Penns Creek Angler

Bruce Fisher

Article May 2008

Hello again, Here we are at the beginning of May and everything is green and the water is high. There are so many things I’d like to talk about but foremost on my mind is the high water. In March we saw a good flood and then in April the water fell back to below normal. I was starting to worry that the fishing would be affected again this year. In mid-April we got a nice shot of rain that brought the creek back up to higher than normal levels. 

I’ve never worried too much about fishing in high off color water because it usually makes the catching part a little easier. The murky water hides an angler well especially if he or she is dressed in the right color clothes, the kind that matches the foliage in the woods. High water also pushes the fish to the edges making them an easier target to spot. 

As I’m writing this the March Browns have started their annual showing and some Gray Foxes have been spotted. It’s the earliest I’ve seen these flies in many years. March Browns are the biggest Mayfly we will see until the huge Green Drakes arrive sometime near the end of May. The March Browns have so much trouble escaping the water it makes them easy prey for fish and birds. I have seen these huge flies float great distances in the big pools before they are able to dry their wings and fly to safety. If the wind kicks up they will all get pushed to one side of the creek and the fish will move to that side and they will suck down these duns at an unhurried pace. 

The Gray Foxes are much faster leaving the water because of their smaller size and they also seem to hatch more in the riffles than the pools. I have seen many anglers fishing a dry Gray Fox on long 10-12 ft leaders in the faster sections and do very well. The long leader helps deliver a drag free float for a greater length of time. The fish hold in the fast water to feed using big rocks and boulders to buffer the fast current. 

The riffles are the feeding grounds for many hungry trout especially at first light. During the night the biggest fish leave the pools and forage in the riffles until the sun is too high and they start to feel uncomfortable. Most of the time they are feeding on minnows, chubs and larger baitfish but if the day is cloudy and overcast they will remain longer giving and angler a larger window of opportunity with these fish. On cloudy days fish the fast water that everyone walks past on his or her way to the next big pool.

In late May the stoneflies will become very active and the riffles are where they live. Stoneflies live in the fastest water and when they are ready to hatch they will crawl to the edges of the stream and emerge at the stream bank. Then the stoneflies will crawl up a few feet on the trees lining the creek and start the process of turning into an adult stonefly capable of mating and laying eggs. We have so much more to look forward to in the month of May including Tan Caddis, Crane flies and the start of the Sulphur.

One last word about high water, please use a wading staff and fish with a buddy. Penns has changed so much this year and new holes have developed and old safe spots can now be dangerous. I hope everyone has great fishing.

“Catch you Later”

Bruce Fisher