LeTort in September

Just found out a few old friends will be making a weekend trip to Carlisle this September for a car show or something (not really up on anything car related). They'll be tenting it in the backyard of someone they know. Looks like I'll be tagging along this year, taking advantage of the opportunity to do some fishing on the famous water while they do their automotive thing (like I said, me calling the Carlisle show "some thing" might be like a non fly fisher calling the letort "some creek").

So, my questions to the folks here are the usual: no specific spots other than common starting points, what kind of rod, fly selections, etc. Anything that might help.

I've been reading a bit about it since I found out I'd be going (this past weekend), and the internets seem to tell me that actually catching a fish will be anything from "a challenge" to flat out impossible. Also, from what I read, I'll do well to put together a "letort box" before the trip, and might as well leave the others at home. In this box would go tricos, isos, tan caddis, scuds & cressbugs in a bunch of sizes, beetles, ants, hoppers, and some small streamers.

My tenative plan is to fish low on the stream, away from the heritage water, where general consensus seems to agree is one's best bet of landing a fish. If I get a hatch, go with dries, definitely try the cressbugs, and fall back on streamers in low-light conditions (early morning, late evening, and if the weather happens to be cloudy and rainy). As far as streamers, I'm thinking a selection of buggers, some slip-wing wets, and several small hairwings.

I don't have my heart set on catching a ton of fish. Even one would make my weekend. But really, I want to go more for the experience. I gather from what I'm reading that this place is not the "back to nature" experience, but much closer to erie trib fishing in terms of people and surroundings.

Any tips/suggestions appreciated!

smart****

Thanks ana. The 7'9" 3wt sounds like the way to go, then. Have a 7' glass 4wt, but the 3 is crisper and more accurate/precise.

KJH, thanks. I know it will be difficult fishing, but that's part of why I want a fish from that creek. One wild brown from the letort will be more rewarding than 5 or 10 from another nearby stream...if that makes any sense.

ORIGINAL: D-nymph

ORIGINAL: Cold

smart****

Yea, I wasn't kidding though.

Neither was I.

Though I do appreciate the blunt honesty. And yes, you're completely right in that I'm totally out of my element on that creek if the reports are even half true. But on one hand, I read about experienced fly flingers going to the letort and getting completely flummoxed by those fish, and on the other, I read about people fairly new to fly fishing talking about how they went to the letort and had a slow day but managed two or three fish. I'm more inclined to trust experience, though, and not get my hopes up.

On the surroundings, though...is it indeed like erie in the fall, or are there places I can fish where I wont be disturbing other anglers? If an errant cast of mine puts fish down for an hour, i'd much rather only be ruining my chances. Might be a jerk on this site, but I'm not a total misanthrope.

go cold have a good time catching or trying is still lbetter than sitting home
and i might even carry a few midges being it sept cold nights maybe?

Your "letort box" sounds fine. I would go with a least a 5 weight rod as you will need the backbone to keep the fish out of the watercress. Small is the way to go for flies but sometimes it pays to go against the norm. I caught 3, 15 to 18 inch browns there one day 25 years ago just practicing differant types of casts with a size 8 wulff hairwing. Also, if you encounter muddy water, try a size 2 or 4 Mickey Finn. Don't laugh, you would not believe the big browns I landed years back on them......WF

Been reading some about the scuds, sowbugs, and cressbugs...which all look awfully similar to me. Anyone have favorite cress bug patterns they'd like to share? As of now, I'm thinking #14 curved hook, lead wire flattened, thread base, grey ostrich herl and grizzly hackle body, with some sort of shell (scud back, thin skin, etc).

Thanks! I dont have clear cure goo, but I have some ideas on how to get a similar look...

forget all of that. Just bring a 9' 5 wt, some 3x tippet, and some #10 hoppers. You'll probably catch just as many and you won't be fighting the cress, watching miniscule flies, or worrying about the perfect light touch down. Just slap 'em down right next to the bank and hang on.

Thanks,
Rick

Wow, thanks Esox! Lots of good info there! Your midge trailers...usually on the rare occasions I use any tandem setups, they're spaced 3-6" apart...is this about the same in this situation?

c_b_f, I don't own a 9' 5wt that I'd want to take along. I've landed a few pretty large fish with my 3wt, and I'm confident that, if I manage to hook up, the 3wt will allow me to bring to hand any fish that I have the skill to fight effectively. Thanks for the suggestion on slapping the hoppers down though, I will definitely give it a try.

tippe, honestly, if I have to go to anything car-related, I'll be bored to tears, and agitated knowing that it's cutting into fishing time. Cars/trucks/motorcycles/etc, to me, are merely a way to get from point A to the nearest fishing hole. Some are pretty, some are ugly, some fast, some slow...but none really interest me that much. I DO intend to have fun tho, even if i do get skunked.

Cold, having grown up(sort of) in the Washington DC area I fished the Carlisle area a lot when I was younger. The Letort is definitely worth trying, even if it's only for the "experience." It's a beautiful stream, or at least it was when I last saw it. As much as I enjoyed it I never did catch a fish there. You might consider a longer rod for enhanced line control to aid in that all-too-critical drag free drift. Although the Letort is definitely worth seeing don't overlook some of the other streams in that area. One popular spot that I enjoyed is the Yellow Breeches around Allenberry Resort. I did well there with very small terrestrials and midges. I believe there is a fly shop in Boiling Springs, PA(by the Breeches) that can aid you with further locations in that area. On a side note, how has the fishing been in your area? As soon as I get off this darned keyboard I'm heading up your way for a day of fishing. Good luck with your trip.