Yellow Creek September 24, 2022

Time: approx. 2.5 hr trip, leave MD by 6:30 am, arrive to Yellow Creek by 9:00 am.

Yellow Creek will be a new fishing destination for me, so it will be a new adventure for all of us. I know a few PPTU members have fished it recently and did well. Maybe those members that have fished it can join us and show us the creek.

New members are welcome. I don’t know how much I can help, but there will be experienced members who can assist.

Yellow Creek is in Bedford County, PA, and between Loysburg and Hopewell. The creek is stated as a spring creek, or is heavily influence by spring creek fed water. There is a 0.9 mile section that is a Catch and Release Fly Fishing Only Section (CRFFO), a good path following the creek, and a large parking lot (I think called Bill McLlnay Fly Fishing Parking lot). We will meet at the [parking lot. Yellow Creek is reported to have a Green Drake hatch in May and a Sulfur hatch in June. Possibly a sporadic Slate Drake hatch in September. Other than that, I’m not sure what hatch is predominate in Sept.

It's about a 2.5 hr drive if I don’t get lost. We can drive up in a car caravan. Let me know if you will be with the car caravan. We can make plans later and determine when to meet at the South Mt Westbound Welcome Center, off I-70 past Myersville, west of Fredrick. If we leave the Welcome Center at 7:15 am we can get to Yellow Creek and meet at the Parking lot by 9:00 – 9:30 am. Fish for7- 8 hours and leave by 4-5:00 pm. On the way back we can stop somewhere for dinner. Possible in Breezewood, PA.

Fly rod: 4-5 wt, 9ft. This may also be good place to try your Euro nymphing rod.

Flies: Yellow Creek is supposed to be a spring creek so bring cress bugs and scuds. Also BWO dry and nymph, Slate drake dry and nymph, Little Blue Dun, Blue Quill, Simple 3-hackle, terrestrials especially beetles, tan and brown caddis, cranefly, Yellow Adams, assortment of soft hackles and nymphs. Never leave home without a mop fly, green weenie, San Juan worm or sucker spawn.

Bring a lunch and water.

Requires PA Fishing license and Trout stamp.

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

Map of Yellow Creek Fly Fishing Only and Parking lot: Yellow Creek.

Directions:
Take I-70 West to Breezewood, PA. Take US 30 West about 8 miles to SR 26 North. Take SR 26 North about another 8 miles. A short distance past the intersection with SR 36 (soft ice cream stand), and just after a school bus parking lot, turn left (sharp 1200 turn) on Jacks Corner Rd or SR 1024. You went too far if you pass Yellow Creek Church of Brethren. After 1-2 miles up Jacks Corner Rd, and shortly after crossing Yellow Creek, the entrance to Yellow Creek Fly Fishing Only parking lot is on the left. I was informed a sign is on the right(?).

Hope to see you there.

Please don’t hesitate to contact me if you have questions.

Outings Coordinator
Lou Reichel
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443-745-0313 (cell)

Savage River, Monroe Pavilion Camp Out, October 8-10, 2022 

When: October 8, 9, 10. Saturday -Monday (Columbus Day, Indigenous People’s Day)
Where: Big Run State Park, Monroe Pavilion, next to Savage River, Garret County, Maryland

New members are welcomed and let Lou know if you need assistance. There will be fishermen there that can show you the river.

Savage River

The October Outing and Campout in Western Maryland will be on October 8, 9, and 10, 2022. Join us and fish the wonderful Savage River, North Branch of Potomac and the many other mountain brook streams in the beautiful autumn foliage of Western Maryland. You may camp with us or stay at other facilities or lodgings in the area. But all should join us at the evening campfire. Reservations for camping have been made at the Big Run Sate Park, in the Monroe Pavilion shelter, from Saturday (2:00 pm) till Monday (1:00 pm), 3 days and 2 nights, for group tent camping or campers.

For those not interested in camping, there is lodging available in Keyser, WV (Keyser Inn) or Grantsville, MD (Casselman Inn), within 30-40 min to Savage River. There is also a large hotel, Comfort Inn just off I-68 at exit 22 (just before Grantsville). In addition, there are camping sites and cabins in nearby New Germany State Park, but generally need a month reservation for cabins.

Fishing on the Savage and North Branch is great during the fall months. There are small mountain creeks with brookies with bright red markings hidden beneath rhododendron. Pocket water fishing on the Savage River with pools called the PHD pool for the trout are too smart. Some of those brown trout can get large and colorful on the Savage. And then move to the large North Branch which can resemble a large Western style river. See for details, “Guide to Maryland Trout Fishing, the Catch and Release Streams” by Charlie Gelso and Larry Coburn.

All this for just $118 split however many ways we have participants. We do need at least 4 people ($30.00 ea) to sign up. Pay at the Pavilion, direct amount in cash or check, there will not be change available. Donations are appreciated. Cost is per participant and not the days. Join us for as many days that you can make it.

We generally put 2-4 persons size tents inside on the stone floor of the Monroe Pavilion. Can hold up to 6-7 tents. So bring an air mattress to sleep on the stone floor. Larger tents and campers can be placed around the Pavilion. The Pavilion has a fireplace for great campfires (bring firewood), picnic tables, and a place to gather after the days fishing to cook, make coffee, swap stories, and if it rains, we have some shelter. It has only rained 50% of the times. Bring firewood, store bought wrapped parcels, which can be purchased at the New Germany Ranger station or other gas stations and convenient stores in the area (Grantsville exit). The camp site has no running water, no fresh water at Big Run SP so you must bring your own water. The camp is rugged and has men and ladies dry bathrooms. We do have access to the showers at New Germany SP (15-20-min away). Alcohol is not permitted (within reason). In previous times we have been checked by Park Rangers looking for suspicious people, and they did not arrest us even with a lone bottle of good whiskey sitting on the table. There is electricity in the shelter. No TV’s, and only Blue Grass music allowed! Please bring a ghost story for the late night campfire.

Bring food for breakfast, lunch and dinner. I do bring a camp stove, extra water and some utensils if you need to cook. There is a charcoal grill setup at the Pavilion if you plan on grilling. On Saturday night bring your favorite grilling meat and we all will cook on the charcoal grill. Charcoal for grilling will be provided. If you have a favorite side dish, please bring and share with us (pies, cobbler, potato and macaroni salads, baked beans, etc). It seems in the past, the Sunday dinner is hotdogs cooked on the grill and we finish up all the side dishes. There are places to eat near Grantsville, MD, Westernport, MD and Keyser, WV.

There are no trash cans in the Park. Please be considerate and pick up trash and no food outside at night for there are wild bears and feral cats. I also heard of Goatman roaming the area. Trash will need to be taken away by us. Thanks.

Items Needed: MD Fishing License and Trout Stamp.
Take into consideration when packing gear, for this is October in the mountains. There can be a cold frost at night and be quite warm by afternoon.
Camping stuff like tent, sleeping bag, air mattress, flashlight. Food for breakfast, lunch and dinner and cooking utensils. Water. Toiletries, basically everything needed to sustain you for 3 days.
I do ask for people to bring store bought firewood for the campfire (firewood can be bought there or buy packaged parcels at your local stores. Do not bring wood from your home wood pile).

Rods: Bring 3 to 5 wt rods (7ft to 9ft) for either small brook trout stream or large brown trout in lower Savage and North Branch.

Flies: Stop by the Savage River Outfitters to find out what flies are active. Fall hatches contain small dark flies. However, there has been talk of slate drakes (#10-12) on the North Branch. Savage River contains midges, mayflies and multiple caddis including the #10 October caddis. Griffith gnat, BWO, paralep mahogany dun, Blue Quil, Adams and Parachutes, purple parachute, Slate Drake, Simple 3 hackle, purple and partridge soft hackle (s.h.), pheasant tail s.h., Leadwing Coachman s.h., peacock and brown s.h., tan, olive, black, brown, and October caddis (#10), and every kind of nymph, San Juan worm, terrestrials; heck just bring everything. Also reference Jay's Fall Maryland Fly List.

Directions to Monroe Pavilion from Baltimore:
Of course there are many different ways to get there. This is my route. Take I-70 West. At Hancock I-70 splits, bear left onto I-68. Proceed on I-68 through Cumberland, just before Grantsville, take Exit 22, turn south (left) on Chestnut Rd. Follow and turn left at stop sign at New Germany Road. Follow past New Germany State Park and proceed on to Big Run Road (small road, be prepared). Turn left on Big Run Road and proceed to Park entrance. Monroe Pavilion will be on your right, a short distance before road ends, just past the sign for Monroe Run Trail and bathrooms. At end of Big Run Rd turn right onto Savage River Rd, and follow past the damn to lower Savage River. First cement bridge is the PHD pool, followed by two suspension bridges, Savage River Outfitters and after 2-4 miles downstream to the metal bridge near end of the fishing area.

To sign up for this outing, please complete the Outing Registration form. Please contact Lou Reichel if you have any questions.
P.S., We have had men and women, husbands and wives, and maybe dogs attend the outing.

Thanks. See you there!

Lou Reichel
Outings Coordinator
443-745-0313 (cell)
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Erie Steelhead Outing, December 3, 4 & 5, 2022

The date is set, December 3, 4 & 5
Location - around Elk Creek, near Girard PA (its about a 6 hour drive)
Places to stay - Clarion Inn, Fairview PA (in the past they had a steelhead fishers [it may fill up quickly] deal of around $75 and it included a hot breakfast from 6 to 9am)
Green Roof Inn, Girard PA (they are near a resturant for dinner but need to go to Albion for hot breakfast, open at 6am)
Rod - 7 or 8 weight with a good drag. The creek is not very wide 75 feet but new fish to the river will test your fighting skills and drag.
Flies - this is mostly dead drift, indicator fishing with mostly various egg patterns or occasionally a large nymph. You can throw steamers, maybe best is higher, muddy water.
Weather - It will probable be very cold. Some recent rain is good since it gets the fish to come in the river systems. Sometime you have to adjust your location if there’s too much or not enough water in the individual creek.
Guides - we are working on two guides per day - 2-3 anglers/ guide $600 plus tip last year, (will need to confirm 2022 and number of anglers each day)
The goal is to get everyone with a guide at least once. Several of us will be available to lead groups not using guides to various areas and help with instruction.

Sign up will be available soon and it will be helpful to know how many people will be coming. Also book the hotel early if you want to stay close by.
We’ll provide details for meeting and answering question in time.

For additional information on steelhead fishing, please reference the Steelhead Primer by Dennis Covert. For Access Maps, PA License information, etc. please reference Erie Steelhead Fishing by Ken Bowyer, 

If you wish to sign up, please complete the Outing Registration form. Please contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. for any additional information.

Craig