Pequea Creek, pronounced “peck-way,” flows through the heart of Amish country in Lancaster County. By most standards, it’s a marginal trout stream with limited access. In fact, most of the stream is posted no trespassing, and only one short stretch is stocked by the PA Fish and Boat Commission. But there was a morning […]
Morning on Pequea Creek Read More »
As you gear up to begin fly fishing, choosing your first fly rod can seem like a daunting task. With so many models, weights, action, and other variations available, it can be hard to know where to begin. If you follow a few basic steps, though, the process doesn’t have to be complicated. First,
5 Tips for Buying Your First Fly Rod Read More »
The old joke is that lures are meant to catch fishermen, not fish. Flashy, bright colors and intricate, realistic designs cause us to cough up the coin in hopes that we’ve found the next great thing. In some ways, UV materials have been that next great thing in the fly fishing industry over the
Do UV Flies Catch More Trout? Read More »
Seven years ago this spring, the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission (PFBC) implemented the first Keystone Select Trout Waters program. At the time, it was a novel idea: stock an abundance of above-average trout in 8 of the state’s most popular streams. The “original 8” streams were Neshannock Creek, Loyalhanna Creek, Laurel Hill Creek, First
Keystone Select Trout Waters, Seven Years Later Read More »
Winter fly fishing in Pennsylvania is all about simplicity. There’s no need to carry a wide range of flies to match a hatch – although we do have a couple of winter hatches, which I’ll discuss below. But this time of year, catching trout is more about using a handful of flies effectively than having
Top 10 Flies for Winter Fly Fishing in Pennsylvania Read More »
The Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission (PFBC) announced this bit of news, and I wanted to share it here on the blog. A major problem with many Erie tributaries is lack of access. These easements will certainly help the cause and open up new opportunities for steelheaders. Here is the press release sent by
Squirmy Wormy flies catch fish. Period. They’re not fancy. They’re not sophisticated. Heck, I know a good handful of fly fishermen who won’t even admit to using them. Squirmy Wormy flies are like that nerdy kid on the playground who isn’t cool at all, but he’s always drafted first because he can kick the crap
Fishing and Tying Squirmy Wormy Flies Read More »
Kinzua Creek is a 26.5-mile tributary of the Allegheny Reservoir in northwestern Pennsylvania. The stream can be divided into two distinct sections with the line of demarcation between uninhabitable and habitable trout water being Kinzua Bridge State Park. Here Kinzua Creek basically transitions from a swampy, willow-lined mess into the beautiful mountain trout stream
Fly Fishing on Kinzua Creek Read More »
Junction pools are formed wherever two bodies of moving water converge, such as the famous “Junction Pool” where the Beaverkill and Willowemac join in the Catskills. It is said that “Junction Pool is thought to possess strange and mystifying currents, causing migrating trout to linger for days while they try to decide which stream
Fish this Spot #2: How to Approach Junction Pools Read More »
A fly reel serves basic functions. It holds the fly line and backing as well as offers a rudimentary drag system for playing larger fish. Like many products in life that we use and often take for granted, you won’t give the fly reel much thought until it stops working. My first fly outfit
How to Choose a Fly Reel Read More »