It was killing me. I had a work trip last week that happened to align with what would have been an ideal week for fishing following an unexpected cool down and close to an inch of rain. I was worried a couple weeks ago that the local trout fishing was going to end prematurely due to water level and temperature, but a cold front that brought a lot of moisture with it saved the season. When I left for the Professional Outdoor Media Association Summit on Tuesday, local streams were flowing well above normal so I had some hope of still having decent water when I returned on Friday. I checked my River App for water flow and temperature readings daily while away hoping for good conditions on Saturday. It turns out I may have hit it just right.
I spent most of Saturday with family starting with a walk to the first farmers market of the year, then a bike ride with Will followed by a short stop at a major car show that was in town at the KCAC parking lot. I also managed to get the grass cut, which was sorely needed since grass growing conditions were also good while I was away. That left the afternoon for doing some needed chores at Horseshoe Hills, and finally, some fishing on Little Mahoning Creek. It was going to be a full day, but the great feeling that comes with being home after a trip and a renewed sense of normalcy provided plenty of energy.
At camp, the grass needed to be mowed, the exterior of the cabin sprayed for bugs, a trail camera repaired (thanks bears), and the batteries charged on one of the surveillance cameras. I also wanted to check on the effectiveness of my knotweed treatment, which is something I’ve been working on for the last three years. On my way to the property, I got a good look at the creek and the water looked low and clear, which was disappointing. I feared I had missed the best days already so I had a bit of a negative attitude before I even slid my wet wading gear on. By 5 p.m., the chores were done and I was finally ready to fish.
Worried about clear water and fishing pressure, I originally planned to fish the very upper reach of the fly fishing only area where there were some deeper pools and the access is challenging compared to some of the more popular stretches along the road. Unfortunately, I arrived to find a side-by-side and small pickup already parked there. I was still going to give it a go but I could hear people making a commotion where I was headed and I just didn’t want any part of whatever was going on. Disappointed, I headed downstream hoping to fish my favorite stretch of water instead. As I approached the pull off, I could see two vehicles already parked there and I was starting to think the fly fishing gods were against me. I turned around and headed for what I referred to as the Boulder Stretch, which sits just off the road and is fished heavily. It was my third choice, but I do like the water there and there was nobody else around, which is often more important to me than actually catching fish.
I opted for my Euro nymphing rig given the clear water conditions and likelihood of fish being spooked by a float hitting the water. I did have another rod along though in case the trout were taking dry flies. Last year on this same stretch I had one of the best days of fishing ever on the stream catching fish after fish on dries. It was about the same time of year too so I was optimistic. I decided I would tie on a black Walt’s Worm with a silver bead, which I did a lot of damage with on Little Mahoning last year. I crept down to the water being cautious to stay in the shadows to avoid spooking wary trout. Although I often skip it, I decided to start at the Boulder Hole despite seeing fresh boot prints in the sand.
I’m not sure why, but I was lacking confidence in the spot. I supposed I talked myself into believing it was going to be a slow evening due to the factors described above. Imagine my surprise then when I had a good brown hooked within my first few casts. I landed that fish and ended up netting three more in my first 15 minutes of fishing. What an unexpected treat! I then started working my way downstream while keeping myself in the shadows for camouflage. While the water wasn’t as low and clear as I feared, it was still low enough that I could spoil my chances by being careless.
I picked up just one more fish for the next 100 yards or so of fishing and I wasn’t sure if the bite was off or if the fish were just somewhere else. As I mentioned, the Boulder Stretch gets a lot of fishing pressure, so that also may have been a factor. I needed to switch flies due to a snag that kept my black nymph and this time I went a little smaller and to a different color. I tied on a size 16 natural Walt’s Worm with a copper bead. I like to use smaller flies when the fish are finicky, and this situation called for it. It wasn’t long before the decision paid off. I hooked and landed browns on what seemed like several consecutive casts and at some point lost track of how many hit my net.
Some of the trout were good sized. They weren’t necessarily long, but they had good girth and fought hard. A couple had unique markings and as typically happens in Little Mahoning, their orange spots had become vibrant from having been in the water for several weeks. Of the 20 or so fish I caught, all of them were browns and I’m not sure why. On my last time out I caught mostly brookies, so this was a mystery.
The sun slipped behind the ridge and I was at the end of the long pool. I didn’t want to be greedy, but I did have an urge to hook one more fish before calling it a night. I was able to entice a final brown to bite, and after releasing the fish it seemed like a fitting exclamation point. As we used to say, I “sacked them” and exceeded my expectations in the process.
As much as I love Little Mahoning Creek, it’s a freestone stream that suffers from quickly rising and depleting flows and fast elevating water temperatures once the rains stop. It also creates a ticking time bomb effect. It makes me sad to know that before long the creek will drop to a level too low and too warm to sustain what is currently a wonderful trout fishery. More than 90% of the fish are going to die due to heat or predation and I want to cry thinking about it. It’s hard to find ideal water conditions so when you have them you hate to quit.
I wonder what the stream was like before the negative consequences of resource extraction and other human-induced impacts. I fantasize about going back in time to the late 1800’s and catching native brook trout there, that I’m sure once thrived there. Maybe someday that can happen again as the creek continues to heal, but I’ll try not to dwell on it and spoil what was another memorable day on the waters of Little Mahoning.