Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - September/October 2020 - 32

There are many fish habitat improvements along the creek. These areas are fish magnets and deserve a few extra casts. Search the areas
along the banks near the head of the riffle/plunge pool. Often, you will find fish waiting to smash a well presented pattern.

temperature each time we visited. The lowest temperature
we recorded was 62-degrees F with a high temperature of
68-degrees F during the morning of our last visit on the
first week in June. Catch and release anglers should bring a
thermometer this time of year.
While the creek is stocked, there is natural reproduction
in parts of the creek and in several tributaries. The
majority of the fish we caught were recently stocked trout
with a mix of some fish that were either colorful holdovers
or gorgeous wild trout. The presence of wild trout in the
watershed is an encouraging sign that restoration projects
and continued conservation efforts on the creek are in
fact working. A brief inspection of submersed rocks and
logs revealed a healthy population of a variety of mayflies,
stoneflies, caddisflies, crustaceans, and baitfish.
Trout anglers should use a variety of tactics including
conventional and fly tackle. While I primarily fly fish, I saw
several anglers successfully employing the use of spinning
tackle. I found success using small nymphs imitating the
mayflies, stoneflies, and crustaceans we found. I caught
fish on patterns such as the Prince Nymph, Hares Ear

South Branch Codorus Creek is a healthy fishery. Turn over a few
rocks, and you will find a wide variety of aquatic life that keep fish
fed all year long.

Pennsylvania Angler & Boater * September/October 2020

Nymph, and scuds. Watching the spin gear anglers catch
fish encouraged me to use streamer patterns like the
Woolly Bugger, zonkers, and sculpin patterns that resulted
in some great takes.
The height of trout season can bring plenty of anglers
to the banks of the creek. Sharing the creek with other
anglers is nothing new for this area. One way to beat the
crowds and get to a good fishing hole quickly while getting
in some low-impact cardio is to use a bicycle. We visited
the creek several times throughout trout season, and our
bikes got us away from the crowds and on fish in a hurry.

Bike fishing

When fishing from a bicycle, consider a few things.
First, wear a helmet. Wear a helmet not for the "if " but
when you fall off your bike. I have been riding bicycles for
over 30 years, and I still fall, usually in spectacular fashion
and especially when standing still or rolling slowly. Do not
let a little fall turn into a big mess.
When I first started fishing from a bike, I used a
mountain bike and a backpack-nothing fancy-just me,
my bike, a 2-piece fly rod, a few fly boxes in my backpack
with a bottle of water and snacks, and I was ready for fun.
Today, my setup is a little different but not much. When
riding a rail trail, you probably do not need the typical
forward leaning posture/geometry provided by a mountain
bike. Likewise, a road bike built for speed with skinny tires
may also present different challenges. While you should use
whatever bike you feel most comfortable riding, there are
some styles that are a natural fit for bike fishing.
Styles to consider include touring, gravel, comfort, and
off-road touring bikes such as fat bikes. The most important
part of selecting a bike is finding a bike with the correct
geometry and fit. This means choosing the right size bike for
you and test riding bicycles for comfort before purchasing.
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Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - September/October 2020

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