Thunder Swamp Trail and Bushkill Creek, PA

B

brians

Joined
Apr 22, 2006
Messages
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Hi guys,

Just wanted to share some photos and thoughts on the Thunder Swamp Trail I hiked today. It's just north of Stroudsburg.

The reason for my hike, aside from the aesthetic beauty, was to practice my land navigation and scout the Bushkill Creek for late fall/winter fly fishing (it's open all year for trout).

It may be a good candidate for a small winter forum get together as the hike to the creek is only 2 miles (trail is 45 miles). Especially for the fisherman, as their is no car access there. I may also bring my bow for small game.

I plan on going in again for a weekend. It is a typical Penn rocky boot/ankle buster trail, but not too difficult. Plenty of water and firewood.

Food for thought and pics for reference:. Hope you guys had a great weekend :thumbup:

The view coming down from the trail to the creek:
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and the prize, for us fly fisherman. I knew the water would be running high today, given all the rain, but it will be prime water soon:

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I recommend the Clif Recovery Hot Chocolate - extra protein and electros:

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Little kit porn for the stove junkies - white box and MSR Titan kettle about to brew up some hot chocolate before the trip out:

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http://www.dcnr.state.pa.us/FORESTRY/hiking/thunder.aspx
 
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Great pics, I love nymphing when the water is high like that. Sure wish I lived close to some prime trout streams but I have to be satisfied with largemouth in blackwater swamps. Chris

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sure does remind me of the mountain streams in wyoming. nothing like nymphing on a cool fall day and catching 3-4 pound trout all day nice pics thanks for sharing
 
Becoming a better nymph fisherman is a learning priority for me this coming year. If you have any tips on technique and gear, I'm all ears.

August W, that's a great pic :thumbup:

Surface fishing for largemouth is hard to beat.

B
 
I like using a strike indicator, SHHHH don't tell anyone but that is just a fancy name for a bobber.;)

Your favorite nymph, a really tiny split shot with a stick on strike indicator, fish it upstream and when the strike indicator stops lift the rod to set the hook. Another deadly technique is to use a dry fly with a nymph as a drop hook, basically the dry fly is the indicator, if the fly goes under set the hook. Good luck, Chris
 
AW,

Do you determine the length from the fly to the indicator roughly based on water depth? Little more, little less?
 
brians said:
AW,

Do you determine the length from the fly to the indicator roughly based on water depth? Little more, little less?
Click to expand...

Yeah to a point, I don't fish the deep stuff, don't want to buy sinking line and really don't know how to get down deep. I mainly fish the riffles and pockets, there are some big ones deep but never having done it really don't know how. Not to mention, I fish a 7.5' 3 weight rod, not really enough to throw heavy sinking lines. I set the strike indicator a few feet above the fly or, use a shorter than normal leader and tie a drop leader off the shank of the hook, works like a champ. Chris
 
August West said:
Yeah to a point, I don't fish the deep stuff, don't want to buy sinking line and really don't know how to get down deep. I mainly fish the riffles and pockets, there are some big ones deep but never having done it really don't know how. Not to mention, I fish a 7.5' 3 weight rod, not really enough to throw heavy sinking lines. I set the strike indicator a few feet above the fly or, use a shorter than normal leader and tie a drop leader off the shank of the hook, works like a champ. Chris
Click to expand...

Thanks. I've got some gear to get and some practice to start.:o
 
Hey Brian, nice pics, looks like a good day to be out. To provide another answer to your question about the positioning of the indicator to the fly...my experience is yes you have to adjust the distance per the depth of the water and where in the water column you want to have your fly. Last spring we had so much rain and as you mentioned the water was really running high, I was using two nymphs on a dropper rig with an indicator and had to keep adjusting as I moved through different pools and riffles. This was on the Big Bushkill...water conditions were terrible, but the action was excellent.
 
Nice. How would you describe the grind. I'm looking for a folder for woods use when I'm not allowed to bring a fixed blade during my son's scouting (my mora clipper or enzo trapper). (not inviting the whole fixed/folder debate, or whether scouting actually bans fixed blades!!!). Would like to know if your knife might be good for woods use. It's funny, it looks like a buck 110 handle, but with a flat/scandi grind. Is my ignorance showing? William
 
Stickman - thanks for the tips. I'll use the advice this fall/winter.

William O - just a standard v-grind I keep sharp on the Sharpmaker. Steel is comparable to a good 420, which I like. Easy to sharpen, holds a decent edge, and its purdy.:D It is heavy and solidly built.

http://www.grohmannknives.com/pages/r3801.html
 
That looks like a great place to be. Thanks for the pics! Nice pots too!
 
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