Penn's in April--TR

Just arrived home from a spectacular opening week for Clave Central in
Coburn. The weather was somewhat typical for us....yes, it rained a bit most
days, and was a little chilly, but not bad for April. I arrived in the area
and stopped in a Bruce Fisher(softhackle)'s new shop on rte.45. He was busy
and has been kept that way by a flood of customers, both local and visiting
anglers.
On the creek, Grannoms were hatching, mating and laying eggs like mad.
Billions of them in the air, nose,mouth, etc.
Early in the afternoons, the Coyote Ugly got the fish rising to emergers,
with a variety of patterns working toward the end of the day, as Red Quills,
Hendricksons, Quill Gordons, Blue Quills (duns and spinners for all) came
fluttering into the mix. I saw what would have normally seemed to be a very
good Hendrickson spinner fall, except for the fact that there were 50 times
as many mating Grannoms out. Still the fish preferred the spinners, in
spots. Wet flies worked well during much of the day, as well as dries or
even better at times.
Big Fishing Creek was the destination on Saturday, and that creek was
inundated with Blue Quill mayflies. Some Hendricksons and caddis mixed in,
but Blue Quills were the main hatch.
All in all, we took lots of fish all week long......fished in the rain, in a
bit of wind and in sort of cold water, but succeeded in all chosen spots.
There were quite a few fellow anglers in the valley, but not so much that
one couldn't walk away from crowding of any sort.
Summing up, it was good to return to Penns, and fishing, for that matter. I
look forward to the Clave in 3 weeks!!
Tom

On Apr 29, 1:52 pm, "Tom Littleton" wrote:
Just arrived home from a spectacular opening week for Clave Central in
Coburn. The weather was somewhat typical for us....yes, it rained a bit most
days, and was a little chilly, but not bad for April. I arrived in the area
and stopped in a Bruce Fisher(softhackle)'s new shop on rte.45. He was busy
and has been kept that way by a flood of customers, both local and visiting
anglers.
On the creek, Grannoms were hatching, mating and laying eggs like mad.
Billions of them in the air, nose,mouth, etc.
Early in the afternoons, the Coyote Ugly got the fish rising to emergers,
with a variety of patterns working toward the end of the day, as Red Quills,
Hendricksons, Quill Gordons, Blue Quills (duns and spinners for all) came
fluttering into the mix. I saw what would have normally seemed to be a very
good Hendrickson spinner fall, except for the fact that there were 50 times
as many mating Grannoms out. Still the fish preferred the spinners, in
spots. Wet flies worked well during much of the day, as well as dries or
even better at times.
Big Fishing Creek was the destination on Saturday, and that creek was
inundated with Blue Quill mayflies. Some Hendricksons and caddis mixed in,
but Blue Quills were the main hatch.
All in all, we took lots of fish all week long......fished in the rain, in a
bit of wind and in sort of cold water, but succeeded in all chosen spots.
There were quite a few fellow anglers in the valley, but not so much that
one couldn't walk away from crowding of any sort.
Summing up, it was good to return to Penns, and fishing, for that matter. I
look forward to the Clave in 3 weeks!!
Tom

Waaaaa! Okay, can we replicate these conditions on the Chicago
River?
Frank Reid
(Okay, I'm here in Chicago through Friday a.m. Anything fly fishing
related worth seeing in this town?)

"Flytyer37" wrote in message
ps.com...

(Okay, I'm here in Chicago through Friday a.m. Anything fly fishing
related worth seeing in this town?)

Chicago Fly Fishing Outfitters, Trout and Grouse in Northfield, and One More
Cast in Countryside. Bass Pro shop if you're so inclined as well as a
Cabela's coming to Schamburg/Hoffman Estates area. Fox River for some decent
warmwater stuff. Make sure you eat at least one meal at Heaven on Seven.

I arrived in the area and stopped in a Bruce Fisher(softhackle)'s new shop on rte.45.

Tom, where along Rte. 45 is that shop?

Thanks. Vince

"vincent p. norris" wrote in message
...
I arrived in the area and stopped in a Bruce Fisher(softhackle)'s new
shop on rte.45.

Tom, where along Rte. 45 is that shop?

Thanks. Vince

He is outside of Hartleton, on the corner where you turn to go to Laurelton.
Tom

(Okay, I'm here in Chicago through Friday a.m. Anything fly fishing
related worth seeing in this town?)

Chicago Fly Fishing Outfitters, Trout and Grouse in Northfield, and One More
Cast in Countryside. Bass Pro shop if you're so inclined as well as a
Cabela's coming to Schamburg/Hoffman Estates area. Fox River for some decent
warmwater stuff. Make sure you eat at least one meal at Heaven on Seven.

Got it. Thanks Wayne.
Frank Reid

On Mon, 30 Apr 2007 09:36:48 GMT, "Tom Littleton"
wrote:


"vincent p. norris" wrote in message
.. .
I arrived in the area and stopped in a Bruce Fisher(softhackle)'s new
shop on rte.45.

Tom, where along Rte. 45 is that shop?

Thanks. Vince

He is outside of Hartleton, on the corner where you turn to go to Laurelton.
Tom

Hey, country directions one can actually follow...no "go past where the
Amish dairy used to be and turn left at the corner where the Jones place
burned down back in '75..."

TC,
R

"Tom Littleton" wrote

Grannoms were hatching, mating and laying eggs like mad. Billions of them
in the air, nose,mouth, etc.


toward the end of the day, as Red Quills, Hendricksons, Quill Gordons, Blue
Quills (duns and spinners for all) came fluttering into the mix.


Sounds like a wonderful trip. I got curious enough to Google up Penns
hoping to get a better feel for what it is like. It looks like a wonderful
place to fish ... although I was surprised at how 'big' the flows look in
some of the photos.

Tom Littleton typed:
Just arrived home from a spectacular opening week for Clave Central in
Coburn.
snip

Bastid! The rivers up here are ridiculously high right now and not conducive
to the kindler, gentler type of fishing I enjoy. However, I have it on good
authority that a TR may be forthcoming from some unfamiliar (to me) waters
in the very near future.
--
TL,
Tim
-------------------------
http://css.sbcma.com/timj

"Larry L" wrote in message
news
Sounds like a wonderful trip. I got curious enough to Google up Penns
hoping to get a better feel for what it is like. It looks like a
wonderful place to fish ... although I was surprised at how 'big' the
flows look in some of the photos.


It is a big stream, with all that entails. It is also a damned bug factory,
I have never seen a heavier hatch of any bug than the Penn's Grannoms, the
air is simply a cloud of them, sometimes for several hours like that. For
impressive numbers of mayflies, some sulfur evenings on Penn's might rival
the Grannom in number of bugs, and the Drake spinner fall is just a flying
mass of huge insects.
If smaller water interests you, we can direct you to everything from a
mini-Penns type(Little Junianta, or Big Fishing Creek), a smaller pure
limestoner(Spring Creek),
or a few smaller brook/brown trout streams nearby.
We aim to please at the Penn's Clave!
Tom