May 2, 2018 – Got My First Sunburn, and I Wasn’t Alone on a Wednesday – Brodhead Creek

Some new trees, both visible and less visible.

I spent roughly four hours on the Brodhead today nymphing some favorite pocket water that I have not visited since the fall.  I know driving 90 minutes one-way to fish 4 hours, much of that slowly wading in rough, deep water to get into position—casting with my feet, I like to think—followed by more than 90 minutes back home in traffic is not great math, but it was 87 degrees in the Poconos today, so there was no way I was fishing in Philly!  I was surprised to see a handful of fly guys on this particular stretch, especially on a Wednesday morning, but the profile of the creek continues to grow with articles and book mentions, so I guess I shouldn’t be too surprised, and I know I am not the only regular who needed to play hooky on a day like today.  Honestly, though, I would have preferred 65 or 70 degrees not this nonsense this early in the spring.

Big mayfly imitations and caddis worked, on the stockies at least.

There were a lot of bugs active, including caddis, midges, olives, and even a decent number of big mayflies, likely Hendricksons or Quills.  I am no entomologist , but I know large mayflies when I see them.  I am not surprised that a big soft hackle pheasant tail jig got the job done on a few fish, while the caddis larva took the others.  No wild browns came out to play this afternoon, although I did break off a good fish early that got into water too heavy for me to handle him, but it was a bluebird day with a strong South wind blowing, so not ideal conditions.  Still, it did my heart good to tussle with about 7 strong stockies and holdovers in one of my favorite pieces of water and get bounced by a couple others that came off.  I was tired from my long Tuesday, and I lost a bunch of flies to all the new sunken tree branches deposited on this stretch of water, but I had fun and I didn’t get wet—although that would not have been a disaster today.  The water was so cold that I wasn’t uncomfortable with the heat until I had to hike back down the railroad tracks to the Subaru around 2:30 PM.  

Toothy and good colors, but stocked.

I have a busy Thursday, but I may sneak out locally if the heat doesn’t keep me indoors.  Friday, the boy has an early dismissal and I am on duty, but rain looks likely for the weekend, along with more normal temperatures.  I am about ready to chase a striped bass or some racer blues entering the bay, so at the very least, I can hide in the garage and get some saltwater gear together if I don’t get out fishing again until the weekend.  I have got to leave the sunscreen out every morning now too!