Willow Run, Juniata County

[gweisinger]

In what it seems like my never ending quest to find new native brook trout streams, I drove to Willow Run near Honey Grove in Juniata County.

The stream is listed by the Fish Commission as a Class A Trout Stream so I thought I might have a shot at finding some brookies. Most maps show Willow Run Road following the stream for most of its length. What I found however was, after driving a short distance on Willow Run Road, was a Game Commission gate.

So, I fished about a half mile or so up stream from the area of the gate. All I caught was a bunch of creek chubs. The stream fished more like a warm water stream than a trout stream. The water was much warmer than I would have expected, even with the unusually warm weather.

Just curious if I just hit it on a bad day or is it just void of trout. Would it be beneficial to hike a couple miles up the road to find better trout water?

Would be interested in hearing from anyone with personal information on this stream before I try it again.

Thanks

Gary

 

[salvelinus]

Willow has wild browns. It is spring fed which is why it is warmer. Are the multiflora roses still so bad along the bank?

 

[gweisinger]

Oh yes, the briars (multiflora rose) are difficult. Had to walk in the middle of the stream on some occasions just to get from one pool to another. A friend and I will have to use bikes and travel in a ways. Maybe I'll hit a few of the browns you refer to. Thanks

 

[sarce]

The class A list also lists species info. If it says Class A for browns, there could still be brookies but in lower numbers than the browns. I do not know the stream

 

[salvelinus]

pm sent

 

[jifigz]

Lots of places to find brookies around. Willow Run is a brownie stream. There are some brookie places in Juniata County, however, and Perry County for that matter.

 

[gweisinger]

Pretty much aware of most of the brookie haunts in Perry and Juniata but there are some on my list that I just haven't gotten to. I gave Willow another shot and found a brown trout, along with a bunch of junk fish. Thanks for the info.