According to the Pennsylvania Natural Heritage Program, there were 151 Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) camps stationed in Pennsylvania between 1933 and 1942. An estimated 29 state parks benefitted from CCC projects that provided jobs to hundreds of thousands of workers in the midst of the Great Depression. In collaboration with the Works Progress Administration, the […]
Raccoon Lake, Beaver County PA Read More »
Located in Indiana County, Yellow Creek Lake encompasses the historic Kittanning Path once used by the Delaware and Shawnee nations as well as early settlers. Created in 1969 with an earth and rock dam on Yellow Creek, the 720-acre lake has become a popular destination for fishermen in search of musky, northern pike, crappies,
My first success with nymphing came on Little Sandy Creek some 20 years ago, when I discovered this scenic little freestone stream less than an hour from my house. Its diminutive size made it easy to get my fly in front of fish and learn the basic skills of casting in tight cover. But
Little Sandy Creek, Venango County PA Read More »
If a stream were judged by scenic beauty alone, East Hickory Creek would rank high on anyone’s list. The combination of wilderness setting and solitude make it a pleasant place to visit. Throw in trout stockings by the PA Fish and Boat Commission, good populations of wild and native trout, and abundant mayfly hatches
East Hickory Creek Read More »
Every angler has what they consider their home waters, those streams or rivers where large chunks of their fishing life were spent learning their craft. For me, that place is Buffalo Creek, specifically the Delayed Harvest Artificial Lures Only section. It’s where I spent many evenings after school as a teenager learning how to
Early Season on Buffalo Creek Read More »
A mid-January warm front got me thinking spring. And by “warm front,” I mean that for the first time in almost two weeks, daytime temperatures got above freezing. Still, it was enough to make me load up the truck and visit one of my favorite streams to see if the trout were biting. I
Fly Fishing for Winter Trout Read More »
It’s been a dismally wet fall this year and streams have been running higher than usual. I frequently visit the USGS National Water Information System website (waterdata.usgs.gov) to track the flows of my favorite streams, trying to figure out which one will provide the best opportunity to catch trout. If you’ve never checked this
Mopping Up November Rain(bows) Read More »
I’ve been fortunate to catch many big fish on a fly rod in my lifetime. Even still, for as many that have found the bottom of my net, just as many have won the battle and left me heartbroken. Every time I tangle into a heavy trout I have to slow things down in
Hooking and Landing Big Fish Read More »
When I tied on my first J:Son fly, I felt like I was tying on a real bug. Everything about them is realistic, from their body shape and proportion to their wing positioning and style. The detail in each fly makes it as much a work of art as it does a tool to
J:Son Flies – Imitations Come to Life Read More »
I’ll admit, I’ve caught the fever. I’m obsessed with big brown trout, and there’s no better time to catch them than in the fall when the majority of people have turned their attention to hunting or sitting at home watching football. But don’t forget fall fishing. This is when brown trout spawn, after all.
