November 2024 Conewago Creek
Where: Conewago Creek, near Gettysburg, PA.
When: Saturday, November 9, 2024, 9:00 AM to 5:00PM
Participants: Mike Abramowitz, Bob Bokulic, Jouky Chang, Art Friedlander, Jim Irons, Doug Johncox, Chris Newkumet, Lou Reichel, Joe Robinson, Allan Rutzen, Alan Williams and Ron Kerrick.
There was a good turnout of about a dozen people for the chapter outing this past Saturday. I apologize if I have not listed everyone’s name, but some folks didn’t register or had problems registering online. We met at the PFBC Angler Access parking area on Zeigler Mill Road at 9:00 AM and the participants received our new chapter pin for attending the outing, courtesy of Bob Bokulic. It was a gorgeous day to be out enjoying nature. When we started, the temperature was about 50 degrees with bright sun and no wind, so it didn’t feel cold. However, since it was such a nice sunny day, the fishing was a little tougher. Especially with the low, clear water from the recent drought conditions. Despite that however, several people were successful catching fish. The afternoon was pretty much the same, clear and sunny with the temperature getting a little warmer, around 54 degrees. There was a little light wind but nothing consistent. When I checked the water temperature, it was 50 degrees, and the water was clear as you would expect.
Most of us fished the area next to the PFBC parking lot, spreading out both upstream and downstream. Fishing was tough, but Chris, who is relatively new to fly fishing, had success again on this outing. He caught a nice 13” Rainbow using a chartreuse Mop Fly in one of the deeper pools downstream of the parking area. Jouky caught two rainbows, also fishing downstream. I managed to land an 11” rainbow near the parking lot on a #16 wet fly.
At 12:00 we met back at the PFBC parking area for lunch. After lunch some of our group went over to the Bowling Ally Parking lot to try their luck there. Afternoon fishing was just as tough as the morning, but I did bring a 13” brown trout to net using the same wet fly as in the morning. It was caught upstream of the PFBC parking area.
Everything considered, it was a nice day to be out in nature and to get some fishing in after the summer slow-down. Our group did report seeing several fish in the larger pools, two beavers, and a couple of Hawks.
(Jouky Chang) Here are the two stockie rainbows I plucked out of a pool tightlining with a single Sexy Walt with CDC collar (see last pic). Fun note, the dubbing is hair from our cat (Toast), who's an orange and white domestic long hair. These are the first fish I've caught with a fly using Toast's hair so that was extra special. The larger fish is the one with the fly in its mouth and was about 12-13". The smaller fish (mouth to the right of pic) was slightly smaller at about 10-11".
(Art Friedlander) Caught one nice rainbow on a partridge and dubbed orange body wet fly at Allan's pool.
(Alan Williams) I only landed a 2" Fall fish, so no pictures. I heard several calls of hawks. I did not spot them, but they did sound like the Red Shouldered Hawks
(Chris Newkumet) With my mentor Joe Robinson’s great help, I landed this rainbow, roughly 13” long but skinny, in the very wide still pool about 400-500 yards downstream from the parking area. While we were talking through a few bits of strategy, we noticed something rise to the surface in the middle of the pool. I waded out a good bit and put a chartreuse mop fly in roughly the right spot. I casted 3-4 times, and then got the hit.
Assorted Pictures
Lou Reichel and Ron Kerrick, Outing Coordinators.