French Creek FFO 5/9/09

[sholgate]

The Tully was still pretty high from all of the rain so I drove down to the French Creek FFO section this morning. I was there from about 930-1200. The water was high and murky. I did talk to 4 other fly fishermen that were there earlier than I and they were all skunked.

I had to fish mostly "B" water with some of the pools occupied. I did pretty well. I included a few pictures. The little 6" minnow type thing is a Shorthead Redhorse. I have caught them before. But the reason in included the picture is to help me identify it but also I think it explains why I have been so strangely productive with a red woolly bugger. I think they may be taken for one of these.





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[sholgate]

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[LopatNympher]

Shol, is this the French Creek that flows into the Allegheny near Franklin PA?

[VTflyfishing]

Looks like the water was slightly off color? I like to swing streamers in murky water.

[sholgate]

1.) Yes it was slightly off color. I worked heavy bright buggers in the deep pools and a regular "euro rig" in the riffles.

2.) No, this is the French Creek near Pheonixville, PA (about 1 hour south of Allentown).

[beadhead]

Looks like a great day, congrats. Any insects coming off during the hours you fished Shol?

[sholgate]

Insects... I went again today. Very few tan caddis and hundreds of these cream-yellow midge or little crane flies on the stones along the stream. I am embarassed to admit I do not know what they were.

I caught another 4 rainbows today, no browns. Pretty stream. I have walked the entire FFO section now. May even go back soon.

Steve

[AaronJasper]

Did you try midge larvae? I am sure those fish know what they are given the scenario that you described. Black and red are two good colors.

[sholgate]

I didn't try any midge patterns. I made a number of size 18 black brassies, some with a small thorax and some with a little emerger wing made from white antron. In some of the "put and takes" they have produced wild trout. I will give them a try on the French next time I go.

[beadhead]

Yea if they have long legs they are the craneflies, they have been coming off strong for a while on most of the s/e creeks. I have been fishing in the mornings, and haven't noticed the caddis coming off as well as they were a couple of weeks back. Congrats on the bows.