My cousin Scott and I went fishing today.  On our way there, just before Rathmel, we saw a bear running up a small hill into the bushes.  My camera was in my pocket but we couldn't find the bear again to get any pictures.  Still pretty cool though.  I'm guessing that it probably had gone down to Soldier Run to get a drink.

Our first stop fishing was below Humphrey Bridge.  We each caught nine there.  The water is still very low and clear.  I was using 4 pound test as usual, dropped down from size 12 to size 16 hooks, and very small sinkers.  Those little things make a big difference in low, clear conditions.  I was using halves of crawlers.  I use two hooks with my crawlers, one at the top and one about an inch and a half down.  

Anyway, we were going to fish the spillway next on Northfork but three guys had it surrounded so we moved on.  There was a festival of some sort in Brookville so we had to take the back roads.  While we were back there I figured we'd try below where Five Mile Run comes into Sandy.  There isn't much of a hole there just a bit of a deep riffle.  I caught four there and Scott caught one.  I caught three more further downstream in a deeper hole.  Scott caught three as well.

Our next stop was going to be the Coder Run hole on Redbank but there were four vehicles parked there so we didn't bother.  Everybody and there brother knows about that hole now unfortunately which explains why it hasn't produced as well this year.  

Next stop was below the Iowa Bridge in the big hole.  I caught one and he caught two.  There is no cool stream coming in there unfortunately.  The trash fish are taking it over now that it is warm.

Last stop was below the ODonnell Bridge.  I don't much like it there but figured there might be some trout right were ODonnell Creek empties into Sandy.  ODonnell is barely a trickle right now though.  I caught three there but that was it.

I ended the day with 19 and Scott caught 15.  Here is the really neat part though.  Just as I had taken my hip boots off and put my vest (with my camera) away and was ready to drive away I looked up past the ODonnell Bridge and saw another bear!  I pointed it out to my cousin and he saw it too.  This was nowhere near where we had seen the first one earlier in the morning.  I had only ever seen about a handful of bear in my lifetime so seeing two in one day was pretty strange.  Maybe this is the time of year they breed? I don't know.  In any event it was nice to see them...especially since it was from a distance.  I wish I could have gotten pictures but oh well.

If we don't start getting some rain I may not go again for trout.  We'll see.  

--Last edited by outfortrout on 2007-06-25 13:26:55 --

This IS the start of the black bear breeding season .. so sightings should become more frequent.. but one must be careful too this time of year around any bears......

There you go again Penn..

Believing what you hear rather than trusting science and the experts...

My breeding season runs from January 1st thru December 31st each year,,,

I am on the "prowl" 24/7 during that period always alert and looking...

As for being dangerous,

The only tiime I am aware of being dangerous is when I am "between the sheets"