Obviously, the recent weather pattern has had no mercy on those of us who want to pursue a little fishing. You might be alright on a lake, but the streams and the Susquehanna River need some time to recuperate. I spent the latter part of last week at a cabin on the banks of Kettle Creek, and in the course of a day, it appeared the water rose about four feet and nearly at our door. Unfortunately, as we have seen and heard, some places have had severe damage and losses. Days after the heavy rains, the Susquehanna River is still running high and muddy from all the streams, dumping heavy runoff, thus putting a damper on any serious smallmouth bass fishing until water levels drop and the water clears up. Fortunately, the trout streams feeding the Susquehanna are finally starting to drop and clear up, possibly offering some late summer trout fishing opportunities.
Assuming the streams stabilize and become fishable again, I suspect it’s still possible to pick up some trout, and I wouldn’t hesitate to wade in with a fly rod in hand. Sure, some of the best fly hatches are over, but there are still dry fly possibilities. I have often had success fishing a size 14 or 16 Blue Winged Olive, even this late in the season. Another dry fly that has produced for me at this time of the year is a Deer Hair Caddis in about a 14. I’ve had success with a tan body and a pale green body. Nor would I rule out a larger White Mayfly or even a Royal Coachman. If you like the surface action, this time of year is also a good time to fish terrestrial patterns like crickets or grasshoppers. I have some of my best action on a simple ant pattern. I put a small white dot on the back of my ant patterns so I can see them better while drifting. These land-based bugs often end up in the water, making a good food source for hungry trout, so duplicating them with a hand-tied fly can often be productive.
If your surface patterns aren’t producing, don’t hesitate to go under, especially with some nymph-type patterns. A Gold-Ribbed Hares Ear and a Bead-head Pheasant Tail Nymph are likely good possibilities. A favorite of mine that has produced for me throughout the entire summer is a Woolly Bugger. I usually tie it with a green body and often add a bead head. A simple Green Weenie can also be productive, and I have even had success with a simple Mop fly. I tie the Mop fly in several different colors, including chartreuse, orange, white, black, and brown. The brown probably looks like a chunk of worm rolling along the bottom. I’m sure there are several streamer patterns that would also produce strikes.
Finally, you might want to try the tandem rig in this late season. It’s a dry fly with a length of line attached and a nymph attached to the line hanging down. I tie my length of leader to the bend of the dry fly hook; that length varies depending on the depth of water I’m fishing. It’s probably best to use a bit of a larger dry fly; I like about a size 12 Royal Coachman, and then I often attach a Gold Ribbed Hares Ear or even a pink egg pattern to the added three or four-pound tippet. The dry fly acts as a strike detector or a “bobber,” if you will. Set the hook right away if it goes under. I have also taken trout on the dry fly while fishing the tandem rig so that you may have top-water action as well.
Well, these are some possibilities for the latter part of the season. Let’s hope the water levels remain stable and fishable because there are still some good trout fishing possibilities even into the fall.
