February 12, 2021 – More Snow Trout – Northampton County Limestoner

Pretty deep, pretty cold, pretty day.

Even in Philly, the air temperature was not going to go above 30 today, but I had to get out for a walk in waders even if the fishing was bad.  Another week or more had passed with snow and frigid daytime temperatures, at least on the days I had free to get out and fish, so today was the day regardless. I took my time, not leaving the house until around 12:30.  It was still only 27 degrees at best when I arrived at the creek an hour later.  I wasn’t even sure I could find parking here, and that is often the rub with traveling any distance to fish during a particularly snowy winter, but I sort of found some.  The lots were not plowed since the first dump of nearly two feet, and there was fresh powder up to 5 inches on top of that, but I just drove down an access road as far as the plows went and called it good.  I was only going to be a couple hours, maybe three, and there were no signs about parking or not parking where I did, so I tried to leave room for an emergency vehicle (with a 24-inch lift kit) to get by if needed and suited up for a vigorous walk in the unmarred snow pack. 

More snow shots and a surprise visitor to end the day.

I was surprised to see no other signs of humans.  At first, I only had deer trails, some of them fresh because I spooked a small herd of healthy does the minute I walked into the woods, but once I got to the creek, I mostly stayed there and was able to move around and cover a decent amount of water.  About a foot of bare rock was exposed on each side, perhaps because the limestone water and sun helped melt some back from the edge.  A hole where I thought I had the best shot of a fish or two, and the best chance of seeing some risers, didn’t pay off until the second pass through, but it yielded a decent 10-inch wild brown.  The first fish took one of Eric’s big rubber legged jigs in some current, so he was the one I was hoping for, the one fish who needed to pry himself off the bottom to take a big meal.  It happened early enough in my three hours on the water that I had some confidence in my plan to dredge big bugs through pocket water looking for an opportunist or two instead of midging under a bobber, which I have talked to death about hating on this blog. 

Kept hope alive for a couple hours.

I took another 90 minutes to land my second fish, this one on Sam’s golden stone.  He tied me some smaller ones in the last batch, more suited to smaller streams.  I don’t believe there are golden stones in this creek, but it’s a good attractor that gets down deep.  Plus, this one was a rainbow, so what did she know!?  A few get in this section each year, but they are not common.  I land maybe five of them a year, plus a brookie or two.   The commish does stock bows in places and clubs do too, so I don’t think any of these beauties are wild.  This fish was a good 13+ inches, colored up with all her fins translucent, regrown, and tipped in white, but the tail and even the adipose looked like they had grown back over time.  When I hooked this fish, she was in moderate current and pretty shallow, looking for a warm up, perhaps.  This is more common on sunny days, but sometimes near the end of a winter afternoon it happens regardless of sun, I guess.  It did not fight like a brown—digging for the bottom and the structure that would help dislodge the hook—instead this one wanted to get back out in the current and go.  For a second I thought I had fouled hooked something because this fish would not give up.  Eventually, I saw her and the golden stone in the corner of her mouth.  It was hard to be disappointed with her status as a holdover rainbow after a showing like that on such a slow day.  I was not mad at her, even if she was pissed!  

I'm not mad at you, girl.

This was just a beautiful fish with deep pink and reds, even some amber.  Like most healthy rainbows, she did not willingly pose for photos for long, and I sent her back with a lot of remaining energy despite a rather long fight for such a small creek.  When I checked the phone, it was close to 5 PM at this point, so I decided to head back to my “parking spot.”  I did find a narrow worn path on the opposite bank where brave dog walkers and hikers had passed since the last storm, so the walk back was picturesque but not excessively aerobic.  A huge flock of birds began roosting and moving as one in the tops of trees, a large enough group to be migratory, so while no robins or other signs of spring yet, the longer days will keep on coming.  I saw stocking begins next week on the DHALO and FFO spots, so more options closer to home should lead to a more productive second half of February.  Still, I have my eye on Sunday…

Some blurrier B reel since it's been a while!