Last Updated: 24 October 2020 24 October 2020

November, 2020 Big Spring

Where:  Big Spring Creek, PA (below Newville, PA)

When:  Sunday October 25, 2020,  10:00 am to whenever

The November Outing is to Big Spring below Newville, PA. Big Spring is a good spring creek/limestone creek and we hope October Caddis will be present on the stream.

As with all of our Outings, we welcome new members and those new to fly fishing to join.  There will be plenty of seasoned fly anglers on hand to happily offer assistance.

Fly Fishing Guide to Big Spring

Like most spring creeks, Big Spring is not an easy stream to fish. It has lots of large trout but the water is
crystal clear and catching trout takes some special techniques that must be executed correctly. You must stay hidden from the trout; you must use very light leaders and tippet and you must make good presentations.

This is one of the finest limestone streams in the United States. Its upper section is full of beautiful, large brook trout. Unlike the brook trout you find in small mountain streams, these grow large and become very selective in what they eat. You want catch these on an attractor fly by the dozens. You probably want catch one that way. This stream challenges anyone. When you can catch trout from its waters, you are able to catch trout anywhere. Unless the trout are hidden under the grass, you can see them. The problem with that is that they can also see you.
Read More Here!

 As indicated we are going during the October Caddis hatch. This hatch on the Big Spring is new to me and so far I haven’t hit it yet. October caddis, also known as great autumn brown sedge, is a large caddis about size #8-12 (on Savage River saw size #10-12). They are active at night so I imagine we may want to be on Big Spring early evening or early morning (8:00am-5:30pm). I heard that Craig caught a large 20-22 inch trout on the North Branch on past October Outing using an October Caddis. I am sure there are many dry patterns and soft hackle patterns on the web. Maybe throw in a pupa pattern. Also look at last Conservationist for October caddis patterns.
1) https://news.orvis.com/fly-fishing/video-how-to-tie-matts-october-caddis-from-tightline-productions
2) https://howtoflyfish.orvis.com/fly-tying-videos/dry-flies/785-october-caddis-soft-hackle

Other flies include scuds, cress bugs (sow bugs), small pheasant tail nymphs, BWO, wooly buggers, midges, egg patterns and anything else in your official PPTU fly box that can be purchased at a chapter meeting.

Required:  PA trout fishing license required. In PA the license must be shown. This is a Catch and Release fishing area.  http://cts.vresp.com/c/?9MDMidAtlantic/6e08b3fecc/1b51d9c3d7/f80157f849.

Meet at the large, second parking lot.  There is a large sign there and private driveway bridge over creek.  As of now, brats will be severed for lunch.  If you can bring desserts or anything else, that would be fine. Let Lou, Outings Coordinator, know if bringing anything.

Directions: There are many ways to get there.  Two directions are stated.  Also if required, one can take the way closer to Boiling Springs in order to buy extra flies at the TCO fly shop. 

1. Take I-70 W to I-81 N at Hagerstown, Md.  Near Newville, PA, take exit 37 onto Rt 233 turning left or N toward Newville.  Follow Rt 233 onto Rt 11 (Ritner Hwy.) turning left.  About 1 mile, turn right onto Big Spring Rd (it is a small road and sign).  Within 4 miles, come to bridge over creek near Springfield Rd, and will see to right the Ditch parking area. Go another 1 mile and you will see on left the 2^nd parking area where we will meet (near rd T351). Using GPS, you can find the ditch parking area by typing in 800 Big Spring Rd, Newville, PA.  Just upstream is a building which is the start of the creek. 110 mi, 1h 45min from Columbia. The address of the 2nd parking area is 600 Big Spring Rd, Newville, PA.
2. (I prefer this way) Take 15 N at Frederick, Md, and take exit for Rt 94 N, near York Springs, PA.  Follow Rt 94 onto Rt 34 near Mount Holly, PA.  At Rt 174 turn left.  Follow Rt 174.  At Rt 465 be aware there is a quick right and left turn, follow signs.  Follow Rt 174 and turn right onto Rt 233 N towards Newville and toward I-81.  Follow Rt 223 to Rt 11 turning left.  Follow to Spring Creek Rd, turning right and follow directions above.  Using GPS, you can find the Ditch parking area by typing in 800 Big Spring Rd, Newville, PA. The address of the 2nd parking area is 600 Big Spring Rd, Newville, PA.

Lunch of warm, grilled hot brats will be served around 1:00 pm at the Second parking lot. Of course if someone brings extra food, chips, cake, etc, that would be nice.

Hope to see you there.  Any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact Lou.

To sign up for this outing, please complete the Outing Registration form.

Thanks,

Lou Reichel
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443-745-0313