Time: 11:00AM – 4:00PM

Location: Special regulation area

Little Schuylkill River 09/05/2019 Photo Album

During the spring I received an email from a fraternity brother informing me, that a group was planning a reunion that spanned the graduating classes of 1970 through 1976. Since I was a member of the class of 1973, I made plans to attend. When I booked my flights, I scheduled an early arrival on September 4, so I could spend some time with my brother and sister, who continue to reside in southeastern Pennsylvania. Before my departure date, I learned that my aunt, who lives in Pittsburgh, was visiting my sister, and a small mini reunion was organized for Thursday night, September 5. 

Thursday remained an open date for fly fishing, but my destination had to be relatively close to my brother’s house in Lititz, Pa. or to my cousin’s home in Wernersville, Pa., the scene of our family gathering. Over the past two years I made the Instagram acquaintance of Fred Klein, a fly tier and fly angler, who lives near Birdsboro, Pa. I decided to contact him about a fishing day in early September. Fred immediately approved of the idea of a joint fishing trip, and he felt that we could catch some fish in spite of seasonally low and clear stream conditions.

On Thursday morning, September 5, I met Fred at the outer reaches of the Barnes and Noble parking lot in Reading, Pa., and we left my rental car there and transferred my Fishpond travel bag to his vehicle. Fred was forced to utilize his back up car, a RAV4, since his main car had mechanical issues. Once my bag was situated we departed, and we stopped at a Redner’s Market to purchase insect repellent and a few lunch snacks.

Before we reached our ultimate destination, we stopped at a bridge and another pull off, where we surveyed the river. It was low and clear, as I expected, given the early September timing of my visit, but Fred assured me that cool nights lowered the water temperature. At the second stop we negotiated a short hike to the river, where we encountered a massive slow moving pool that was the recipient of cold water from a tributary. On a previous visit Fred spotted a huge rainbow trout holding tight to a deadfall, but we were unable to locate the beast on this stopover. Fred executed a few obligatory casts with his fiberglass, but we quickly abandoned the honey hole and continued on to the special regulation water.

Once Fred parked the car in a makeshift pullout, we geared up for a day on the river. The weather was ideal with partial cloudiness, and the temperature peaked in the mid-seventies. We found a nice clear area between the road and the river, and cut to the bank and began our quest for Pennsylvania trout. Fred began by swinging a classic wet fly, and I knotted a peacock hippie stomper and beadhead hares ear to my line. Our starting point was the left braid around a very long narrow island, and it felt like we were exploring a much smaller creek. We never encountered another angler over our entire day, and I was amazed at the feeling of remoteness on this Pennsylvania waterway. Judging from the lack of worn paths and defined pullouts, I agree with Fred’s assertion that the Little Schuylkill is lightly pressured.

Fred and I alternated turns at casting in the narrow left braid, and being a gracious host, Fred offered me the first quality spot. The hippie stomper generated a few splashy refusals, and then I connected with a fish that was likely a small brown trout, but it evaded the hook after a two second tussle.

The remainder of the day continued in much the same fashion, and I eventually landed four brown trout with the largest extending to the one foot mark. Three grabbed the hares ear, and one nipped the salvation nymph, after I added it as a third fly for a deeper than average run. Fred, meanwhile, switched to a dry/dropper and connected for a few temporary hook ups in the mid-afternoon time period.

The catch rate was slow, and the fish were small, but I maintained low expectations given the low and clear early September conditions. In short, I had a fun time. I discovered a new fishing companion and explored an entirely new fishing destination within close proximity of my brother and sister and my hometown. I can easily envision the possibilities of this southeastern Pennsylvania gem during higher water and colder temperatures. Mix in some hatches, and pure enjoyment would surely be the end product. 

Fish Landed: 4