Big Spring, PA September 2024
Where: Big Spring Creek, PA near Newville.
When: Saturday, September 14, 2024, 9:00 AM to 4:00PM
Participants: Ken Bowyer, Jouky Chang, Doug Johncox, Chris Newkumet, Lou Reichel, (Richard Lewis – stopped by for lunch) and Ron Kerrick.
We met at the second parking area on Big Spring Road at 9:00 Saturday morning. It was a beautiful day weather-wise. When we started, the temperature was about 75 degrees with bright sun. It was a nice day to be outside but not so great for fishing success on the spring creek. The afternoon was pretty much the same, sunny with the temperature getting a little warm, around 86 degrees. We did have an occasional light wind but nothing consistent. When I checked the water temperature it was 54 degrees and super clear as you would expect.
Before we started fishing, Lou explored some of the stream vegetation next to the parking area and found greenish-gray cress bugs, then we headed out to try our luck. Most of us fished the area next to the parking lot, spreading out both upstream and downstream, while Lou drove downstream to the next two parking areas to check out the action there. Fishing was tough, but Chris, who just joined our chapter this week and is new to fly fishing, caught one 8 or 9” Rainbow using a sow bug #16 in the riffles just upstream from the meeting area.
At 1:00 we met back at the second parking area for lunch. The menu included grilled brats, baked beans, and people brought potato chips, and desserts to share. We also had a nice surprise at lunch when Richard Lewis stopped by to talk for a while and brought some delicious homemade smoked salmon as an appetizer.
Afternoon fishing was just as tough as the morning. Chris and I did see some rises at the ditch, but no luck and no one reported anymore fish being caught. By the end of the day everyone had a few bites (mostly on ants and a small cricket) except me, I got skunked.
Everything considered, it was a nice day to be out in nature and to get some fishing practice in after the slow summer. Our group did report seeing several fish, a couple of hummingbirds, a beaver, some ducks and streamside flowers.
Ron Kerrick
