Wissahickon creek 2/13

[bucktail3]

Fished the wissahickon creek today for trout. I caught one 11 inch brown, and another 13 inch rainbow. Missed about 6 or 7 in the process. Both fish went for kastmasters, and missed another more decent fish on a small rapala. there was also a mid-day hatch of some sort, which brought out a few fly fisherman. Didnt see them catch anything though. It was nice to be out, and even got to reel something in.

[LaStChAnCe V]

hey bucktail~live right near the wissakickon creek didnt there was any fish biting but i guess i was wrong! thanks for the report~if u dont mind me aking where about you were fishing not exactly tho~thanks for the info

[Phillyfisher]

Hey, i usually fish the wissakikon a little later in spring off of kelly drive. I usually use a small pin minnow and they go crazy for it, last spring i would catch 20 in a day, it seems like everybody around always uses bait, and when they see the pin minnow it's a frenzy. Good to hear fish are being caught so early.

[bucktail3]

I dont fish the spring because theres so much pressure. They do put in thousands of trout, and I will fish here every now and then. I caught trout here this past septmeber and october, which means they can hold over through the summer, and now I have caught them in late winter, so they can survive in there all year long.

I was fishing off ridge ave. near the bait shop on ridge ave. Dont know the name of the road that runs down there, but Its near the friendlys. sorry i dont know the name of that exact road, but If theres trout in the hole I was fishing, theres probably trout everywhere.

[mako6950]

northwestern ave. were you down behind the stables??

[REELKNOT]

I have a spot that has been producing trout all year.The Wiss never shuts down but sometimes becomes slowwwwww but always fish around.I caught a few fish under 5lbs a few years prior.

[Philly]

The creek always has a good holdover population of trout. It usually depends on how hot and dry the summer was. The browns are more likely to survive than the rainbows. With all the high water and cool temperatures last year there should quite a few fish to frustrate anglers on opening day.
How many of you who fish the creek regularly had your favorite spots rearranged not once but twice last year?

[LaStChAnCe V]

i fish to the left of the valley green inn jus past the bridge all the way up to the first falls and usually do well~havent really tryed anywhere else except the road that the shell is on and coaught a few small mouth. mainly on minnows

[Philly@home]

LaSTChAnCe V
That stretch gets pounded pretty good. You need to expand your horizons. I try to switch from week to week. I cover the creek from Northwestern Ave down to a mile or so below the Valley Green Inn. I usually park at either Valley Green or Bells Mill then walk upstream or downstream a mile or so then fish my way back to the parking area.

[LaStChAnCe V]

philly@home~ thanks for the info~i only fish that area because i usually only go out for an hour or so at a time so i dont really walk that much but with the good wether this week i might take a little walk to try and find some honey holes for when the weather gets a little bit nicer~does the creek get wider or thinner goin up and down? thanks again

[LaStChAnCe V]

also what is your bait of choice if you dont mind me asking?

[LaStChAnCe V]

also what is your bait of choice if you dont mind me asking?

[REELKNOT]

nice big fat minnows.Oh yeah try some rosie reds.Buy some minnow needles and do the following.On your mono tie a small snap.attach the minnow needle to the snap(minnow needle looks like a regular thread needle but the eye hole is in a c shape and not closed.)thread the needle down the minnows mouth and pull it out his anas.remove the needle and put a nice size treble hook on the snap.If you cannot increase your catch ratio something is wrong.I can usually pull a doz or so trout in 30-45 min using this.also check other spots.I fish certain areas that we call sleeper spots that are great but most people walk right pass them because they look like shallow small narrow sections.

[LaStChAnCe V]

thanks rk will have to try

[Philly@home]

LaStChAnce V
The creek gets wider and thinner. You'll see slower, deeper water behind the dams. Riffles and pools in front of them. The creek has a lot of sleeper spots. I walk along the creek for exercise, and I've always have my polarized glasses on and a I slow down and check out the spots where Forbidden Drive runs close to the creek. There are a lot of spots that don't receive any pressure.
I'm not the person to ask about bait as I fly fish the creek. I think REELKNOT hit it on the head with the live minnows, that seems to be the bait of choice of the guys fishing bait that I run into. Lures seem to run to Mepps Spinners, small Rapalas, Bagley's, Rattle Traps. Someone mentioned them earlier in the thread, the Yo-Zuri Pin minnow would be deadly. Soft baits, 3" Fin-S style baits, Slug-0's. Not sure how trout would react to a Senko, but the smallies would jump all over them.

[LaStChAnCe V]

thanks everyone cant wait till the creek gets back to normal level so i can get out~ will ost reports

[REELKNOT]

I caught 4 nice fat brownies today with 2 small rainbows in less than 2 hours.The magic spot prevails again. early morning calm,cold but worthwhile.

[AllMyne]

I have fished the creek a few times I think mostly around trout rock, a friend of mine lives that way and knows some good spots. does anyone fish penney packer?

[REELKNOT]

I grew up fishing penny pack.In fact i live a few minutes from there.It is well stocked but fished out in the first few days of opening season.There are very little hold over trout which are found in deep pools.The water warms too fast so alot of fish die if not caught.If it rains hard donot bother fishing it as it will run like a river-high,dirty,and fast.