TCO Fly Fishing - Stream Conditions

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Little Juniata - PA (Page 4 of 4)

Continued (from Charles R. Meck - Pennsylvania Trout Streams and Thier Hatches - 2nd Edition):

Just 25 years ago the Little Juniata River looked and smelled like an open sewer. The federal, state and local governments poured millions of dollars into the cleanup. They installed sewage plants in many of the upriver towns, and mandated that companies eliminate much of their waste. Years and years of work and millions and millions of tax payer dollars and their efforts paid off. The Little Juniata has returned-returned from a dead river void of hatches and streambred brown trout to a living, dynamic river ready to produce still more new hatches.

In 1992 some of the prime river on the river went private. Several land-owners formed a private club on the supposedly navigable river. Overzealous fly-fishers paid to join the club. The future for public fishing on the river looks bleak.

Millions spent by taxpayers to clean up the river and eventually only a few will benefit. Where is the justice in all of this? Did the fly-fishers who joined the private club realize that they might be instrumental in closing down the entire river?

Pollution problems have abated, but there are new concerns other than posted land. Present regulations on the Little Juniata allow year-round fishing. The liberal creel limits play havoc with the trout population. From November to March bait fisherman tend to keep many of the past year's fingerlings that have grown to seven and eight inches long. Trout size in the river has decreased dramatically since my first visit in 1972 because of the put-and-take practices of many fisherman. Unless these anglers change their attitude, or until the Fish Commission places special regulations on the river, fishing over the great hatches from May to October will often produce only unimpressive trout.

Allan Bright's Spruce Creek Outfitters [and TCO Fly Shop in State College] serves fly-fisherman well with hatching information and sells patters to copy all the hatches on the river. Tucker and Jean Morris run the Trout and Grouse Bed and Breakfast across the street from Allan's shop and Jim and Sharon Dell operate one three miles up Spruce Creek.

Fish the Juniata from mid-May through early June. Arrange to be on the river before 6:00 P.M. and you'll likely hit a bonus hatch of Light Cahills. Then wait until you witness teh king of hatches around 8:30, the Sulphur.

See the Hatch Chart and Stream Maps for more information on Little Juniata River hatches as well as best times and places to fish. Also, please visit Charles R. Meck at (charlesmeck.com) and look at his great selection of fly fishing books and his current schedule of appearances, book signings and educational events.

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