TimMurphy
Well-known member
- Joined
- Sep 9, 2006
- Messages
- 2,924
Dear Board,
For the first time in at least 5 years, and probably longer, I spent some time standing in Pine Creek waving a stick on Friday 10/11/19.
My wife and I rented a cabin outside of Haneyville from 10/5 to 10/12. We arrived after dark on 10/5, and Sunday the 6th was spent running to Lock Haven and buying food and drink for the week. I knew rain was coming, but I hoped it would be light.
On Monday we went on a drive from Rte 44 through the detour to Slate Run via Francis Road. When we got to Wolfe's Store in Slate Run it was raining steadily and my wife wanted nothing to do with fishing, so I snuck in a few casts with a spinning rod from the bank at Black Walnut Access. I turned a nice fish and landed one about 17 inches. I had high hopes for the rest of the week.
Needless to say it rained cats and dogs from 11:00 AM on 10/7 until almost dawn on 10/8. Most of the rain fell further up the watershed, so we decided to check out Little Pine Tuesday morning. When we crossed the Pine on Rte 44 on the way to Waterville I nearly puked. It was up at least 2 feet and turd brown.
My wife and I spent most of the week enjoying the weather from Tuesday on and did many driving and walking tours on the forest roads between the Pine and Kettle Creek valleys. We saw plenty of animals, and took many pictures, but I wanted to fish before the week ended.
On Friday after we did a little driving tour with a couple of friends who came to visit us Theresa noticed me pouting and said, "Go fishing for God's sake!"
And so I did. I tried a couple of casts on Upper Pine Bottom Run and while I missed both fish that I rose, I felt encouraged. I drove to the Hotel Manor and put the waders on, and headed up Slate Run. Once again the rust showed, and while I did briefly hook two fish I was late enough on the strike to have them shake the hook quickly.
I decided go down the bank to the Pine and fished the hole where Slate drops into the big crick. Using a Madam X and a # 16 bead head nymph as a dropper I had a nice fish rise to the Madam X. I raised my rod to set the hook, and felt the tug of a good fish.
The fish fought well, and I brought a nice brown that was easily 18 inches to my feet where I saw that I had completely whiffed on the hook set with the Madam X, but I did manage to put the dropper fly squarely into the fish's lower jaw. God took care of me!
I reached down and quickly shook the nymph loose. I watched the fish rest up by my feet for a few minutes and then reached down and lightly touched it's tail. He quickly shot back into the bigger water.
Pausing for a minute, I looked up stream on the Pine at the steep mountain on the left bank and the bright blue sky and beautiful Fall colors.
I couldn't help but think of my fly fishing friends who have passed away, as well as those whom I simply never have the time to visit with anymore? I'm not ashamed to say I got a little choked up, but it was a good choked up.
I'd like to close by saying that we all should cherish our friends and the time we had with them. But we must never give up on something that we enjoy simply because we no longer have those friends around with which to share the moments.
When the moments happen, they see them.
Regards,
Tim Murphy
For the first time in at least 5 years, and probably longer, I spent some time standing in Pine Creek waving a stick on Friday 10/11/19.
My wife and I rented a cabin outside of Haneyville from 10/5 to 10/12. We arrived after dark on 10/5, and Sunday the 6th was spent running to Lock Haven and buying food and drink for the week. I knew rain was coming, but I hoped it would be light.
On Monday we went on a drive from Rte 44 through the detour to Slate Run via Francis Road. When we got to Wolfe's Store in Slate Run it was raining steadily and my wife wanted nothing to do with fishing, so I snuck in a few casts with a spinning rod from the bank at Black Walnut Access. I turned a nice fish and landed one about 17 inches. I had high hopes for the rest of the week.
Needless to say it rained cats and dogs from 11:00 AM on 10/7 until almost dawn on 10/8. Most of the rain fell further up the watershed, so we decided to check out Little Pine Tuesday morning. When we crossed the Pine on Rte 44 on the way to Waterville I nearly puked. It was up at least 2 feet and turd brown.
My wife and I spent most of the week enjoying the weather from Tuesday on and did many driving and walking tours on the forest roads between the Pine and Kettle Creek valleys. We saw plenty of animals, and took many pictures, but I wanted to fish before the week ended.
On Friday after we did a little driving tour with a couple of friends who came to visit us Theresa noticed me pouting and said, "Go fishing for God's sake!"
And so I did. I tried a couple of casts on Upper Pine Bottom Run and while I missed both fish that I rose, I felt encouraged. I drove to the Hotel Manor and put the waders on, and headed up Slate Run. Once again the rust showed, and while I did briefly hook two fish I was late enough on the strike to have them shake the hook quickly.
I decided go down the bank to the Pine and fished the hole where Slate drops into the big crick. Using a Madam X and a # 16 bead head nymph as a dropper I had a nice fish rise to the Madam X. I raised my rod to set the hook, and felt the tug of a good fish.
The fish fought well, and I brought a nice brown that was easily 18 inches to my feet where I saw that I had completely whiffed on the hook set with the Madam X, but I did manage to put the dropper fly squarely into the fish's lower jaw. God took care of me!
I reached down and quickly shook the nymph loose. I watched the fish rest up by my feet for a few minutes and then reached down and lightly touched it's tail. He quickly shot back into the bigger water.
Pausing for a minute, I looked up stream on the Pine at the steep mountain on the left bank and the bright blue sky and beautiful Fall colors.
I couldn't help but think of my fly fishing friends who have passed away, as well as those whom I simply never have the time to visit with anymore? I'm not ashamed to say I got a little choked up, but it was a good choked up.
I'd like to close by saying that we all should cherish our friends and the time we had with them. But we must never give up on something that we enjoy simply because we no longer have those friends around with which to share the moments.
When the moments happen, they see them.
Regards,
Tim Murphy
