East Koy Creek

 

There isn't much to tell about the fishing in East Koy. It's a beautiful quiet stream, that has a few bends and deadfalls that hold fish. I found it last year to be thrilling, so I went again this year to have the same experience. I spent the good part of Saturday morning walking along the banks of the lower East Koy Creek.

When I arrived at the foot path the sun was already up for about an hour. The day seemed to promise good weather even though partial cloud cover was expected. I took time to read the regulations kindly posted for my benefit.

I selected an artificial yellow stone fly lure, a size 14 long shank hook. It was about an inch long and weighted. I tied 3 feet of fresh - 3 lb tippet on my leader and secured the stone fly to it.




When I reached the stream I recognized the fishing spot where I had caught a fine trout the year before. With my first cast it fell perfectly into the foaming hole. At that moment the line tugged violently. I set the hook and it snapped the tippet in half leaving 18 inches of my 3 foot tippet.
I never did see the fish under the foam and tried without luck to persuade another fish from the hole. Then moved on knowing I would exit the creek at that spot.

My hopes were high, thinking every hole would yield a large trout. As it turned out the only fish in hand was a small brown.

Several other browns hit my fly and even one broke the water. One was on for several exciting seconds, but they all spit the hooks. They are after all considered sport fish.

When it became clear I was nearing the end of my allotted fishing time. I began taking photos of the creek bed and all it's glory.

I am thankful for the DEC and the work they are doing along this creek fighting the invasive Hogweed plants. Remnants of Hogweed kills are on the islands of this creek bed. Still more plants are rising up so be careful not to touch them.

(The giant hogweed reaches up to 12 feet tall with flowers as big as umbrellas - but it's also dangerous. It's sap can cause third degree burns and blindness. This plant is spreading across the state at an alarming rate. Officials have found 944 sites in New York. The Department of Environmental Conservation has a Hogweed Hotline (845-256-3111) for New Yorkers to call in sightings of the invasive species. Callers are asked to take photos and report site information, but should avoid touching the plant. )*

* credit HUFF POST Aug 18th 2015

Pan Fishing the Seneca/Cayuga Canal

Wow, Summer is almost over and the weather has been great. These past July evenings I found myself wading with sneakers into cool creek beds. And engaging my usual summer task of seeking out rock bass and small mouth. The water has been changing almost hourly. Some days it's high water and cloudy because of storms up stream. Other creeks are low and clear which did not yield a lot of fish. Kim and I also took the boat out and had success with spinning rods.

One evening my brother Marvin and Kim and I went to an old favorite spot. It was difficult at first finding the right fly. Usually, after tossing a few tinsel nymphs, the fish come out of hiding. Before dusk we managed to hook several pan fish. I have no pics of that evening which tells you that they were not worth photographing.

I do have pics of the canal trip my brother Paul and his friends toured. It was late July and we got together on the Seneca/Cayuga canal and traveled to Seneca lake and also up the Erie canal. As rule I do not fish this area, but have been attracted to the Cayuga area since last spring. I always fish rivers to the west of home but now am finding new waters and streams and the lakes East.

Some bass are just not safe around this guy. :)

Kim and I met up with Paul and Frank one night for fly fishing the canal. Kim did really well with a bait casting rod. The rest of us were having fun with top water flies.
It was later that week that the big fish started to be caught and netted.









As July finished up, I realized that most of my free evenings were spent driving home late from fishing.
 










Hopefully this weekend I'll be engaging in midnight fishing.