Valley creek frustration

[flyguy93]

Been fishing valley creek almost every weekend since January. Caught 2 trout in that time. I had so much better luck last year, but this year, I've been losing my damn mind. Been throwing my zebra nymph pheasant tail rig, dry dropper, small bwo etc. I had a bite today but didn't realize it till it was too late. Anybody else been having a rough year?

 

[wildtrout2]

No doubt, Valley can be fickle.

 

[wgmiller]

Which stretch are you fishing?

 

[jifigz]

Hey. Why not go somewhere else and give Valley a break? Catch some fish, have some fun, boost your confidence, and then go back to Valley.

 

[flyguy93]

Which stretch are you fishing?

I fish cedar hollow preserve and by yellow springs trail.

Hey. Why not go somewhere else and give Valley a break? Catch some fish, have some fun, boost your confidence, and then go back to Valley.

Thats what I've been thinking. I know of a brookie spot I'd like to give another shot. Caught my first last year there.

 

[wgmiller]

Valley has been low and clear a good bit of this year. Those aren't prime conditions for fishing a creek like Valley. The national park section is one of the most pressured stretches of water in the state. The other stretches can be just as challenging in low and clear conditions. Your best bet on Valley is to catch it during or just after a rain event, when there's some water in the system and the fish let their guard down. Try tossing a streamer those times and you just might be surprised. Outside of that and a good hatch, it can be a challenging stream to fish!

 

[flyguy93]

Valley has been low and clear a good bit of this year. Those aren't prime conditions for fishing a creek like Valley. The national park section is one of the most pressured stretches of water in the state. The other stretches can be just as challenging in low and clear conditions. Your best bet on Valley is to catch it during or just after a rain event, when there's some water in the system and the fish let their guard down. Try tossing a streamer those times and you just might be surprised. Outside of that and a good hatch, it can be a challenging stream to fish!

One of the two fish I caught this year was after a storm haha. There was a nice hatch yesterday but all the trout that went after my fly missed unfortunately. I wish there were more options for wild trout streams nearby but valley is the closest to me which is still 45 minutes away.

 

[mszoke1802]

One of the two fish I caught this year was after a storm haha. There was a nice hatch yesterday but all the trout that went after my fly missed unfortunately. I wish there were more options for wild trout streams nearby but valley is the closest to me which is still 45 minutes away.

There’s plenty more options. I live 5 min from valley and haven’t fished it in years. Start heading up NE extension a bit.

 

[lars]

valley is tough on a stupid fishing day. unfortunately this area is pretty much a trout fishing desert. have to drive miles for any respectable true trout fisheries.

 

[flyguy93]

valley is tough on a stupid fishing day. unfortunately this area is pretty much a trout fishing desert. have to drive miles for any respectable true trout fisheries.

Agreed. As a family man, I can't justify driving much longer than I do already. Not fond of the stocked streams or the crowds.

 

[shakey]

Sometimes at valley, a change up to traditional flies work.
Zug bugs, soft hackles,cress bugs, wooly buggers, muddler minnows and royal trudes have been known to produce

 

[flyguy93]

Sometimes at valley, a change up to traditional flies work.
Zug bugs, soft hackles,cress bugs, wooly buggers, muddler minnows and royal trudes have been known to produce

I'm definitely trying to pick up some more soft hackles. Would be a good option for fishing the shallow spots if imagine. I lost more flies than I'd like to admit recently. Even more so when I start getting frustrated haha. I'm due for some more flies.

 

[shakey]

I have had starling and olive work for me there

 

[flyguy93]

I have had starling and olive work for me there

Thanks for the suggestions I'll pick some up

 

[flyguy93]

Thank you guys for all the advice and help. Its very encouraging. I appreciate it very much.

 

[Nymph-wristed]

Not fond of the stocked streams or the crowds.

Wait, you don't like crowds but fish Valley 😉 I used to be a Valley regular and stopped fishing it, besides a winter trip or two, because of the crowds.

I concur that if you expand your reach 15-20 more minutes north and west, you can expand your fishing and your skills with different fish and different types of water. You can bring those skills back to Valley and catch more because of the experiences elsewhere. Even stockies can teach you some things and not all stocked cricks are alike.

The best way to have success on Valley (besides fishing after the rain, which is "cheating" and makes everyone a pro there 🙂) is to avoid lining fish while fishing upstream. A long leader, even a mono rig, with one nymph that does not make a commotion when it lands is an easy way to get the monkey off your back. Fishing riffles and undercut banks, not pools, is another way.

They are not selective fish, not even that spooky where they hear and feel people all day long, but they will spook with bad presentations. Concentrate on the approach more than the fly, and size of the bugs more than the pattern.

 

[flyguy93]

Wait, you don't like crowds but fish Valley 😉 I used to be a Valley regular and stopped fishing it, besides a winter trip or two, because of the crowds.

I concur that if you expand your reach 15-20 more minutes north and west, you can expand your fishing and your skills with different fish and different types of water. You can bring those skills back to Valley and catch more because of the experiences elsewhere. Even stockies can teach you some things and not all stocked cricks are alike.

The best way to have success on Valley (besides fishing after the rain, which is "cheating" and makes everyone a pro there 🙂) is to avoid lining fish while fishing upstream. A long leader, even a mono rig, with one nymph that does not make a commotion when it lands is an easy way to get the monkey off your back. Fishing riffles and undercut banks, not pools, is another way.

They are not selective fish, not even that spooky where they hear and feel people all day long, but they will spook with bad presentations. Concentrate on the approach more than the fly, and size of the bugs more than the pattern.

A stream 15 to 20 min further is sixpenny creek which id like to spend some more time with. Had some luck on one of its tribs. As far as valley goes, I had days last year with nearly 10 fish. Them same spots I've had luck at, can't even get a bite after multiple trips. I don't like to fish the pools really especially if they are slow. I'd rather get a good drift at a spot with some flow than a slow pool. Also less likely to spook the fish. As far as flies go, I usually use a size 18 with a size 20 dropper. I'll use size 16 for dries sometimes but if it's a dry dropper, I like the size 18 elks hair since it's bushy and won't sink as easily with a dropper on it. Today was a bad day for me. I wasn't patient and let my emotions get the best of me, which ultimately led to bad technique and no fish.

 

[Mike]

Perhaps you noticed, perhaps not, but almost all inseason stockings in SE Pa end by the end of April. Give the truck chasers 3-7 days, depending on the particular creek, after the last stocking and you gradually almost have the stream to yourself, particularly at certain times of the day. May is a great month for fishing on many stocked waters (not all because of flow/temps) and the techniques you’ll use to catch the remaining fish will generally serve you well on wild trout streams.

 

[Ewanflyfish]

A stream 15 to 20 min further is sixpenny creek which id like to spend some more time with. Had some luck on one of its tribs. As far as valley goes, I had days last year with nearly 10 fish. Them same spots I've had luck at, can't even get a bite after multiple trips. I don't like to fish the pools really especially if they are slow. I'd rather get a good drift at a spot with some flow than a slow pool. Also less likely to spook the fish. As far as flies go, I usually use a size 18 with a size 20 dropper. I'll use size 16 for dries sometimes but if it's a dry dropper, I like the size 18 elks hair since it's bushy and won't sink as easily with a dropper on it. Today was a bad day for me. I wasn't patient and let my emotions get the best of me, which ultimately led to bad technique and no fish.

I’ve also been wanting to check out six penny. I’ve caught brookies out of a trib but never fished the main stream.

 

[Nymph-wristed]

A stream 15 to 20 min further is sixpenny creek which id like to spend some more time with. Had some luck on one of its tribs. As far as valley goes, I had days last year with nearly 10 fish. Them same spots I've had luck at, can't even get a bite after multiple trips. I don't like to fish the pools really especially if they are slow. I'd rather get a good drift at a spot with some flow than a slow pool. Also less likely to spook the fish. As far as flies go, I usually use a size 18 with a size 20 dropper. I'll use size 16 for dries sometimes but if it's a dry dropper, I like the size 18 elks hair since it's bushy and won't sink as easily with a dropper on it. Today was a bad day for me. I wasn't patient and let my emotions get the best of me, which ultimately led to bad technique and no fish.

Give yourself some grace, too. You may be doing nothing wrong. 20 CFS at the turnpike is pretty "technical" fishing. That's nearly summer fishing at Valley.

Fish will be very shallow in fast riffles when you see bugs in the air. If you want to catch fish to get your Valley mojo back, ignore the risers and catch the fish who've moved up into the skinny stuff to eat. Catch a few, and then go after the tougher ones with more confidence 👍