Sept. 2024: Class A and driving distance from home are certainly nothing to take for granted. Pine Creek Valley, the Grand Canyon of PA, is a picturesque stretch of blue ribbon water, shared by a 60+ mile rail trail with nicely packed gravel and creaky old bridges to boot. The small-water tributaries alone would put most anything out west to shame. This is Brown Trout angling at its finest...at least in my experience.
My third trip to Pine Creek and, like the other two, we were there to take advantage of the premier gravel biking offered by the main trail. Add to that the endless mountain roads with far more climbing than human legs can handle. Beyond fly fishing mecca, the area is a paradise for anyone with two fat tires and a pair of cranks. Oh, and somehow it's pretty quiet, at least at the times we choose to go.
But enough of all that. Peg and I were hosting a group of six riders on this trip. And while the focus was squarely on bikes and friends, my fly rod had somehow hitched a ride atop all the gear and groceries in the back of the xTerra. I guess that gave me odds of casting a fly onto the crystal blue water that would tease me throughout our rides, and even from the windows of our cabin.
As good fortune would have it, and despite the run in our back yard not being a "fishable section" in terms of the layout, there was maybe 40 yds of 18-24" walking pace water that held plenty during the evening hatch. I decided to stay there, forgoing on the drive to the real holes in favor of our good company and keeping the group together. Fish wise, it didn't matter, the river is that good. The action was certainly there for the hour or so when they lit up to feed on the frenzy of bugs. I wasn't the smoothest afoot, since I spend all my time in a float tube these days. But somehow I only looked awkward, managing to stay dry and upright.
So the biking was every bit as fun and, with the best company I could ask for, the trip couldn't get any better. I'll be back for a fourth installment for sure, hopefully with an extra day or two of FF only. In fact, trips 5, 6, and beyond are also a pretty good bet, as I still have plenty of Pine Creek to get out of my system.
My third trip to Pine Creek and, like the other two, we were there to take advantage of the premier gravel biking offered by the main trail. Add to that the endless mountain roads with far more climbing than human legs can handle. Beyond fly fishing mecca, the area is a paradise for anyone with two fat tires and a pair of cranks. Oh, and somehow it's pretty quiet, at least at the times we choose to go.
But enough of all that. Peg and I were hosting a group of six riders on this trip. And while the focus was squarely on bikes and friends, my fly rod had somehow hitched a ride atop all the gear and groceries in the back of the xTerra. I guess that gave me odds of casting a fly onto the crystal blue water that would tease me throughout our rides, and even from the windows of our cabin.
As good fortune would have it, and despite the run in our back yard not being a "fishable section" in terms of the layout, there was maybe 40 yds of 18-24" walking pace water that held plenty during the evening hatch. I decided to stay there, forgoing on the drive to the real holes in favor of our good company and keeping the group together. Fish wise, it didn't matter, the river is that good. The action was certainly there for the hour or so when they lit up to feed on the frenzy of bugs. I wasn't the smoothest afoot, since I spend all my time in a float tube these days. But somehow I only looked awkward, managing to stay dry and upright.
So the biking was every bit as fun and, with the best company I could ask for, the trip couldn't get any better. I'll be back for a fourth installment for sure, hopefully with an extra day or two of FF only. In fact, trips 5, 6, and beyond are also a pretty good bet, as I still have plenty of Pine Creek to get out of my system.
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