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| gearing up for a trip |
From September 17th- 22nd of 2011 I lived the dream of having nothing to do but fish. The plan seemed to come out of nowhere a week prior when I looked at the weather and decided that fall would soon be over. The summer workload had be absolutely brutal and I deserved some time off. I made a call to a buddy, BC, and he agreed to help start the trip with a day on the Little Juniata River. So after work on a Saturday I made the drive up to the town of Barre. BC was fast asleep when I rolled into the church campground but I got him up for a few cold beers. The next day came early.
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| Breakfast of an angler |
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| car camping |
The sluggish mind keep us from making a hasty decision as to the starting spot for the days fishing. We finally decided to head to find a spot where we had launched the boats a few summer back. I don’t think we found the exact spot, but we found a good spot and got our feet wet.
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| nymphing in the sun |
With no bug activity and perfect weather we took it easy until the afternoon when it was decided to head out in search of new water. BC made a turn that was in the right direction of the river. After a few turns, a train underpass, and a brick road we stopped before a bridge. Upon first glance at this new section the excitement started to build. Then it happened. A trout came up to the surface and ate an insect. Sulfur? Iso? Ant? Who cares. I clipped of my nymph rig and tied on a thorax style Isonychia dry fly. BC had a few hours left before heading back to Pittsburgh and took of down stream to the first riffle. He was on the board before I stepped in the water. The trout were tucked up against the back eating the occasional insect. A few casts over a riser gave me my first trout of the trip.
After a few fish, a beer, and a bunch of smiles it was time for BC to return to the rat race, leaving me alone to fish for a few days.
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| BC with a nice lunch |
I stayed at that spot until dark before heading back to the church campground. Beers were cracked as the fire light up the night. As I climbed into the back of the truck for bed there was a sense of solitude that gave me great realization. I was alone for the next few days with nothing to do but fish.
The next day was spent again on the Little Juniata River. This time I spent all of the day up in the gorge casting Iso patterns to rising fish. That day was epic for a few reasons. Namely, because I was fishing an old bamboo fly rod. A Wright& McGill Granger -Victory.
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| bamboozeled |
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| hiking into the gorge |
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| Little Juniata brown trout |
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| yer pal, beer |
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| Iso dry fly |
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| honey hole |
The slight drizzle turned into rain about the same time my last beer was drank. It was time to head out. On the hike back I had the difficult task of deciding on tomorrows fishing destination. Stay another night? Check out some area small streams? Go to State College? New York?
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| last car in the lot |
As I opened up the back of the truck it became clear that a proper bed would be nice. The Little J had served me well the past two days and it would be nice to try out another stream. So I booked it for my parents lake house in DuBios.
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| hard livin’ |
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| on the road |
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| Treasure Lake |
A hot shower and a few beers gave me the inspiration to plan an adventure up into Cameron and Potter Counties.
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| maps |
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| maps |
I slept in and had a minor headache. So I had breakfast and took the usual trip to Spring Creek in Centre County.
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| clipped fin brown trout |
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After catching a nice amount of fish on Spring Creek I headed over to Bald Eagle State Forest to camp. I enjoyed a few beers before crashing early. The next day would hold the last adventure of the trip.
I spun the truck north west towards a campground in Sinnemahoning State Park. The drive was pleasurable, but seemed long. Within a few hours I was traveling on back roads looking for signs that did not exist. It was heaven.
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| limited maintenance- access road only |
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| land of endless mountains |
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| Autumn in PA |
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After the drive I found a stream.
and found these wild trout
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| wild brown trout |
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| native brook trout |
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As the fishing day was ending I hiked back to the truck with a simple smile. I hadn’t seen or heard a car or person in a half dozen hours. There were a few semi cool beers left in the cooler for the nights camping and a single can of soup for dinner. Driving to Sinnemahoning State Park I noticed a sign for an ATM. It was at a closed tavern. The general store was open and the lady let me into the bar for cash. I also came out with a cup of cold Yeungling that I drank in the parking lot. The campground was quiet and I had a fire with damp sticks before bed. I stopped by a stream on my way out. A proper and fitting end to the trip.
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| this is beer trout |
beer
