Big Spring Creek

[LopatNympher]

I'm off work next Thursday and My friend Ken and I are considering an early morning road trip to fish this water.

From what I've read about it, it used to be prime trout water until a hatchery depleted the oxygen levels. The hatchery has been closed since 2001 and the stream is making a comeback according to the Wade Rivers Wild Tramps website. The stream's bug life has recolonized and wild brookies and rainbows can be found in sufficients numbers to warrant a class A Wild Trout classification on its upper portions.

Does anyone know how available access is to this part of the creek?
I am not really looking for specifics but if there is enough to justify a trip there. Thanks.

[Kaz]

Access is plentiful on Big Spring. There are also other options in the area, namely the Letort. Falling Springs is about 30 minutes south of Carlisle.

[sholgate]

I think I am checking out Big Spring Saturday. My wife and I are staying at Pine Grove Furnace State Park for the weekend. I have never been there. I will probably fish Mountain Creek since it runs through the park. How much fishing I get in depends on how late my wife and sister sleep in.

[AaronJasper]

Bug Spring and the other streams that Kaz mentioned are not easy fisheries. There is ample access on all three. In other words don't be upset if you have an un-successful outing. You will become a better fly fisherman by fishing there. Also, forget about the Euro-nymphing there. You need to be an excellent caster and very accurate tro catch fish on these streams, not to mention you need to have cat-like stealth!

[Nymphmeister]

Check out this site for Big Spring info:

http://www.bigspringcreek.com/

It is by Gene Macri, one of the people who was instrumental in getting the hatchery shut down. Funny, he mentions that even though the wild brook trout population has rebounded substantially, the fly shops in the area tell people that there aren't hardly any in there. The reason why? Because they are tough & they cannot personally catch them. Funny. "Nope, there's hardly any trout in Big Spring....". The truth is that the biomass of trout is super high in there, but they are probably some of the harder Brook Trout to catch in the world. Spooky spring creek trout.

[LopatNympher]

Thanks for the info guys.
Kaz, I guess we are hitting Falling Spring first then driving to Big Spring. My friend has fish Falling Spring and knows the area somewhat.
Aaron,
I am fully expecting to get skunked, but like you said the experience will be great. I am planning to use small scuds and PT nymphs, perhaps on a dry dropper. Gonna try some ants as well.
Steve,
Let me know how you do tommorrow.
Torrey
Thanks for the link. I haven't seen you on here for a while, hope things are going good for you.

[BlackLabel]

You should never expect to get skunked. Expect to catch 100. I've found if you go with the mind set that your going to do well your chances of doing well improve.

[AaronJasper]

Nick,

You never go to those places he mentioned expecting to catch a hundred. Resign yourself to the fact that it's going to be a struggle and that you are going to work at it. That is the mindset that I take to the more difficult streams. Never ever underestimate you opponent! There is one easier option and that is to fish the delayed harvest section of FSB. However, the real challenge is the meadow section! The fish are all wild and they know what fishermen are. Iwil end with this, Oscar got hammered at the Letort but he took away many valuable lessons. The next time that I fished with him, he hammered them. He also had a very productive outing today. It pays to take a beating to only get better. It does no angler justice to beat o. The same rivers cnstantly. New places and new challenges are what makes it fun.

[BlackLabel]

I see what your saying I just feel like if you have a negative attitude going in you won't do well. If you go in think they are just fish and I will out smart them some how and keep that attitude you will get them.

For me personally if I'm having a slow day and then start to get down on myself I start to get sloppy and make dumb mistakes. If I keep the attitude thet I'm going to catch them I usually do.

Don't worry though I still might head out there and if I do I will report honestly.

[Nymphmeister]

Lopat-
You are welcome. I've been really busy, but I'm good. I'll be a much bigger presence on here when the shop slows down in November.