a lot of sense. WW fish generally are much more forgiving presentation wise for someone starting out than Trout are. (Yes, Brook Trout are relatively easy to catch, but also are easy to spook. And when you’re a newbie you tend to need to get closer to the spot you’re casting to than someone more experienced who can perhaps make the same cast from further away, and is less likely to spook the pool or run you’re fishing to.) With WW species like Sunnies, SMB, and Fallfish, you can practice your casting, retrieving, mending, etc, and still be pretty sloppy, yet still catch fish. Just tie on a small Bugger in black and have at it. You’ll learn the mechanics quickly, which will then help you on Trout streams. The same stuff still applies and works generally the same, the margin for error is just smaller with Trout.

So you’re on the right track in that sense. Just not the right time of year for it! I start WW (stream) fishing typically when the Spring time higher flows start to drop off and the water is warm enough to start wet wading. This is roughly about June 1st most years. Plenty of good options around the Harrisburg area. Swatara/Conodoguinet/Shermans. Just look for parks or water trail accesses where you can access them safely and without trespassing. Hint…Stand in the middle of the creek in the sun, and cast toward the bank and into the shade, wherever you can find it. Depth helps, but in the Summer Sunnies specifically will sit in very little depth, as long as it’s shaded and against a bank.

Edit: Just keep in mind that nothing is going to fish all that well when it’s THIS cold out. Yes, there are some guys who fish high, cold water for Smallies in the Winter, but that’s a nuanced type deal, and requires a pretty specific set of skills and knowledge (and spinning tackle generally) and not something I’d recommend for a FFing beginner. The fish are typically stacked in deep slack water, that is often difficult to safely wade/cast to in Winter. Most of the guys doing this kind of fishing are doing it from a boat, which isn’t the place for a new fly angler to be learning.

If you have the itch to get out now, I would also recommend sticking to Trout, but wait for a warm up. Target days with afternoon highs over 40F, and the previous night’s low not much below freezing. Don’t bother with dry flies. Fish a small streamer, mostly dead drifted, or a nymph rig of some kind. If nymphing, one of your flies at this time of year should almost always be an egg. An egg and a big heavy stonefly is my standard Winter Trout rig, FWIW.

 

[TimMurphy]

Hello,

Right now, you will most likely be wasting your time trying to fly fish any local lakes or ponds. The water is getting kind of hard.

In addition to the places mentioned once mid-March rolls around you may want to try Little Buffalo State Park outside of Newport. It's about 35 minutes from I-81 in Harrisburg but worth the drive. When the ice is off the western end of the lake crappies will be in the shallows preparing to spawn. Holman Lake in the park is open to year-round fishing even though it is stocked with trout.

Near Memorial Lake you can also find Marquette Lake on FTIG proper. Public fishing is allowed, and the bottom of the lake offers better wading opportunities as it is not as mucky as Memorial Lake. It is however stocked with trout in the Spring. You'll need to check the PAFBC rules to see if year-round fishing is permitted. You may need to wait until opening day of trout season. I've never fished it before trout season opens.

Opossum Lake outside of Newville is another option as well. It is also stocked with trout so again you will need to check to see if it is closed pre-season.

Regards,

Tim Murphy 🙂

 

[jifigz]

In addition to the places mentioned once mid-March rolls around you may want to try Little Buffalo State Park outside of Newport.

I strongly endorse this option, and I almost made this suggestion myself. Holman Lake has a strong population of crappie and nice sized gills. I used to fish it often, and I still enjoy fishing that lake.

 

[LanguageArtsGrade]

Not to be a naysayer, but my best advice for you right now is to wait a few months. When spring rolls around, those sunfish will be much easier to catch. Bluegill in lakes and ponds are great, just don't overlook redbreast sunnies in moving waters like the Swatara.

Bluegills caught on dry flies in April - June is a great time.

Ah I figured as much. I appreciate the advice!

 

[LanguageArtsGrade]

I would recommend that you go find a class A stream and pick off the native brook trout. It’s like shooting fish in a barrel and they are way easier to catch then a sunnie in the dead of winter. Sunfish are a warm water loving fish while native brook trout are a cold water loving fish and generally easier to catch most times of the year.

I have been trying the Yellow Breeches recently. Haven't gotten any bites but I like to throw the egg pattern or zebra midge out there. I am sure its an error in my casting or maybe wrong locations but do you think I should be using different flies to catch these trout? Thank you for your response!

 

[LanguageArtsGrade]

This is good advice, but sometimes trout have lockjaw mid-winter, too. They are easier to catch, though.

One thing to note about that kind of fishing is that you'll have lots of casting obstacles. That's not a bad thing, but it could be frustrating. It's also a great learning challenge.

I agree with this. I have been frequenting the Yellow Breeches the past two months (yet to catch anything or get bites). However last time I went, I was told to tie two flies on at once (egg and zebra midge) and I ended up getting tangled and then breaking off haha. It was definitely frustrating but I still haven't given up for sure! Appreciate the reply.

 

[jifigz]

I have been trying the Yellow Breeches recently. Haven't gotten any bites but I like to throw the egg pattern or zebra midge out there. I am sure its an error in my casting or maybe wrong locations but do you think I should be using different flies to catch these trout? Thank you for your response!

An egg and a zebra midge are a fine choice at this time of year. If you want to catch trout in the dead of winter, find easier trout to catch than those you are going to find in the Breeches. I've only fished the Breeches once, and I know there is a good head of wild fish in it, but a lot of the stream sees a lot of pressure, and on a limestoner like that, the fish have plenty of food choices. Other stream types and environments are easier to consistently nab trout out of for a newbie.

Find a less fertile stream with more willing fish that have to eat what they see go by, and your chances are pretty good. In the winter, a mountain freestoner and a bright pink San Juan worm is a great combination. Also, if you are going to be fishing the Breeches, try a streamer like a bugger.

 

[LanguageArtsGrade]

Keep an eye on the fishing reports for larger lakes around the state. When you start to see reports about crappie being caught (April-ish), you should find success for other panfish on smaller water also. Also, don't ignore the bigger lakes. Crappie will often be very close to shore where there woody structure and are not hard to catch at that time. As the water warms other sunfish will move in close to shore until the bulk of spawning wraps up around the beginning of June. Then, they will disperse to deeper water again, only periodically showing up in shallows depending on conditions with mostly small fish hanging out near shore.

In small ponds sunfish will be catchable from shore through the warm months. Some ponds will fish better than others.

This is some very good advice! I really appreciate it.
Only lake I have fished at so far was Pinchot. I have caught some bluegill and bass there on spin fishing gear with worms but thats about it. Definitely gonna try that in the warmer months then!

 

[LanguageArtsGrade]

I think in general targeting WW species is a good way to start FFing. Most people start on Trout and move to WW later, but I think the opposite makes a lot of sense. WW fish generally are much more forgiving presentation wise for someone starting out than Trout are. (Yes, Brook Trout are relatively easy to catch, but also are easy to spook. And when you’re a newbie you tend to need to get closer to the spot you’re casting to than someone more experienced who can perhaps make the same cast from further away, and is less likely to spook the pool or run you’re fishing to.) With WW species like Sunnies, SMB, and Fallfish, you can practice your casting, retrieving, mending, etc, and still be pretty sloppy, yet still catch fish. Just tie on a small Bugger in black and have at it. You’ll learn the mechanics quickly, which will then help you on Trout streams. The same stuff still applies and works generally the same, the margin for error is just smaller with Trout.

So you’re on the right track in that sense. Just not the right time of year for it! I start WW (stream) fishing typically when the Spring time higher flows start to drop off and the water is warm enough to start wet wading. This is roughly about June 1st most years. Plenty of good options around the Harrisburg area. Swatara/Conodoguinet/Shermans. Just look for parks or water trail accesses where you can access them safely and without trespassing. Hint…Stand in the middle of the creek in the sun, and cast toward the bank and into the shade, wherever you can find it. Depth helps, but in the Summer Sunnies specifically will sit in very little depth, as long as it’s shaded and against a bank.

Edit: Just keep in mind that nothing is going to fish all that well when it’s THIS cold out. Yes, there are some guys who fish high, cold water for Smallies in the Winter, but that’s a nuanced type deal, and requires a pretty specific set of skills and knowledge (and spinning tackle generally) and not something I’d recommend for a FFing beginner. The fish are typically stacked in deep slack water, that is often difficult to safely wade/cast to in Winter. Most of the guys doing this kind of fishing are doing it from a boat, which isn’t the place for a new fly angler to be learning.

If you have the itch to get out now, I would also recommend sticking to Trout, but wait for a warm up. Target days with afternoon highs over 40F, and the previous night’s low not much below freezing. Don’t bother with dry flies. Fish a small streamer, mostly dead drifted, or a nymph rig of some kind. If nymphing, one of your flies at this time of year should almost always be an egg. An egg and a big heavy stonefly is my standard Winter Trout rig, FWIW.

I really appreciate all of the information! Yeah I will definitely start WW a bit later in the year. I live next to the connie so thats good to hear!
I will continue to try with trout this time of year as well and see how it goes. I did try nymphing but it didnt go so well with me getting tangled and breaking off haha. I might give a streamer fly a chance at the breeches when its a bit warmer out.

Thank you again for the detailed response!

 

[jifigz]

Are you nymphing using indicators/bobbers? If not, I would strongly recommend giving it a try for ease of use.

 

[LanguageArtsGrade]

Hello,

Right now, you will most likely be wasting your time trying to fly fish any local lakes or ponds. The water is getting kind of hard.

In addition to the places mentioned once mid-March rolls around you may want to try Little Buffalo State Park outside of Newport. It's about 35 minutes from I-81 in Harrisburg but worth the drive. When the ice is off the western end of the lake crappies will be in the shallows preparing to spawn. Holman Lake in the park is open to year-round fishing even though it is stocked with trout.

Near Memorial Lake you can also find Marquette Lake on FTIG proper. Public fishing is allowed, and the bottom of the lake offers better wading opportunities as it is not as mucky as Memorial Lake. It is however stocked with trout in the Spring. You'll need to check the PAFBC rules to see if year-round fishing is permitted. You may need to wait until opening day of trout season. I've never fished it before trout season opens.

Opossum Lake outside of Newville is another option as well. It is also stocked with trout so again you will need to check to see if it is closed pre-season.

Regards,

Tim Murphy 🙂

Thank you for the information!
I have taken note of the mentioned waters and will definitely check em out when the season opens!

 

[LanguageArtsGrade]

Are you nymphing using indicators/bobbers? If not, I would strongly recommend giving it a try for ease of use.

I do most of the time. I normally go and grab them from the TCO shop. Last time I got a little lazy and didnt grab them as I was in a rush and definitely paid the price for it haha.

But my general setup is BB split shot + pink Indicator then the first fly (egg) and then the zebra midge on the bottom.

 

[Swattie87]

I really appreciate all of the information! Yeah I will definitely start WW a bit later in the year. I live next to the connie so thats good to hear!
I will continue to try with trout this time of year as well and see how it goes. I did try nymphing but it didnt go so well with me getting tangled and breaking off haha. I might give a streamer fly a chance at the breeches when its a bit warmer out.

Thank you again for the detailed response!

You bet. That’s nymphing for you. At least it is for me. Tangles and snags are all part of it, but it is the most consistent way to catch Trout in the Winter. If you’re not getting snagged at least one out of every 3 or 4 casts, you’re not deep enough and likely missing out on getting strikes. Especially in Winter. Those fish are glued to the bottom.

I generally don’t try to cast a multi fly nymph rig very far. I typically do use an indicator, so I’m not really tight lining per se, but for all practical purposes I’m fishing very close to me, within a rod length or a little more. Those shorter, more just a “flip” of the wrist casts, will help minimize the tangles. Trying to actually fly cast a multi fly nymph rig with split shot and a bobber is a hot mess. Even if you’re a good caster.

Check out “PA Woods N Water” on YouTube. He’s got a lot of great nymphing videos, many in the Winter. Watch how he casts.

Tip…Tie up a couple nymph rigs ahead of time at home the night before you fish. I typically tie up three or four of my egg/stonefly rigs and keep them rigged on a little foam nymph rig holder I picked up somewhere. Saves time and your hands getting cold. It takes me like 20 minutes with all the knots required to set up a 2 fly nymph rig when my hands are cold.