It was the start of the New Year and Jin had an open day during the weekend so we decided to fish for wild brown trout at Codorus Creek.
Codorus Creek is a tailwater stream fed by the Galtfelter dam in south central Pennsylvania. It was originally managed as stocked put-and-take water but as the numbers of wild brown trout began to increase, the state reclassified the Codorus as a Class 'A' wild trout stream with a substantial portion placed in theTrophy Trout Program.
I arrived early and found one angler fishing from the bank next to the parking lot. He turned out to be the president of one of Pennsylvania's Trout Unlimited chapters near the Ohio border. He was meeting a friend and was just killing time fishing the deep slot under the bridge. He told me that when the sun climbed higher and hit the water, fishing would really be great. A few minutes after he left Jin showed up and we decided to hike downstream a bit then fish back up to the parking lot.
The water temperature was 42 degrees--much warmer in the water than out of it. There was also ice rimming the edges of the creek that was in shade. Both of us began nymphing. Jin used an indicator and two flies while I tied on a Czech nymph and a small olive hackled fly as a dropper and tight-lined the deeper water.
Things started out really slow and we both swapped out flies frequently. Jin scored first just upstream from me then again with two browns, one after another, on a size 18 emerger pattern. I fished about 15 minutes behind him but drew no hits. The fishing slowed down again after this initial excitement so we decided to break for lunch then try fishing the water further upstream.
We began fishing at a large blow-down but drew no hits. Jin decided to push further downstream but I waited until he was gone to tie on a large heavily weighted multi-legged fly. Jin wouldn't approve. And the day was getting short. And I was weak. I'm not a bad person but I wasn't getting any takers on the small stuff so I figured maybe the fish would want something a bit more substantial than a size 18 nymph. If presented with food, fish will tend to eat the bigger offering. Same energy expended eating a small morsel as a large one and a large meal tends to last longer than a tiny one.
I tossed the creature just outside the fast water and it sank quickly to the bottom. Two twitches later it was fish on and I brought a nice brown trout to net. I waited a few minutes to rest the water then tossed it in again. Another fish. Wait a few minutes and it was another fish. That deep area was no more than 20 feet long but it held lots of trout. I fished it from one end to the other before it was time to find Jin and head for home.
EQUIPMENT: We used 3 and 4 weight rods with floating lines. The water is very cold but shallow so wear heavy socks under your waders.
DIRECTIONS: I-95 towards Baltimore to 795 Towson to Exit 9B Hanover Pike (30) into Pennsylvania. The road becomes Baltimore Pike (94). Exit Grandview Road, turn right at the restaurant on Blooming Grove Road (216) and several hundred yards later a left on Hoff Road (look for the Lamb of God). Codorus State Park and Lake Marburg will be on your right as you travel down Hoff Road. STOP at the railroad crossing! Codorus Creek runs along a CSX rail line and parts of Park Road, Porters Road, Hayrick Road and Thomas Drive. Look for the signs that indicate fishing areas and parking. Please respect all property owners and don't trash the stream.
