D.Murf,
Indeed they don't fish barbless down that parts and I doubt
the 'boaters have right-of-way' would apply in a bunch of their minds
either. I think most would pull out the 1/2oz weights and trebles to
knock us out and let us float out to the lake. Walnut Access is for
the old and lazy, imo. Park and it takes longer to get 'dressed' for
the creek than it does to get there. If you fish the wall, then that
might be different, it takes even less time, but you have to get out
the long reach net. I'm not sure many that fish down there practice
any C&R at all.
I don't fish below the first bridge period. I usually don't
fish below Manchester either. On Walnut, thing start to spread out
once you round the bend at the chutes. Then again, once you get
above the falls there, there isn't much in the way of fish until you
get to the tubes at Rt. 5. After that, things really get spread out
and you can go for a ways with out seeing another angler. I actually
wonder how far upstream someone has caught a steelhead on either
Walnut or Elk. I've talked to a guide that lives in Greensburg that
has caught them above McKeen (where the fish have supposedly reached
already) at 79 and on Walnut, he's mentioned Mill Creek Mall. That
would probably be the best for the missus and me, if I could find
maps of the creek that far -- she could shop to her lil hearts
content, I could fish till I was blue in the face or fingers,
depending on what all was exposed that day.
I know alot of 'local' fisherman have complained on the
fisherie website about the crowding. I can solve that -- stop
stocking the fish. Pennsylvania Steelhead is a stocked
fishery. Stop putting fingerlings/smolts in the streams and in 2-3
years, steelhead will be down to almost zero. THEN we'll find out
how much natural reproduction is going on. I LOVE seeing the
crowds. Crowds mean they are buying licenses, spending money in PA
and supporting the program. I would imagine that the locals would
love the fish to remain and the people to leave -- but are mighty
unwilling to support the area on their own, sorry, I doubt it's going
to happen.
And this is only one place in PA that I'm aware of it
happening. It's not like there hasn't been a bunch writting covering
the famous limestone and freestone streams all over central PA. I
think I own three different books, from three different authors
touting the excellent trout fishing. Meck has updated his twice that
I'm aware of, Landis has two out as well, at least Wolfe covers warm
water fishing in his book. Pittsburgh native, John Nagy has three
versions of his book on Fishing for Steelhead. PA is a good place
to live in the east, in my opinion. I'm glad people want to come
here and visit.
NONE of this I knew about as I grew up. Fishing with Dad
required hunting for worms/crawlers in the yard or going across the
road to the little stream and either using home-made minnow traps or
seining them out ourselves. The most I remember about winter fishing
was Dad and talking about snagging salmon in New York. Something he
nor I never did. I'm glad I never have either. I don't think that
snagging is very C&R oriented. Which is the only kind of fishing dad
normally did. Never did go out on the opening day of trout for as
long as I've known him -- Bass and Bluegill have been his
speciality. I'd love to get him up to Erie and fish a PA Trib
sometime soon, but Mom wants to go too, so that's a double guided
trip by me and I'm not ready to walk 2 around up there yet.
Well, Mr. Murf, I doubt I've addressed your rant much,
especially on the other waters but PA front, but that's probably
better for those wiser and better educated than I. I'm not sure
which day's are yours on Elk and Walnut this year, but I'll be up
there Monday and most likely start my morning parking at Walnut
access and who knows from there. If you or another lister is around,
give me a call on my cell - 724-216-3196.
Have a good day!
-->Garry
At 12:17 PM 11/8/2005, you wrote:
Considering the Christmas tree look of the trees opposite that wall,
I'd rather not. Besides, those folks with powerbait and maggots
don't fish barbless! Another thing, how woulod you propose to get
your line in the water...or out of it among the thousands of yards
of 40lb test, trash, lures, 8 oz lead whizzing by your head,
bobbers...not to mention John Bowersox boarding us to chastize us?
Walnut is a lost cause near the mouth and not my preferred stream
for years. The only section I like is between the first bridge and
the wall group and THAT is usually packed as tight as the Manchester
Hole which I'm GLAD the landowner closed given the behavior of a few
rude idiots.
Elk has the Legion Hole & Tubes to compare with Walnut and I fear
Foley's Campground's pool is the same. Soon, the almost bearable
spots on Elk like Girard Park and section between the Tubes and
Bridge will be just as bad. The more difficult it is to access a
particular spot the more time we have to fish with fewer
unsportsman-like folks.
This phenomenon is pandemic through many better known waters
throughout the country and will eventually lead to even more
overcrowding in the waters left to fish as more private and
restricted signs dot the landscape. Rules and enforcement will
either need to be tolerated to maintain some of these spots which
may lead to such things as pay-to-fish, time limits per angler,
minimum distance to next angler or the fishery will just die or
become repulsive IMHO.
License fees in PA jumped which some applauded. My concern is that
only those of means will be able to fish and have-nots will be
illegals. Colsures, day slots (you fish odd days and I even days?)
or lotteries (such as anterless deer) may be proposed... or more
intrusive means.
