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Hey guys, tomorrow (sunday) im going to check out either the Van Campens Brook, or Stony Brook/Flatbrook in stokes. Any list minute suggestions? Ill be sure to post a report when I get back.
I am leaning toward VCB since it apparently has wild rainbows browns and brookies. Im thinking of just nymphing with an anchor (beadhead stonefly) and dropper (Small pheasant tail or something else with a beadhead)...not really sure about the hatch activity though...
I fished Van Campens from 2-5. I spooked a 4-5 inch brookie just walking over to the stream which made me happy that I at least saw a fish. I made a few casts and saw a small brookie about the size of my pinky try and take my fly... Although I didn’t want to get skunked I decided to pull the fly away. I figured it was so tiny I probably would have accidentally injured it trying to take the hook out. At first I tried the two hook rig I mentioned in my last post but soon changed it to a single hook nymphing rig with a small wingless split shot. For the fly I used a bead head copper john. I found it was much easier to manage in the small stream scenario. I worked my way south of Watergate and after missing a small brookie I ended up landing a small wild rainbow. It was pretty cool!
Great story, I love to fish small streams! Those little tiny bows are right up there with brookies for being colorful...
Nice job, good to hear and beautiful fish.
It's almost hard not to see fish there. Almost every stretch of that river holds fish at a given time. I've caugth 4 - 6 inch fish in 2 - 3 inches of water. Make sure you walk the banks and fish walking upstream. There are a couple of spots that usually hold larger fish.
Cool, thanks for the advice.Like a dope I fished pretty much all on a downstream path...but when I caught my fish it was the one time I was trying a new section and working up stream haha. Good to know. I never put two and two together. Also, there is one hole that I found that had to have been at least 15-20 feet deep and maybe 15x15 feet across. I am sure it holds some lunkers but I was unsure as to how to fish it (short run, really deep, almost no current). I saw some other fish here and there as well, which I normally dont encounter at other rivers. I will probably give it another shot in a week or two assuming it doesnt get too cold!
Fishing while moving upstream alone can drastically change your numbers. The way it works is trout typically feed when facing up stream. So this makes it easier to walk up behind them so they can't see you. This holds particularly true when your fishing seams (where two different current speeds meet each other). Fish will sit right on the edge in the slower water facing upstream so they can see what food is washing down on the edge of the fast water.
In line with what was said above, if fish are facing upstream you will have one hell of a time trying to set the hook. You will usually ending up pulling the fly/lure out of the trouts mouth.
Hi On The Fly,
I never really had much luck with Nymphs on the Van Campens always did better with dry flys. Stealth and approaching undetected are pretty important so down and across will spook more fish than anything else.
Good Luck, RogerAttachment 705
To nymph Van Campens you need to be stealthy as stated already. Nymphing works well when it's high and off color. If its on the low side dries and dry dropper do very well.
I fished there the other day. It was cool bow and arrow casting into pockets and taking fish. It's a very neat and unique stream.http://img.tapatalk.com/a68958a2-b675-e2b5.jpghttp://img.tapatalk.com/a68958a2-b697-99fc.jpghttp://img.tapatalk.com/a68958a2-b6ac-03e5.jpghttp://img.tapatalk.com/a68958a2-b6cc-b48e.jpghttp://img.tapatalk.com/a68958a2-b6de-5d6d.jpghttp://img.tapatalk.com/a68958a2-b6f3-5819.jpghttp://img.tapatalk.com/a68958a2-b707-e62d.jpg
Hi Aaron,
I've never fished the Van Campens when it's been high or off color most times it's low and ultra clear and fishing mostly drys. The fish are normally happy to take a dry and with the water so low I think even sight fishing with a nymph you'd hang up a lot.
RogerAttachment 709