I just got back from a 4 day trip to Penns last Tuesday night. the fishing was ok, biggest trout caught was in the 18in. range.
The water levels were just a little rough to begin with, and with a couple of storms they became really tough for my Dad & Uncle to fish, so I drove over to Pine Creek one day, and Lycoming creek the other day. (It was great to spend the time with my Dad and Uncle, but I sorta wish I had stayed where I was, b/c I didn't catch anything for those two days and I read local reports where guys said they did really well.
)
Finished the trip on Tuesday by hitting Spring Creek. It was a slow morning, lost 1 early and after that couldn't buy a hit until around 3:00. (I'm thinking my nyphming skills need some work, I just started to learn how to fish with nymphs a couple of years ago, and it seems like lots of other guys often do really well underneath while I struggle for just a few hits)
Any way around 3:00-3:30 the sulphers started coming off, and it was steady action from that point until dark. Caught 7-8, and lost 3-4, which I know arn't increadable numbers for that stream, but I lost count of the number of fish I missed. I think I was so worked up, that I was setting the hook too fast/hard and pulling the fly out of their mouths.
Probably the most frustrating loss came as a result of my own stupidity. Late in the eavening I noticed that my 5x tippit had a knot in it, & I knew I should clip it off and tie in a fresh piece of tippit. Well I decided to be lazy and not do it, so when I saw a nice rise against the far bank I got what I deserved. I cast my comparadun over the fish I saw rise and after 3 drifts he came up and took my fly. It was like watching it happen in slow motion, he came up and porpused like a dolphin, & his back just kept going and going and going... of course it's just a guess but I figure he was well over 22 inches! well I set the hook and felt him on for a split second then snap! I reeled in and sure enough my tippit broke right where the knot had been!
Oh well, lesson learned!
All in all (aside from losing my wedding ring)it was a good trip. Saw my first ever live Rattle snake in the wild! Thinking/hoping to try to make the trip to Penns when the Green Drakes starts to hatch. I've never seen that hatch, and I'm told it is a sight you'll never forget.
Well, tight lines, & God bless fellas.