In a sport that values aesthetic beauty, fly fishermen have no shame when it comes to flies. Take salmon egg patterns, for instance, which are sometimes referred to as Glo Bugs in an attempt to make them sound more sophisticated. Or sucker spawn, which is a piece of yarn on a hook meant to represent […]
Three Flies to Use When Nobody’s Watching Read More »
The day started with a plan to fish East Branch of Tunungwant Creek. I’d read an article boasting the stream’s wild brown population, and like any self-respecting addict, I felt obligated to check it out. Unfortunately, I had my dog Charlie with me, and navigating a stream with brush crowding the banks all the
Kinzua Creek Delayed Harvest Read More »
I first laid eyes on beadhead flies in the mid-1990s and life changed forever. I’d read about them in a Fly Fisherman magazine article and soon began tying every nymph and streamer with gold beads. I caught fish, sometimes lots of fish, and I never looked at those traditional, bead-less flies the same again after
Beadhead Nymphs and Streamers Read More »
The special regulation section of Yellow Breeches Creek behind the Allenberry Resort is legendary trout waters. It only seems appropriate that my first experience fishing there was during its most famous mayfly hatch, the White Fly. The White Fly occurs on numerous streams throughout the state but it’s perhaps the most consistent and predictable on
Discovering the White Fly Read More »
Online I read a blog post by a well-known fly fisherman who has visited Letort Spring Run half a dozen times and has yet to catch a fish. The Letort doesn’t give up her bounty without a fight. If the weeds don’t foil your efforts, overhanging branches will. But if you can get your
Hallowed Waters – Letort Spring Run Read More »
If archaeology were my passion, I’d probably be on a team searching for Atlantis right now. I could devote decades trying to find an ancient city that may or may not have existed. Lord knows, I’ve already spent enough time trying to find trout streams that may or may not exist. Until now. Now
Maps and Apps for Trout Fishing Read More »
A scattering of trout are sipping something off the water’s surface, but there’s no telling for sure what they’re eating. There are no insects visible on the water, but three or four different species flutter in the air – problem is, there aren’t enough of any particular insect to say that’s what the trout are
An Evening on the Water Read More »
Pennsylvania Trout Streams and Their Hatches by Charles Meck Pennsylvania Trout Streams and Their Hatches by Charles Meck I first got a copy of this when I was 13 years old and it inspired me to no end. I mean, how could a single person have fished so many streams in their lifetime? I was
Two Books that Belong on Every Fly Fisher’s Shelf Read More »
A foggy morning on the Youghiogheny River From its beginnings in Preston County, WV, to where it enters the Monongahela River near McKeesport, PA, the Youghiogheny River goes against the grain. The Yough, for short, is a 134-mile river that travels in a primarily northern direction. In fact, Youghiogheny is an Algonquin word meaning “a
Mission statement: To bring you informative, educational, and entertaining stories and photos about fly fishing in Pennsylvania and beyond. What viewers can expect from Dark Skies Fly Fishing: Regular blog posts featuring popular waters from around the state and country as well as articles pertaining to conservation and industry news, product reviews, and opinion pieces.
Welcome to Dark Skies Fly Fishing Read More »
