Small Stream Warmwater Fishing Thanks to the Pennsylvania Fish & Boat Commission, which seems to regard the dumping of as many catchable-sized hatchery trout into as many places as possible as it’s most important function, we tend think of a lot of the small streams in Southeastern Pennsylvania as “trout streams.” In fact, they are nothing of the kind. They are warmwater streams that have had trout dumped into them. This provides an artificial, contrived recreational fishery for a few weeks in the spring, and in some cases in the fall. It has nothing whatsoever to do with sensible management of our natural resources. It is, in fact, profoundly unnatural. But it is what the angling public has come to accept and expect. We’ve had much cooler, wetter spring weather the past few years than we had become accustomed to during the hot, droughty spell that we previously experienced. But even so, by the time the stocking trucks stop rolling around the end of May most fishermen have deserted these marginal stocked streams. By end of June only a few trout remain, and our small streams are nearly empty of anglers. Now these waters revert to their rightful occupants—stream-bred bass, sunfish, and other warmwater species and the relatively few people who enjoy fishing for them. In terms of equipment and techniques, this fishing has a lot more in common with trout fishing than with the traditional warmwater fishing that is practiced in lakes and ponds. Light to medium-weight trout rods, line weights 3 to 5, work perfectly for small stream warmwater fishing. Fly sizes are correspondingly small, sizes 8 through 12 as a rule. Short rods are necessary in the narrow confines of a small, summer stream; 8 ft. or less is best. On this light tackle, the hand-sized redbreast sunnies and rock bass that make up the bulk of the catch show themselves to very good advantage, putting a deep bend in the rod. Even the smaller sunnies are fun, and the occasional 9 to 12-inch smallmouth bass gives a fight that would put any hatchery trout to shame. You can travel light—no need for a huge quantity of flies or elaborate terminal tackle. A small waist or chest pack will hold all you need—a couple small fly boxes, a spare leader or two, a few spools of tippet, snips and hemostats. I wouldn’t hesitate to go out with nothing but a size 10 or 12 yellow or chartreuse popper, and still have every expectation of success. Hip boots are often sufficient in the low water of summer, or you can even wade “wet” during hot summer days if you like. In most places, tree canopy provides a cool, shady tunnel in which to wade and fish. Fishing pressure is light to non-existent in most places, so when you drop your fly in a likely looking spot a positive response is as close to a sure-fire bet as anything in fishing can be. Small stream summer fishing for the wild fish that live in them is a wonderful and refreshing change of pace from trout fishing, which is often difficult and demanding. The DVWFFA is offering several small stream outings this summer, join us if you can and give it a try. |