In terms of looks and layout, Chest Creek is almost identical to the West Branch, possibly because they share the distinction of being located in the heart of coal country. For instance, no stream surveys have ever been done on the section of river between Mahaffey and the Curwensville Dam. Disease prevalence among YOY smallmouth bass captured during 2009 was low. This section receives both spring and fall stockings of fish, with a high percentage of larger-than-average trout. Appearance Versus Reality At first glance, the upper West Branch doesn’t look like typical trout water. The Susquehanna River, in all it spendor and glory, winds down though Pennsylvania’s spectacular Endless Mountain Range in North East Pennsylvania. My favorite reach of Chest Creek, though, is Section 3, which is managed under Delayed Harvest Artificial Lures Only (DHALO) regulations and part of the Keystone Select Stocked Trout Waters program. The trout aren’t exactly finicky, except when they’re keying on specific hatches, so I generally use a lot of attractor patterns. Hatches and Patterns The West Branch Susquehanna River produces a wide variety of hatches, beginning in winter with the Black Stonefly. Al is a full time Susquehanna river fishing guide based out of Falls Pa. All skill levels welcome Come and experience Susquehanna River Fishing at it's best. Tiny mayflies fluttered in the air, one even landing on the back of my hand. Like the main-stem Susquehanna River, the West Branch offers a good White Fly hatch starting in mid-August. Although this stretch has traditionally been a warm-water fishery, more and more trout are beginning to show up there, too. Short of storing a large anchor on board (toons catch a lot of wind) is there an automated way to do this? West Branch Susquehanna River, Pennsylvania fishing report, rainbow trout fly fishing forecast, fly shop and fishing guides, and fly-fishing weather. Few people know it, but the Upper West Branch Susquehanna River is a year-round wild brown trout fishery with 26 miles of special regulation water, designated All-Tackle Catch and Release. Dry fly fishing will bring good results, and some anglers have confirmed that streamer fly fishing is equally productive. This is where the West Branch Susquehanna River originates and wild brown trout rule. The West Branch of the Susquehanna is many times overlooked as a fishing destination primarily due to the popularity of its other two brothers to the east and south – the fabled North Branch and the mighty main stem of the Susquehanna. All Photos by Ralph Sherder. Drove my boat down from San Francisco to San Diego, CA to chase some Yellowtail AKA Hamachi. Whether in the form of a huge rock or, more often, an uprooted tree that has fallen into the river, holding water abounds. Populations of wild brown trout are expanding steadily every year, and the future looks bright for the upper West Branch Susquehanna River. The river is the 16th largest river in the United States. According to PFBC surveys, some 400 miles of streams in this region contain wild and native trout. https://www.timesleader.com/sports/665965/smallmouth-bass-thriving-in-susquehanna-river. Since the water originates several hundred feet below the earth’s surface, its temperature when it leaves the mine is in the low 50s Fahrenheit, creating a fishery that can support trout year-round. Below Curwensville, smallmouth bass and any leftover trout gorge themselves on these flies, and action can be fast and furious when the hatch is at its peak. By the time the West Branch reaches Dowler Junction, it’s twice as wide and twice as deep, and the good nymphing water is more spread out. It’s less noticeable during summer months. As it swung downstream into the swirling water behind the tree, I stripped it in, an inch at a time, and my line caught bottom, or so I thought. According to the Johnstown Area Genealogical & Historical Society, the county was home to 130 significant coal mines by 1901, and those mines produced 16 million tons of coal annually throughout the 1910s and 1920s. During 2009, catch rates (number of fish captured per 50 meters) varied between the West Branch Susquehanna and the Susquehanna rivers and among reaches of the Susquehanna River, and were below the historic averages for all reaches (Table 1, Figures 1-4). I offer Full Service Guided Fishing trips on the North branch of the Susquehanna River. As a bonus, the entire DHALO stretch flows through public property. American Fly Fishing Digital Back Issues (PDF), Eastern Fly Fishing Digital Back Issues (PDF), Northwest Fly Fishing Back Issues (Print), Northwest Fly Fishing Digital Back Issues (PDF), Southwest Fly Fishing Back Issues (Print), Southwest Fly Fishing Digital Back Issues (PDF). Its hard being the bearer of bad news, but it is bad out there! The section of the West Branch Susquehanna from the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission access at Hyner, downstream to the access in Woodward Township’s Park (on the North Side of the Jay Street Bridge at Lock Haven) is about twenty-one river-miles long. Locals often refer to this hatch as a Light Cahill Midge, and you can encounter it anytime between mid-July and mid-September, in the upper West Branch as well as below Curwensville; it’s usually heaviest in the evenings. The future of the special-regulations section, which includes all 8 miles of the West Branch’s Class A waters, will be determined by the way anglers treat the resource and respect landowners who generously allow access to the river. 570-241-2211. Rainbow trout are uncommon in the upper West Branch, but they occasionally migrate into the river from several of the stocked tributaries. Do carp feed smallmouth? Like most wild brown trout waters, the upper West Branch can be temperamental. In many regards, the upper West Branch is an emerging fishery still finding its legs. State Parks Aren't the Only Location To Launch a Fishing Boat Wow! Larger fish, up to 18 inches, are also increasingly common, and the river holds a few fish best measured in pounds. Exploring the river by canoe or kayak will give you a glimpse at the remnants of the Pennsylvania Wilds’ logging history. The West Branch Susquehanna River is one of the two principal branches, along with the North Branch, of the Susquehanna River in the northeastern United States. Commercially operated mines opened here in the 1840s, with large-scale mining beginning in 1856. Surprisingly, given the troubled history of the region, dozens of tributaries along the upper West Branch, as well as immediately downstream of the Curwensville Dam, hold solid wild trout populations. Susquehanna River Fishing Hot Spots in Pennsylvania ... Each spring, the world’s largest inflatable dam goes up, impounding the waters along the confluence of the north and west branches of the Susquehanna. The upper West Branch Susquehanna River will likely never attain the status of some of Pennsylvania’s best wild trout streams—Spring Creek and the Little Juniata River come to mind—but it’s a great place to test your skills against some fine fish. I offer a 10% discount to active Military . The dual focused on slow moving bottom baits that produced all the bites. In addition, the stream junctions, where these tributaries join the West Branch, are almost always hot spots, especially in the summer. and hatches can occur at any time of the day. Every year, I catch increasing numbers of 5- to 8-inch wild brown trout, indicating successful natural reproduction. You may lose a few flies, but that’s a price worth paying. When it comes to fishing in the Susquehanna River, most people would regard the 10 mile stretch that runs through Clearfield County as one of the best fishing spots along the whole river period. About West Branch Susquehanna. In late May, Light Cahills, Gray Foxes, Sulphurs, Slate Drakes, and Green Drakes all hatch, although not in the same densities found on most other trout streams in the region. The Susquehanna River Fishing under good conditions can provide hours of non stop action. 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