2007 Penn's Clave Official Thread

Well, it was, as is annually the case, another unique Penn's Clave. First
off, it did not rain more than 5 minutes the entire week. Blue sky and
sunshine at a Penn's Clave!!
Of course, this, coupled with lowish, clear limestone waters, made fishing
at times maddening. Generally, the fishing was pretty good from dawn to
about 10 am. The evening hatches seemed to be coming later every day. A week
ago, sulfurs and caddis started at 5 pm, by the end of the week, nothing
until 7:30. We flailed until dark-thirty most nights. It was a smaller
crowd(after 7 years, the novelty factor is low), but a good time was
seemingly had by all. My guests and cohorts:
1. Handyman Mike Shaw--at 10 days, the marathon claver. In between fishing
and touring the area, fixed a floor, sealed a roof and washed clave Central.
2. Mike Makela--used every angling technique short of
a couple of leads from his car battery. He caught fish.
3. Jeff Love--a friend from CT that I hadn't seen in a couple of years.
4. Dave Gunnett(Dave PA)--carrying an armload of LEDs for nighttime angling,
and a bit of Jack Daniels as well.
5. Jeff Whose Name I Annually Forget--joined us Weds
night, and up through the weekend.
6. Joel Axelrad--drove clear from Illinois, poured himself
a martini, and settled in for another stretch of Penn's angling. This dude
smiles......a lot! Didn't smile when he
drove into a small tree by Clave Central, but the smile returned very
quickly.......
7.Willi Loehman(sp?)--I thought this one would never return after seeing a
major flood, but return he did. He also seemed to regularly catch fish and
got to explore the valley under blue skies. Hey, Willi, do we have some
hatches here in the east??
8. Dan Finn--Noted Bi-coastal type, arrived with Willi and the most complete
set of pre-prepared camp foods I have ever heard of. Explored the valley and
a couple other spots with Willi. These two put in some fishing hours.
9 Frank Reid--stayed dry. That's the news flash. As always full of stories,
good spirits and, frequently Yeungling Lager. Drove here from Nebraska.
10 Allen Epps--The first I have seen of Allen in a couple of years. He left
town early, and now owns a warped rod tube than George Gherke would have
been proud of.
Allen might be this year's duck butt award winner, but he
didn't achieve full immersion.
11. Vince Norris--whose back was hurting. Still, he drove down to the river
to socialize, and joined us after fishing at the Millheim.
12. John Baker--asadi, who has had a bit of bad luck in prior clave visits,
arrived on his Harley Wednesday afternoon, and within 4 minutes had a T-Bone
steak(how Roffian....TBone!) on a plate in his hands. Great, as always to
have this kindly soul in camp!!
13. Peter Charles--ok, he wasn't there, but I forgot him one prior year, and
owed him one. Plus, I wanted to see if anyone was still paying attention.
Petah, himself, especially.

all in all, a fun group, fishing under challenging conditions.
I am sure the reports will trickle in, and the lies will grow.
Until next year, I hang up my Clavemeister outfit, sit back and wait.......
Tom

In article rD%5i.129$7R5.62@trndny07,
"Tom Littleton" wrote:

Well, it was, as is annually the case, another unique Penn's Clave. First
off, it did not rain more than 5 minutes the entire week. Blue sky and
sunshine at a Penn's Clave!!

]snipped

all in all, a fun group, fishing under challenging conditions.
I am sure the reports will trickle in, and the lies will grow.
Until next year, I hang up my Clavemeister outfit, sit back and wait.......
Tom

Indeed the arriving on Sunday and leaving in Tuesday did not leave a lot
of time to enjoy but I had a great time anyway.

Arrived and saw the note on clave central that Frank and Handyman Mike
had headed off to Cherry Run so off I went and joined up there. Alas no
fish but had a nice couple hours until, on departure, I managed to slam
my 20 year old Sage DS in the car door. How is it a rod that has shared
many great times picks this particular one to slide down the side of the
car just as I flipped the left rear door closed?

As all I had brought with me other than was a 3 weight I needed a five
or six weight. Stopped by Bruce's new shop and picked up a Wright and
McGill. Not bad for a soft rod aficionado and Bruce made the price right
but the grip is a bit thick so a little sanding is in order. Hopefully
someone at Sage has some old DS tips around and I'll have my old
favorite back.

Headed of to BIg FIshing Creek Monday am and it was pretty damn sterile.
Picked up minnow-like Brown and a decent Brookie in the rifles on PTN's
but otherwise a nice walk. Tom and I carpooled over and I think he
seemed a bit nervous at my flogging the Audi Allroad over the passes.
Did see a roadkilled porky which was the first I'd seen in Pa.

Monday afternoon I walked maybe 3/4 a mile down from the trestle to the
small meadow section and worked it over with Stoneflies, EHC, Sulfur
emergers, Duns and the ever present Adams hatch Catching about one
fish per fly and never more.

Hooked up with the Willie and Dan'l at that point (hereafter known as
the fish vacuums) and headed upstream. I hooked a nice rainbow in an EGC
but only held on to it for a couple leaps at the same time they managed
to catch a half dozen each on size 10 March Brown's hanging out in 5
inches of water. At this point the herds of March Browns (hereafter
known as flying pork chops) worked at blotting out the sun. Seriously,
these are enormous bugs who hang there and you just know they're going
to fall to the surface and spinners and create a feeding orgy similar
to Clavesters on lobster night at the Millheim and here's the truth. It
ain't gonna happen! It turns pure dark and the bigs or still up there
and the trout are eating Sulfur Duns or the MB have been blown to
Cleveland but there is not going to be a spinner fall. Well, at least
until I'm not there. .

The dunking incident was wading into the sun in about a foot of water
and impacting my left shin with a boulder in the middle of a bed of
gravel. Sat down and dunked my left shoulder but didn't ship true water
over the top of the waders (and I already have some duck butts in the
decoy bag so don't need another!) This damn shin still hurts since it
was bone on rock with a little goretex in between as I sit here on the
sofa with the laptop.

Had a very welcome cheese steak at the Millheim about 2100 along with a
pitcher of Yuengling with Mike and Tom to finish out the evening.
Tuesday am swung by clave central to say by then headed off to Cabela's
in Hamburg to pick up some .257 Roberts brass.

Got home and realized how lucky I was to meet up with this group and
just how much I enjoy these trips and how much I learn from fisherman
that know a whole lot more than me. I need to get up there more often
and of course I have Tom's Avid banana tube I need to get back to him!

Allen

..
all in all, a fun group, fishing under challenging conditions.
I am sure the reports will trickle in, and the lies will grow.
Until next year, I hang up my Clavemeister outfit, sit back and wait.......
Tom

Okay, when do you go on vacation and curse the sunshine? When you're
trying to fish at Penns.
By the way, drove home today, 17 hours in one shot. This included
missing a tornado by seconds (come around a corner and cars are all
over the road, the median and embankment, but none flipped).
Decided change out of the pants that I wore all week before walking
into the house. Changed at a rest stop 25 miles from home. Threw the
pants away. Did no good. The pants raced me home. They won.
Frank Reid
(will write more when I stop vibrating. Make your jokes now, I could
care less. The room walls are swaying and I've only had half a beer)

Frank Reid typed:
.
all in all, a fun group, fishing under challenging conditions.
I am sure the reports will trickle in, and the lies will grow.
Until next year, I hang up my Clavemeister outfit, sit back and
wait....... Tom

By the way, drove home today, 17 hours in one shot. This included
missing a tornado by seconds (come around a corner and cars are all
over the road, the median and embankment, but none flipped).

My best guess is that YOU caused the tornado, or at least attracted it
in that general direction. This goes hand in hand with my theory that
tornados must be caused by the heat rising from the roofs of trailers in
trailer parks.
--
TL,
Tim
---------------------------
http://css.sbcma.com/timj/

On May 27, 3:13 pm, "Tim J."
wrote:
Frank Reid typed:

.
all in all, a fun group, fishing under challenging conditions.
I am sure the reports will trickle in, and the lies will grow.
Until next year, I hang up my Clavemeister outfit, sit back and
wait....... Tom

By the way, drove home today, 17 hours in one shot. This included
missing a tornado by seconds (come around a corner and cars are all
over the road, the median and embankment, but none flipped).

My best guess is that YOU caused the tornado, or at least attracted it
in that general direction. This goes hand in hand with my theory that
tornados must be caused by the heat rising from the roofs of trailers in
trailer parks.

I'm sweet and innocent.
Okay, here's the darker side of Penns. Since the fishing was slow
(the evening rise was down to 10 minutes at dusk by the end), I had a
chance to observe my fellow fishermen and surroundings.
1. Though not showering for a week will repel mosquitos, it will draw
other insects. Specifically those seen on CSI around dead bodies.
2. A certain new fly shop owner has a gift for prevarication.
Besides fish, he can use ye olde hook, line and sinker on ROFFians.
3. Fish do not like tent catepillars.
4. Even though personalized, Nebraska license plates do not earn you
respect in Central PA.
5. If you don't shower for a week, you won't notice that others
haven't.
6. Car doors could have been used during the French Revolution for
decapitations.
7. Three-year old Dr. Pepper is still, well, Dr. Pepper.
8. Jonas at the Feathered Hook is an equal to Branson or Trump when
it comes to selling his product.
9. Sunshine sucks.
10. Danl needs to have his bride train all other brides and bride to
be's.
11. If we all had Handyman Mike's demeanor, the liquour industry
would loose its shirt.
12. Do NOT be in a tightly sealed cabin with Makela. Nuff, said.
13. Finally, believe it or not, its not about the fish.
Frank Reid

Frank Reid typed:
On May 27, 3:13 pm, "Tim J."
wrote:
Frank Reid typed:
.
all in all, a fun group, fishing under challenging conditions.
I am sure the reports will trickle in, and the lies will grow.
Until next year, I hang up my Clavemeister outfit, sit back and
snip
13. Finally, believe it or not, its not about the fish.

Ahhhhh. . . the essence of fly fishing. I'm glad all you boys had fun.
--
TL,
Tim
-------------------------
http://css.sbcma.com/timj

On May 26, 3:11 pm, "Tom Littleton" wrote:
Well, it was, as is annually the case, another unique Penn's Clave. First
off, it did not rain more than 5 minutes the entire week. Blue sky and
sunshine at a Penn's Clave!!
Of course, this, coupled with lowish, clear limestone waters, made fishing
at times maddening. Generally, the fishing was pretty good from dawn to
about 10 am. The evening hatches seemed to be coming later every day. A week
ago, sulfurs and caddis started at 5 pm, by the end of the week, nothing
until 7:30. We flailed until dark-thirty most nights. It was a smaller
crowd(after 7 years, the novelty factor is low), but a good time was
seemingly had by all. My guests and cohorts:
1. Handyman Mike Shaw--at 10 days, the marathon claver. In between fishing
and touring the area, fixed a floor, sealed a roof and washed clave Central.
2. Mike Makela--used every angling technique short of
a couple of leads from his car battery. He caught fish.
3. Jeff Love--a friend from CT that I hadn't seen in a couple of years.
4. Dave Gunnett(Dave PA)--carrying an armload of LEDs for nighttime angling,
and a bit of Jack Daniels as well.
5. Jeff Whose Name I Annually Forget--joined us Weds
night, and up through the weekend.
6. Joel Axelrad--drove clear from Illinois, poured himself
a martini, and settled in for another stretch of Penn's angling. This dude
smiles......a lot! Didn't smile when he
drove into a small tree by Clave Central, but the smile returned very
quickly.......
7.Willi Loehman(sp?)--I thought this one would never return after seeing a
major flood, but return he did. He also seemed to regularly catch fish and
got to explore the valley under blue skies. Hey, Willi, do we have some
hatches here in the east??
8. Dan Finn--Noted Bi-coastal type, arrived with Willi and the most complete
set of pre-prepared camp foods I have ever heard of. Explored the valley and
a couple other spots with Willi. These two put in some fishing hours.
9 Frank Reid--stayed dry. That's the news flash. As always full of stories,
good spirits and, frequently Yeungling Lager. Drove here from Nebraska.
10 Allen Epps--The first I have seen of Allen in a couple of years. He left
town early, and now owns a warped rod tube than George Gherke would have
been proud of.
Allen might be this year's duck butt award winner, but he
didn't achieve full immersion.
11. Vince Norris--whose back was hurting. Still, he drove down to the river
to socialize, and joined us after fishing at the Millheim.
12. John Baker--asadi, who has had a bit of bad luck in prior clave visits,
arrived on his Harley Wednesday afternoon, and within 4 minutes had a T-Bone
steak(how Roffian....TBone!) on a plate in his hands. Great, as always to
have this kindly soul in camp!!
13. Peter Charles--ok, he wasn't there, but I forgot him one prior year, and
owed him one. Plus, I wanted to see if anyone was still paying attention.
Petah, himself, especially.

all in all, a fun group, fishing under challenging conditions.
I am sure the reports will trickle in, and the lies will grow.
Until next year, I hang up my Clavemeister outfit, sit back and wait.......
Tom


Sorry I missed the clave. I had family health matters to deal
with. If the fishing is tough during the clave, the camaraderie
makes up for it. I hope to make up for missing the clave by having
a decent trip to Idaho this July for business

PS. re Item 13. You must be getting old. Last year you left me off
the TR. Just think how many people would miss the list if attendance
was like it was back in 2002?! Does this mean if I can make it next
year I'll be listed twice? ;-)

"Gene Cyprych" wrote in message
oups.com...
PS. re Item 13. You must be getting old. Last year you left me off
the TR. Just think how many people would miss the list if attendance
was like it was back in 2002?! Does this mean if I can make it next
year I'll be listed twice? ;-)


.....but, I will misspell your name both timesg!
Tom

Tom Littleton wrote:

Well, it was, as is annually the case, another unique Penn's Clave. First
off, it did not rain more than 5 minutes the entire week. Blue sky and
sunshine at a Penn's Clave!!

... etc.

Thanks to you and others for the TRs. Sounds like a good 'un.

- JR

My .02 on the clave
Met the Finn on the 17th fished Stans 1 fish.......Friday fished
inglesby Mike vacumed the riffles caught fish.......saturday death
march from downtown Millhiem to posted section of elk creek 1.5 miles
of brushes prickers caught fish lost count........met up with frank
willi danl and dave pa had burgers and red hotdog stream side thanks
dave allen epps made his debut .........Sunday fished project waters
in the am met up with Tom Joel fished tunnel section sunday night with
all clavers except dave and joel.....Monday we did fishing creek
fishing was tough........tuesday worked on trailor Allen went home had
steak lunch Asadi popped in at the right time Joel smashed up car
steak was great........worked on trailor Wendesday fished in the
evening at Stans with Joel..........Thursday Mine and Toms friend Jeff
from my hood stopped in again we fished stans met up with Vince
Norris lobsta night at the millhiem mike and frank hogged all the
lobsta........Friday I slept in Tom left we went to
Wiekert..........Stayed at bruces Friday night met up with another
friend Ron from Ct Saturday AM fished blue rock hole then cabin run
then buick blvd ate at sportsmans club which i am now a card carrying
member ron went back to Haineyville and I went back to camp Mike M
shows up and we go back to bruces fished Pardee rd hatch but no fish
rising was very strange spinners on water but no takers......Packed up
sunday and headed home.......Had a great time fishing with Mike alot
thanks for putting up with me....... Willi I swear if I ****ed beside
the road willi would catch a fish in it Danl telling him where to put
the fly.......Danl is a far better fisherman than he lets on thanks
for the dropper info.......Frank as always a pleasure seeing you and a
good fisherman you are also..........Joel Dave Daves friend Jeff Asadi
Allen nice to see you my friends sorry we didn't get to fish together
more........My friends from Ct Jeff and Ron and Rons friend Jeff thank
for stopping by and seeing how great Penns Creek is.........And of
course can't foget Ye Ole Clavemister Tom lets do Penns again soon my
friend........Bruce thanks for the bed for a night we won't talk about
Pardee rd...........

Same Time Same Place Next Year