Penns Creek
 

I am relatively new to this group, but I see Penns mentioned alot. Whats
the deal guys? Is it really that good? Have I just never noticed because I
fish there and Spruce Creek every week? Just wondering.

Thanks
Ben

Penns Creek
 

Benjamin Turek typed:
I am relatively new to this group, but I see Penns mentioned alot. Whats
the deal guys? Is it really that good?

The camaraderie factor increases dramatically for 10 days out of the year.
--
TL,
Tim
-------------------------
http://css.sbcma.com/timj

Penns Creek
 

One of the best trout streams in the world. Lot of world class drunk..
fishermen show up. More hatches than you can tie for in a year of
winter days. One of the best places in the world to get schooled. If
you can fish Penns successfully, you can pretty much figure out trout
anywhere else in the world. I'll be there (if I get a kitchen pass).
Frank Reid

Penns Creek
 

On Tue, 28 Feb 2006 22:53:07 GMT, "Benjamin Turek"
wrote:

I am relatively new to this group, but I see Penns mentioned alot. Whats
the deal guys? Is it really that good? Have I just never noticed because I
fish there and Spruce Creek every week? Just wondering.

Thanks
Ben


Roff has held four claves on Penns (thanks to Tom Littleton). The
first one was very successful with folks taking some nice browns and
bows. If it rains at Penns, especially for a day or so, forget the
fishing. The second clave had rain before and during the week we were
there. Some folks never wet a fly. Others learned they couldn't play
Hearts as well as they thought. And, lots of folks went home two or
three days early because the water was so muddy and fishing was
impossible.

Dave

Penns Creek
 

"Benjamin Turek" wrote in message
news:nv4Nf.4761$dj2.2583@trndny04...
I am relatively new to this group, but I see Penns mentioned alot. Whats
the deal guys? Is it really that good? Have I just never noticed because
I fish there and Spruce Creek every week? Just wondering.

And it seems that everyone else responding to your questions didn't notice
that you said you fish there every week. So, what's the deal? Just
wondering.

Wolfgang

Penns Creek
 

"Dave LaCourse" wrote

Some folks never wet a fly. Others learned they couldn't play
Hearts as well as they thought.

and none of those were residents of north carolina.

And, lots of folks went home two or
three days early because the water was so muddy and fishing was
impossible.

or, because they got their fancy ass yankee suv's blown away during the
'cross the mountain rallye.

:)

yfitons
wayno(you won't believe how cool i am, now that i've started drinking stoli)

Penns Creek
 

On Wed, 01 Mar 2006 00:05:17 GMT, "Wayne Harrison"
wrote:

wayno(you won't believe how cool i am, now that i've started drinking stoli)

Stoli? Only pimps drink Stoli!

And I stayed wid ya goin' over da mountain and was actually gettin'
ready to push ya when you quit. And let us not forget your flat tire.
chuckle/chortle...

I just chipped my RS6 - putting out 505bhp. It actually improved the
gas mileage, which was a pleasant surprise. I talked to Wally the
other day and will probably go down and fish with him sometime in late
April/early May. You up for a few days of fishing - I'll buy the
booze. You can try a "real" car if you join us. Uh.... before ya get
into the free booze, that is.
d;o)






d;o)

Penns Creek
 

"Dave LaCourse" wrote


Stoli? Only pimps drink Stoli!

pimps? dont knock it til you've tried it.



I talked to Wally the
other day and will probably go down and fish with him sometime in late
April/early May. You up for a few days of fishing - I'll buy the
booze. You can try a "real" car if you join us. Uh.... before ya get
into the free booze, that is.
d;o)

sounds like the way to live.

yfitons
wayno






d;o)

Penns Creek
 

Good catch Wolfy. Fishes there every week? Ya know how many frequent
driver miles I'd have to rack up to do that? Benjamin, you live around
State College?
Frank Reid

Penns Creek
 

On 28 Feb 2006 18:55:39 -0800, "Frank Reid"
wrote:

Fishes there every week?

There and Spruce Creek, but I interpreted it as "No big deal."
"Is it really that good?" Does he catch fish?

Penns Creek
 

"Dave LaCourse" wrote in message
...
On 28 Feb 2006 18:55:39 -0800, "Frank Reid"
wrote:

Fishes there every week?

There and Spruce Creek, but I interpreted it as "No big deal."
"Is it really that good?"

?

Does he catch fish?

Good question.

Hm.....

Maybe somebody should ask him.

Wolfgang

Penns Creek
 

Well, I live in Pine Grove Mills which is like two miles away from State
College. I am about a twenty minute drive from a good stream in just about
every direction. Except for Spruce, it runs through my neighbor's yard.

Penns Creek
 

I catch fish. Hell, I caught at least two that I can remember last year. I
was just curious about Penns because there are four or so streams around
here that we all talk about more. Penns has some good hatches, but so do
the others. I simply wondered if I was missing something when I was going
there.

Penns Creek
 

"Benjamin Turek" wrote in message
news:NYhNf.3833$AZ1.1523@trndny07...
I catch fish. Hell, I caught at least two that I can remember last year.

Hm....

Well, two fish per year from a stream that you work every week suggests a
REALLY poor stream (in which case your question.....if not necessarily your
dedication.....makes perfect sense), a mnemonic deficiency of some sort (a
medical matter outside the purview.....let alone the competence.....of this
group), or a critical need for a review of angling basics.

I was just curious about Penns because there are four or so streams around
here that we all talk about more.

We'll show you ours if you show us yours. :)

Penns has some good hatches, but so do the others.

So we've heard.

I simply wondered if I was missing something when I was going there.

Evidently, yes.

Wolfgang

Penns Creek
 

I didn't literally mean two fish, but I am sure that you knew that. I'd
show you mine, but most of it you need permission from the owners to fish.
They tend to disregarded coniving, down talkers which you tend to come off
as, so I won't waste either of our time.

Penns Creek
 

On 3/1/06 10:01 AM, in article yHiNf.2425$SJ2.2024@trndny01, "Benjamin
Turek" wrote:

I didn't literally mean two fish, but I am sure that you knew that.

Inference is a difficult thing with this kind of forum, especially between
two people who do not know each other. When someone says "I caught at least
two that I can remember last year", the "at least two" would tend to infer,
to me, that you caught less than a half dozen fish. For a stream that close
to you, which you (apparently, again) fish, or could fish, with some
regularity, that ain't a great batting average.

Not that I'm throwing stones. Penns kicks my pasty white backside each time
I encountered her. I've fished the water exactly twice, for a handful of
days each time, and though I've not counted my catch, I'd say I caught a
dozen fish over those two outings. And I feel pretty accomplished by doing
so!

Another aspect that a newcomer to ROFF might not pick up on is that when we-
many of us anyhow- talk about Penns, we are talking about more than the
fishing and the hatches. Our annual conclaves on the shores of that fine
water are social gatherings as well as fishing gatherings- the social part
being as important, or more so, to many ROFFians as the flies, hatches, and
trout. When you read "Penns" here on ROFF, many times what is being
referred to is the event, rather than the river.

Fishing-wise, personally, I feel much more at home on Big Fishing Creek.
Penns intimidates me. shrug Penns the river, not the clave, that is
(although the clave intimidated me for about 10 minutes the first time I
attended. Meeting (first) Joel and (second) Tom did away with any further
intimidation factor. Fishing the Axelrad stretch with several chimps
watching from the shore, however, was a baptism I'd rather not encounter
again... :-)

I'd
show you mine, but most of it you need permission from the owners to fish.
They tend to disregarded coniving, down talkers which you tend to come off
as, so I won't waste either of our time.

Just a suggestion here, Benjamin- so far you ain't exactly coming off all
peachy yourself.

Bill

Penns Creek
 

That is more along the lines of what I was talking about. I was wondering
if there was something else to it than the fishing, because the fishing is
good, but its not the best around this area. And all of the sudden it
becomes how many fish do you catch, etc... I was just wondering if there
was something else to it. Nothing crazy, like I said I just started reading
this group about two months ago and was curious why so much talk about
Penns.

Penns Creek
 

On 3/1/06 10:58 AM, in article YwjNf.1763$%a2.1093@trndny05, "Benjamin
Turek" wrote:

That is more along the lines of what I was talking about. I was wondering
if there was something else to it than the fishing, because the fishing is
good, but its not the best around this area. And all of the sudden it
becomes how many fish do you catch, etc... I was just wondering if there
was something else to it. Nothing crazy, like I said I just started reading
this group about two months ago and was curious why so much talk about
Penns.

Don't get me wrong. While it would be hard to argue that there is a wealth
of excellent fishing in central PA, you might get some argument with your
assessment of the fishing on Penns. Not from me as I haven't the
experience, but stay tuned. There are some here for whom very little is
needed to initiate argument, and still others who fondle Penns as if it were
a lovely maiden.

Moreover, making the somewhat swaggering pronouncement that there is much
better fishing in nearby closed rivers, rivers to which you have no
intention of helping us find or access, well, what is the point in saying
that? I mean, other than raising people's hackles. In particular, the
topic of private, closed water in PA is a hot button topic and bragging
about it will likely invite argument and ill will, regardless of your
intention to share.


Bill

Penns Creek
 

William Claspy wrote:
snip
Moreover, making the somewhat swaggering pronouncement that there is much
better fishing in nearby closed rivers, rivers to which you have no
intention of helping us find or access, well, what is the point in saying
that? ...

What's with all the scolding ? Don't you librarians ever
get tired of having your hair bun wrapped too tight ? ;-)

--
Ken Fortenberry

Penns Creek
 

On 3/1/06 12:44 PM, in article
, "Ken Fortenberry"
wrote:

William Claspy wrote:
snip
Moreover, making the somewhat swaggering pronouncement that there is much
better fishing in nearby closed rivers, rivers to which you have no
intention of helping us find or access, well, what is the point in saying
that? ...

What's with all the scolding ? Don't you librarians ever
get tired of having your hair bun wrapped too tight ? ;-)

Shhhhh!

:-)

B
(and c'mon, you could at least have given me kudos on the "caress" thing.
I'm kinda proud of that one! :-)

Penns Creek
 

Benjamin Turek wrote:

I am relatively new to this group, but I see Penns mentioned alot. Whats
the deal guys? Is it really that good? Have I just never noticed because I
fish there and Spruce Creek every week? Just wondering.

Having read through the thread thus far I'll throw in my two cents
worth.

I think you are "suffering" from an embarassment of riches and see
Penn's as just another toy in your back yard. Some of us don't have
that luxury and getting a week off to visit a stream like Penn's would
be a week of heaven. Other's have closer access to streams with their
own strengths but if you're an appalachian trout fisherman you don't
fish hatches and you don't fish spring creeks so a Penns' become
special.

We have others who live near it like you do but still consider it
special, in much the same way four people can love a sport like
baseball but root separately for the Red Sox, Cubs, Cardnials and
Phils. While you may consider Penn's *not as good as your other
streams*, to those ROFF regulars who live here, it's their favorite
team so to speak.

Add to it the annual gathering I have yet to make and Penn's becomes
the gold standard to some.

And I think my good librarian friend mis read you too, I didn't read
where you said you fished private waters only, I read where you said
you had to get permission. Those coming in for a week once a year
aren't going to know where to get that access.

Hope this helps

Wayne

Penns Creek
 

William Claspy wrote:

(and c'mon, you could at least have given me kudos on the "caress" thing.
I'm kinda proud of that one! :-)

I believe you said fondle which to my way of thinking is a little more
crass than a caress

Penns Creek
 

On 3/1/06 2:18 PM, in article
, "Wayne Knight"
wrote:


William Claspy wrote:

(and c'mon, you could at least have given me kudos on the "caress" thing.
I'm kinda proud of that one! :-)

I believe you said fondle which to my way of thinking is a little more
crass than a caress

I did say "fondle!" Maybe I meant "caress?" One thing for sure, I've got a
memory like a freakin' sieve.

How 'bout this. Tom caresses Penns. Frank, always more of a hands-on kind
of guy, fondles Penns. :-)

I agree with your "embarrassment of riches" analogy. Maybe I was grouchy
because Penns and environs is 5 hours away and I've got no friend with
"better water" in his backyard. Sour grapes. Hey, we're human!

That or my hair bun is too tight again. :-)

You still headed north this weekend?

Bill

Penns Creek
 

William Claspy wrote:

Frank, always more of a hands-on kind
of guy, fondles Penns. :-)

I have no desire to learn what Frank fondles as long as he does it in
private.

You still headed north this weekend?

I'm 50-50 right now I want to go but if no one else is going to show I
might just jaunt over the Mad for a few hours to get my fix rather than
drive the 6-7 hours and turn around. Or I may decide tomorrow night and
toss the stuff in the car and split out of work early and grab a hotel
room in Madison.

But if you want to drive as far as Chicago............

Penns Creek
 

On 3/1/06 2:38 PM, in article
, "Wayne Knight"
wrote:

William Claspy wrote:

Frank, always more of a hands-on kind
of guy, fondles Penns. :-)

I have no desire to learn what Frank fondles as long as he does it in
private.

Can't let him do it in private- at least the Penns fondling thing- for his
own safety of course. I mean, have you seen the guy wade? It's like
watching Olympic figure skaters- you just KNOW he's going to fall (I was
going to say "go down" but I think that metaphor is used up :-), it's just a
matter of when.

You still headed north this weekend?

But if you want to drive as far as Chicago............

Doesn't look like it's going to happen.

Um....is your digicam working??? :-)

Bill

Penns Creek
 

On 3/1/06 4:23 PM, in article
, "Wayne Knight"
wrote:


William Claspy wrote:

Um....is your digicam working??? :-)


Yea it's working, problem is....I am too :(. They'll be there soon
enough. You've gone all these years without one, a few more days won't
matter :)

Harsh! Throw me a bone fer chrisesakes!

:-)

Bill

(There's a funny story on Rusty's web page [gateslodge.com]- I guess a
couple of the young guys from the shop decided to try fishing the Mason
Tract last week, and drove their pickup down that two-track, which, at the
time had two feet of snow on it with snowmobile tracks. Sure enough, five
miles in they break through the packed snow and are in up to the axles. The
balance of the story is pretty amusing. What some guys will do to fish!)

Penns Creek
 

I would gladly tell people how to get in contact with people to fish these
places. I was just commenting that you typically need to say things nicely
to get the access. That whole public access debate finally has a court
date. I am anxious to see how it goes.

Penns Creek
 

Wayne Knight wrote:
William Claspy wrote:


Frank, always more of a hands-on kind
of guy, fondles Penns. :-)


I have no desire to learn what Frank fondles as long as he does it in
private.


You still headed north this weekend?


I'm 50-50 right now I want to go but if no one else is going to show I
might just jaunt over the Mad for a few hours to get my fix rather than
drive the 6-7 hours and turn around. Or I may decide tomorrow night and
toss the stuff in the car and split out of work early and grab a hotel
room in Madison.

But if you want to drive as far as Chicago............



I'll be in the Chicagoland area for about 5 days starting Thursday
evening......

Willi

Penns Creek
 

Willi wrote:

I'll be in the Chicagoland area for about 5 days starting Thursday
evening......

Is that a hint you want to fish the early Wisconsin opener on Sat?

Penns Creek
 

William Claspy wrote:

Throw me a bone fer chrisesakes!

not after you used fondle earlier

What some guys will do to fish!)

and they didn't get to either, sheesh

Penns Creek
 

Willi wrote:

I guess I misread the thread - I got this "But if you want to drive as
far as Chicago............" and thought you were coming to Chicago for
business or something and we could get together for dinner or a beer. I
can't get away for the time need to go fish the driftless area. I'm in
town to visit my Mom for a few days.


Bill and I had an earlier email exchange about WI where he said he
didn;t want to drive 7 hours in what he thought could snow so I had
told him to go as far as Chicago and I would get him there since it
sits between Indianapolis and SW Wisconsin.

Understand you can't make it, but if you have email access up there
I'll drop you a note Friday if I decide to go up there anyway and we
can meet up when I come back through Sat night.

Wayne

Penns Creek
 

On 3/1/06 6:25 PM, in article , "Willi"
wrote:

Wayne Knight wrote:
William Claspy wrote:


Frank, always more of a hands-on kind
of guy, fondles Penns. :-)


I have no desire to learn what Frank fondles as long as he does it in
private.


You still headed north this weekend?


I'm 50-50 right now I want to go but if no one else is going to show I
might just jaunt over the Mad for a few hours to get my fix rather than
drive the 6-7 hours and turn around. Or I may decide tomorrow night and
toss the stuff in the car and split out of work early and grab a hotel
room in Madison.

But if you want to drive as far as Chicago............



I'll be in the Chicagoland area for about 5 days starting Thursday
evening......

Hope your mom is OK.

Now if we're talking a micro-clave, I could get interested!

Bill

Penns Creek
 

"Benjamin Turek" wrote in message
news:YwjNf.1763$%a2.1093@trndny05...
That is more along the lines of what I was talking about. I was wondering
if there was something else to it than the fishing, because the fishing is
good, but its not the best around this area. And all of the sudden it
becomes how many fish do you catch, etc... I was just wondering if there
was something else to it. Nothing crazy, like I said I just started
reading
this group about two months ago and was curious why so much talk about
Penns.

Well, as explained, Penn's is more of an event to many here. To me, it is
pretty much the home waters, although I fish a lot of other Central PA
waters. I am real curious what, if any state-regulated waters you rate over
Penns, if your rating system includes number, volume and acceptance by fish
of hatches, variation in water types and fish population. You can reply via
email if you don't want the world to catch the names, and I am not talking
about managed, private waters here anyway.
Tom

Penns Creek
 

On 3/1/06 6:53 PM, in article , "Willi"
wrote:

Wayne Knight wrote:
Willi wrote:


I'll be in the Chicagoland area for about 5 days starting Thursday
evening......


Is that a hint you want to fish the early Wisconsin opener on Sat?



I guess I misread the thread - I got this "But if you want to drive as
far as Chicago............" and thought you were coming to Chicago for
business or something and we could get together for dinner or a beer. I
can't get away for the time need to go fish the driftless area. I'm in
town to visit my Mom for a few days.

As Wayne said, he was trying to convince me to drive as far as Chicago (6
hours for me) and then we'd tandem on up to SW Wisconsin for the opener.
The weather isn't looking exactly condusive to fishing- or driving, freezing
rain tomorrow- so I probably won't be over.

Bill

Penns Creek
 

"Benjamin Turek" wrote in message
news:yHiNf.2425$SJ2.2024@trndny01...
I didn't literally mean two fish, but I am sure that you knew that.

I was pretty certain that there were probably three.....or four....but I
wasn't quite prepared to call you a liar.......yet.

I'd show you mine, but most of it you need permission from the owners to
fish. They tend to disregarded coniving, down talkers which you tend to
come off as, so I won't waste either of our time.

"Coniving, down talkers"? :)

My admirably bibliophagic (if otherwise distressingly moderate) friend has
done a pretty good job of outlining what's what in this place. I won't do
him the discourtesy of repeating it point by point, but merely confine
myself to recapitulating the most salient features in the vernacular lest
you be tempted at some later date to claim that you didn't get it. ROFF is
a wonderful place to get information.....to learn things....and also to make
acquaintances that can carry over into face to face encounters and even
lasting friendships. However, it is also an extremely BAD place for a none
too clever (or articulate) newby to come to practice his prevarication and
condescension. Your ass WILL get bit.

Wolfgang

Penns Creek
 

"Benjamin Turek" wrote in message
news:NYhNf.3833$AZ1.1523@trndny07...
I catch fish. Hell, I caught at least two that I can remember last year.
I was just curious about Penns because there are four or so streams around
here that we all talk about more. Penns has some good hatches, but so do
the others. I simply wondered if I was missing something when I was going

Not a god damn good fish anywhere in the area. Best to stay far away from
Penn's. I hear Spring Creek's good too and few other smaller cricks.

the Finn

Penns Creek
 

"Benjamin Turek" wrote in message
news:nv4Nf.4761$dj2.2583@trndny04...
I am relatively new to this group, but I see Penns mentioned alot. Whats
the deal guys? Is it really that good? Have I just never noticed because
I fish there and Spruce Creek every week? Just wondering.

Thanks
Ben


Central PA is a fishing paradise, just about anywhere you go. I know that
the State College Boys love to say Spring and Spruce and waters thereabouts,
and I don't blame anyone for favoring the waters in their backyards. I have
fished many waters in PA, made a point of it years ago, and have many
favorites for various reasons spread throughout. The Penn's watershed has
that number one slot for me, more for memories of learning the sport there,
and the people that have walked it with me, than for biggest/best fish, most
popular location, etc, etc. Knowing the water helps, and the hatches are
the best when it comes to diversity and size. There is always the chance at
an exceptional fish or two, which does help the confidence a bit.

I can't say that I favor any stream that is posted, expect for maybe water I
had fished passionately before it is now posted. Spruce was always one of
those streams for me. If I can't explore it from headwaters, to mouth, for
the most part, I don't find it challenging enough. I know the history,
Presidents, fly fishing patriarchs, etc. and I envy anyone that can fish it
anytime they want, but can find much more water elsewhere in Central PA and
elsewhere, that does me just fine. Heck, probably the "best water" on
Penn's is posted, it's headwaters as it exit's out of Penn's cave, and I had
the pleasure of fishing it (just once), but it's definitely not my favorite
section of the stream.

There are several in our party that prefer other streams in the area, and
that's just fine, whatever works. Penn's, Spring, Spruce, Big Fishing
Creek, The Letort, Yellow Breeches, Delaware River, Little J, Susque (all
over), Big Spring, Brodhead, Kish, Kettle, Big Pine, Slate Run, Cedar Run,
Young Woman's, Yuck, Tulpehocken, Fishing Creek, White Deer, etc, etc, etc,
etc. all have faithful followers, just a matter of personal choice. You
could wonder into any bar local to any decent trickle of water and get in a
heated discussion with many who feel just as passionately for their part of
the universe (trust me, it's a proven theory..)

We have been making a few day trips out from our annual clave, any interest
in showing us some of your favorite water, of the unposted variety, this
year? Late May is the timeline for the Clave, but we'll be around a few
times between now and then, and afterwards.

The Finn

Penns Creek
 

"Mike Makela" ten.tsacmoc@alekamm wrote in message
...

"Benjamin Turek" wrote in message
news:NYhNf.3833$AZ1.1523@trndny07...
I catch fish. Hell, I caught at least two that I can remember last year.
I was just curious about Penns because there are four or so streams around
here that we all talk about more. Penns has some good hatches, but so do
the others. I simply wondered if I was missing something when I was going

Not a god damn good fish anywhere in the area. Best to stay far away from
Penn's. I hear Spring Creek's good too and few other smaller cricks.

I've heard that west suburban Philadelphia is THE place to fish. As a
matter of fact, I have a close personal contact at a Philadelphia public
access television station who is eager to shoot a segment on fly fishing at
a west suburban Philadelphia trout stream on Monday, April 24th. You know
anyone who wants to be on T.V.? :)

Wolfgang
yep, for real.

Penns Creek
 

"Wolfgang" wrote in message
...

As a
matter of fact, I have a close personal contact at a Philadelphia public
access television station who is eager to shoot a segment on fly fishing
at
a west suburban Philadelphia trout stream on Monday, April 24th. You know
anyone who wants to be on T.V.? :)

Wolfgang
yep, for real.

Valley Creek? Anyhow, I may be interested, let me know details via
email........
Tom

Penns Creek
 

"Tom Littleton" wrote in message
news:tHzQf.9520$_f4.1041@trnddc03...

"Wolfgang" wrote in message
...

As a
matter of fact, I have a close personal contact at a Philadelphia public
access television station who is eager to shoot a segment on fly fishing
at
a west suburban Philadelphia trout stream on Monday, April 24th. You
know
anyone who wants to be on T.V.? :)

Wolfgang
yep, for real.

Valley Creek?

Yep.

Anyhow, I may be interested, let me know details via
email........

Will do. You might want to check with Mike in case he didn't see this.

Wolfgang