Spring Creek Sparkles in the Fall

photo-Vic Attardo by Vic Attardo CENTRE COUNTY

I am buzzed by color. It is mid-October, and I have traveled Spring Creek down Bald Eagle Mountain, through Bellefonte, heading towards Nittany Mountain and State College. So far, I have stopped in three places along Spring Creek, Centre County, and each has provided a vivid Brown , or two. I stare at the sifting gold and red reflections of the shoreline trees and at the trout bouncing in my net, and I want to eternalize the moment. Spring Creek does this to you. It has somewhat phlegmatic waters that offer time for study and introspection. If you are a fly angler, study the waters,

22 Pennsylvania Angler & Boater • September/October 2018 www.gonefishingpa.com Emergers are important in the early fall, and I like to infuse my caddis and Blue Winged Olive patterns with CDC. photo-Vic Attardo photo-Vic I will swing and dunk an X-wing fly or with CDC, so it appears as an emerger. Zebra Midges, Wood Duck-40s and CDC Midge Emergers work well too. CDC works wonders in the shallow waters of Sparkles Spring Creek. However, nymph and streamer are the prime players in mid- fall. For nymphing, I like a two-fly rig consisting of any of the following: a Flashback , Copper John, Grey Muskrat Nymph, Zebra Midge, grey scud or sparkle pupa. Portions of Spring Creek are populated with scuds and sow bugs. For streamers, Tar’s Heavy Metal Minnows, Black Zonkers and Mickey Finns are my favorites. High sticking is a necessary technique on the thin pocket waters of Spring Creek, I like to use my 91/2-foot, 4-weight Centre County. rod for added height to work dark pockets in Spring Creek. Keep the fly line above and out of the water. because the creek’s trout have been around the block once In some areas of Spring Creek, through Spring Creek or twice. Canyon and near Milesburg, the stream is wide and full Spring Creek’s trout have seen many flies. Sometimes, enough for long-line nymph and streamer fishing. Overall, trout are fooled by artificial flies. Most times, trout hold tight. Spring Creek trout, especially with night time air temperatures Fortunately, this stream is cool water, which keeps hovering around 40-degrees F, are not wild chasers.

trout hungry. Trout have insect-insatiable cravings, photo-PFBC archives making fish catchable. Of course, much of September still sees Spring Creek in lush greenery as opposed to October’s riotous colors. Anglers have to be prepared with late summer patterns and techniques, in deference to the start of chilly weather and leaf- fall. I have even greeted tricos in the first week of September. I like to fish Spring Creek in the cooler part of fall, because the clinging algae goes away when the leaves color up. When I can dry fly in the fall peak, I prefer flush floating flies, parachute flies, compara duns and thorax duns. Before it gets really chilly, I will even throw a large attractor when a trout reveals its position. On Spring Creek, trout are not holding at substantial depths, so trips to the surface are short and quick. Before rising to the surface, trout need to see movement in a dry fly. I often accomplish this with the addition of (CDC) flies. For something special at this time, try a . Instead of a full circle of brown hackle, make the fly parachute style with the addition of CDC wings behind the post. Use the same peacock and red floss as the body. For reference, study the Olive CDC Parachute Dun made with an olive goose biot body and a post of Antron yarn Much of September still sees Spring Creek in lush greenery as and CDC. opposed to October.

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