Streamside on Line

In this issue:

Articles, news and fly tying tips are gratefully accepted. Please e-mail them to Roy Cubbler. Thank you.

When an angler speaks of winter fly fishing, the listener often shudders at the thought and wonders whether the sportsperson is crazy. However, winter fishing allows for some of the most enjoyable experiences for the “educated” angler. Knowing what to wear, how cold weather affects fish behavior, and what to look for in stream selection are vital. Certainly there are precautions that one must take, but the thrill of enticing a fish into taking the lure is just as intense. Remember the age-old angling adage that the best time to fish is when it is comfortable to do so. In winter, this means warmer days when the air temperatures climb above freezing and the sun warms the water enough for midges to hatch and fish to move. This happens frequently enough from November to March to make winter fishing a most rewarding experience for serious fishers. 

Holdover fish are those which have survived the warm water conditions of summer. When summer temps go above 70 degrees for even a brief period, most fish do one of two things: They either move to areas of cooler water, or they die. Those which make it through the warm weather to the cooler months of winter must eat. If you provide them with a reasonable facsimile of an easy meal, you have a chance of bringing fish to net. It must be pointed out, however, that when water gets cold, fish become lethargic. They tend to find a nice protected spot where food comes close enough to them that they do not have to expend much energy to get it. The object, then, is an intelligent reading of the stream to ascertain where the fish may be lurking. Once you discover that, and determine in which column of water they are feeding, you must present your fly to a point almost directly in front of your target fish. The right fly is obviously the fly that is working for you right now, but recommended artificials include midges (representing larva, pupa, and adult), streamers, and red worm imitations. Experts also say caddis or stimulators also work as a change of pace.

Pennsylvania has many stream sections which are governed by special regulations. Many of these regs permit fishing all year ‘round. The rules often contain some interesting peculiarities (for example, some do not allow wading), so ensure that you read up on the area where you intend to try your luck. For the most part, limestone streams stay ice free, so those are often favorite destinations for winter anglers. Remember, if the temperature on recent days has been below freezing, some streams will continue to have icing conditions even though it is warm on the day you are heading out.

Wear layers of clothes, good socks, and boots which do not constrict your feet. Polaroid sunglasses are a must. With a good, warm hat and a thermos of hot coffee, you will find that, except for an occasional shiver, you are in for an enjoyable day. 

Another soggy year is coming to an end and as I look back, except for the cicada hatch on the Gunpowder River in late spring and a few days on the Tully, it has not been a very memorable fishing year…at least for me. For the second year in a row, plans did not work out for a trip out west somewhere. I was hoping to visit the San Juan again but, as it turned out, the week that looked best (but didn’t work out) was one that endured a major snowstorm in the southwest. A stroke of luck maybe? The last time I was out there in early November the same thing happened and Shel Toombs and I fished with ice on our guides almost the entire week. I hope, however, that there is a silver lining to all this high water we are having and that is that both trout and bass populations in many streams will be in good shape later this year. I have heard from several members that fishing on French Creek has been good right through the fall. Keep your fingers crossed.
The Exceptional Value (EV) petition for the Pickering Creek is moving along with 64 co-petitioners signed up. According to John Hoekstra of the Green Valleys Association, the group spearheading the effort, West Pikeland and Uwchlan townships, haven’t yet signed on. They are both critical to completing the application. According to recent macroinvertebrate studies conducted to support the application, the Pickering is one of the richest and healthiest streams in southeast Pennsylvania and rivals other well known streams in the state. EV status will provide a higher level of protection from polluting discharges into the stream. 

The EV petition for lower French Creek (Rt. 100 downstream to the Kennedy Bridge) is moving through the process and should be final later this year.

Many, many thanks go to a long list of club members who participated in the “Something for Everyone Raffle” sponsored by the Mid-Atlantic Council of the Federation of Fly Fishers. For the third year in a row, our club sold the most tickets of any club or individual. I am also pleased to report that “yours truly…Big Bob” won a raffle prize. I think it is going to be another kayak. No Longerburger baskets for this guy. The proceeds from the raffle will support MAC-FFF’s conservation and fly fishing education efforts, including the annual Youth Camp. Thanks again for your terrific support.

We will be holding our annual Learn to Fly Fish course again this year on April 23rd. More information and a registration form can be found on our website. Tell your friends, spouse, relatives and everyone else you might know. The course fills up fast so don’t delay.

I hope you all had a great holiday season and looking forward to, hopefully, a fun year of your favorite piscatorial pastime. Tight lines! 

If you maintain a library of fly fishing books, may I recommend Flyfisher’s Guide to Pennsylvania by Dave Wolf. The book of 522 pages is published by Wilderness Adventures Press, Belgrade, Montana, and the edition I have is 1999. If you are looking for beautiful, color photographs, look elsewhere. This publication has plenty of photographs, but all are black and white. Wolf divides the state into seven regions, and does a very fine job of identifying the most prolific fly fishing streams in each. He includes types of fish which may be found in each stream, and provides hints on the best methods to use on each. Over 150 coldwater, warm-water, and steelhead streams and lakes are identified, and the author includes access points for most. Wolf also discusses hatch schedules and recommended flies for most of the locations. In addition he provides listings for fly shops, regional Fish and Boat Commission locations, and more. I appreciated his explanation of special regulations which govern Pennsylvania streams which have been given “special” designations. Wolf is no amateur. He is a flyfishing instructor and guide, and has authored thousands of articles on our sport. He is a native of Pennsylvania, and seems to know whereof he writes. His style is clear and concise, and he often includes little known points of interest concerning particular streams.

As part of his coverage of southeastern Pennsylvania flyfishing streams, Wolf devotes about three quarters of a page to our own French Creek, with emphasis upon the 0.9 mile stretch designated Delayed Harvest, Fly Fishing Only. He terms the stretch “good” for trout, and contends that as one gets closer to Phoenixville, bass are the fish of choice.

The tome sells for $28.95, and boasts of an easy-open, lay flat binding. Mine was easy to open, and easy to read, but it certainly does not “lay flat.” 

Sightings of the “Frankenfish” or snakehead continue around southeastern Pennsylvania. An angler recently brought a bucketful of young snakeheads to the Academy of Natural Sciences, proof that the interlopers are breeding in local streams. Officials are rather certain that the snakeheads have gotten into the Delaware and Schuylkill Rivers. If you will recall from the last issue of Streamside, fishers who come across these villains are asked not to simply throw them up on the bank and assume they will die. These fish have the ability to breathe air, and can “walk” rather long distances across land. When caught, they should be killed. It is illegal in Pennsylvania to buy, sell, possess, or transport snakefish. These predators have a voracious appetite for other fish and frogs, and their effect on stream life could be devastating.

The October 25 DJL meeting featured Don Douple, trout fisherman extraordinaire, discussing the best trout streams in Pennsylvania. The presentation included videos of many of Don’s outings on the streams mentioned. Don divided the streams into three categories: Limestone, Freestone, and Trailback streams. He spoke of maps, brochures, pamphlets, and websites where fishers can ascertain the location and entrance points for the streams. He also discussed class A and better than class A streams. Don gave a primer on the difference in markings of both male and female representatives of the brook trout, brown trout, and rainbow trout species. The presentation featured some very fine videography showing beautiful scenery, exciting fishing shots, and some especially nice trout. Forty members of the club were present, and all enjoyed Don Douple’s most interesting presentation. 

At the year’s initial meeting on Monday, September 27, 2004, ecology expert, Jerry Waterfield entertained and educated Dame Juliana League members with a most interesting program covering various forms of aquatic life which exist in the Schuylkill River. An employee of French Creek Outfitters, Mr. Waterfield received his Bachelor’s Degree in Natural Resources from the University of Rhode Island. He was granted a master’s degree in zoology, specializing in fresh water ecology from Oklahoma. Accompanying his lecture with a series of interesting slides, Mr. Waterfield explained the ecology of local streams, ranging from microscopic organisms up to fish as large as muskies and pike. A number of the slides familiarized Waterfield’s audience with the ways in which scientists gather various specimens of animal and plant life from members with some tips on fishing the Schuylkill.

His most cogent pieces of advice? “Fish where people aren’t,” and, “when the water temperature rises, aim for deeper pools or for places where cooler feeder streams flow into the larger river.” Waterfield offered some surprising facts, including a theory held by a number of reputable biologists that American Eels may have the ability to change their sex based on their environment as they move upstream in fresh water away from salt water. He also contends that the species of fish having the highest proportional representation in the Schuylkill is the goldfish. Who’d a thunk it? Several side notes should be made at this point: Mr. Waterfield interspersed his discussion with advice as to where fishers could buy many of the helpful angling items that he mentioned. That place, interestingly, just happened to be French Creek Outfitters. A slide presented to show the effect of hurricane Agnes (in 1972) also demonstrated to those present what the good life has done to League President, Bob Molzahn. Approximately 50 club members were in attendance.

"C'mon, get out your money and buy some tickets." If you have heard that line while attending a Dame Juliana meeting, then you know the subject of this issue's spotlight feature. Joe King has been a member of DJL since 1981. His joy is "Any type of fly fishing, any time of the year and any chance I get."

Joe serves DJL as our Sponsor Relations Chair. In this capacity, he is responsible for obtaining financial support from interested merchants and for coming up with prizes for the monthly drawings. Joe, a veteran tyer, also gets involved in many of our stream improvement projects and is usually on hand to help when stocking time rolls along.

In addition to his fishing activities, Joe enjoys bicycling. A subaru mechanic at Roberts' Auto Mall, King and his wife Regina have a daughter, Kristen and a son, Shawn. The couple enjoy being with their two grandchildren, Lizzie and Benjamin Cannella.

Joe is known for his ready smile, friendly demeanor and a willingness to pitch in to get the job done.