A View from AREA 51
Coming to you from the “Enchanted Land of DonnyBeav”, Martin’s Potato-Chips, Clem’s BBQ, ditch-trickles of Blue Knob, Paternoville, and home of the 2012 Ore Hill Bourbon Quaffing Olympics – I’m pleased to bring you another installment of JM’s View From AREA 51 with the South Central Pennsylvania Fishing Report.
A lot going here in Ore Hill lately…unfortunately for me, most of it doesn’t include fishing. But all is not lost, as I did have a fishing adventure about 10 days ago that is worth talking about. I am a trout guy. I fish for bass with Dave and the DFP, but for the most part…it is all about trout. But, there is the Bass and Bourbon outing, and there is usually a steelhead odyssey once a year, but rarely do I every venture into saltwater to flyfish. I mean, I live in the middle of limestoner country here in Central Pennsylvania, and the ocean is at least 4 hours away. But, “when in Rome” as they say…….
About 10 days ago, I went to Myrtle Beach for a week of vacation. The standard issue trip….go the beach, do some tourist stuff, drink a tremendous amount of beer…you know, all the important vacation activities. In any case, I decided to bring my 8-weight as well as some big Clousers and Skipping Minnows “just in case”. Well, “just in case” was there, I missed out. You see, in the Myrtle Beach area, at Murrell’s inlet, there is some good backwater fishing to be had. But, without a boat, it just isn’t going to happen. And, somehow, I don’t think that me lobbing weighted streamers in the surf on the beach downtown would cut it either, so…. I did what any respectable, totally out of place, and uninformed angler would do…I stopped a bait shop. I was a novelty there, especially when I asked about flyfishing. In any case, I ended up fishing south of Myrtle, along some jetties. I didn’t land anything, but I did have two fish bite through a 40# bite tippet. I am guessing bluefish, but I never did get to see one. After the second time I made a run for some wire tippet, but by the time I got back, it was over. In any case, getting to throw those big flies with that big rod was an event unto itself.
Now, I could be frustrated by what happened. I could swear off fly fishing in saltwater ever again. I doubt I will do either. Admittedly, I am now thinking of crayfish patterns and white Sneaky Pete’s, because as you may know, that is really the only fly I need to catch smallmouth. But I will be thinking about tricos…and maybe some time to go fish over them. But with my schedule, thinking about them is about as good as it may get.
Then again, what should be thinking about is how may Shop-Vacs and Iris Caddis I better tie for September. The DFP Senior Leadership Conference and Retreat will be here before I know it.
Now there is a good thought…..
JM
For those who are headed out……
I haven’t heard of any reports of tricos on the Little J, but I am guessing they are there. Chances are they are on Spring and have been for about 12 days, but for the best information, talk to the guys at Flyfishers Paradise over in State College. If you must fish for trout, get out early and knock off by mid-morning to avoid stressing the trout given the water temperatures. There are plenty of ants around, so a selection of ant patterns, but dry and sunken would a good bet as well. The weather around here has been hot, and with little rain. So, choose your trout outings carefully and please consider the resource first. Change up and fish for smallmouth for a while….seriously, if I can do it, you can too!
