Next time you're up in the Pine Creek Valley stop in and see Tom and Deb. After a morning's fishing, treat yourself to some hand-dipped ice cream. Then before the evening spinner fall, enjoy a great sub with homemade bread. Sit on the bench and relax. Enjoy the big water with its brown drake spinner fall or fish the "Runs" and enjoy some the most beautiful scenery in all of Penn's Woods.
I suppose it was over 25 years ago when I would stop in the General Store to have my gobblers weighed. It's also been about that long ago that I built the "Big Pine" 9 1/2' 5/6 wt. fly rod for Tom's new shop.
They have everything you need for a stay in the Valley except for Bureau of Forestry camping permits.
15 comments:
Yo Chief,
Will I be able to buy a wolf t-shirt, double cappuccino latte' and a quart of Wilcoxson's huckleberry ice cream there, or will I have to go to the Cooke City General Store for those?
Seriously though, speaking of DCNR camping permits, do you know if camping is still permitted at the old CCC campground on upper Slate Run? I'm talking about the small one on Francis Branch Road about 1/4 mile downstream of the junction of Cushman Branch and Francis Branch. They had picnic tables and there was a piped spring almost right across the road. Man, I have some fond mammaries of that place and I would like to get back there. The last time I drove by it was about 10 years ago and it looked a little overgrown. Just wondering if you knew anyone who has been back to the old place lately. Thanks.
It's actually now a developed campsite (7 Mile) just like the one on Red Run. June 1978 I slept on the ground at the CCC camp for a week and just hammered the trout in Slate Run during the day on #18 Parachute Adams, then hit three Brown Drake spinner falls on Big Pine at night. Haven't slept there since. Been camping at Red Run or down at Clark's instead.
The water is finally coming down but the boys at Weather World said that from now until June 8th, PA will have double its normal rainfall. Hope they are wrong. I haven't fished any freestoners this year as I promised myself.
Straub Beer, that's right, Straub put some large trout in the DH section of Big Pine recently. I'll get my chance to nail those bastards on my birthday while camping at 7 Mile. Actually we will try to park the Maiden Voyager along the big creek somewhere.
Speaking of T-shirts, think that we may head to Cooke City in September to see if they have any XXL's then head up the street and eat a 22" pizza, fish for a week then back home.
What the hell am I thinking. CCC camp area is before you get to the 7 mile area, I think. They will kick you out of the CCC, don't ask me how I know. Hell I can't even remember how to find Manor Falls.
I dunno, Chief. I thought you had it right the first time. Slate Run, from the junction of Cushman and Francis Branches, downstream to it's mouth on Big Pine is 7.2 miles. If you look closely you can see the old CCC campground on Google Earth, about 1/4 mile below the junction. It's the only one I'm aware of and it's hard on the banks of upper Slate Run.
Those brown trout stocked by the Slate Run Brown Trout Club are some of best looking cultured fish I've ever seen anywhere. The PFBC should swing by and take some notes. I'm gonna try and get up there some time next week. It's a good time to avoid the fly fishing clown show on the big limestoners at this time of the year.
Guys, let me clear the fog. The CCC camp flats are immediately below the 7 mile camping area - You get to 'em both from the same access road. We camped on the flats for many years, but they shut it down 20+ years ago. Now we camp at the 7 Mile which has ~6 camping areas - it's a little overgrown but still a great camping area on a great stream. We'll be up on Pine next week (Tues - Sat) and will be fishing Pine / Slate / Cedar. Maybe we'll see you on the stream.
Eroc
For my money, there is no better time to visit WyMont then the month of September. Tell Jan over at the Bar-B-Q pit that Wade Rivers sent you and you'll get a free slice of huckleberry pie.
Hoosiers Motel burnt down back in April but I hear there's some pretty good tent camping over at the Soda Butte Campground :^)
Chief,
Why do you drink?
Why do you smoke?
Why must you live out all those songs that you wrote?
Signed,
Hank Jr.
P.S. I lawk sweet young things with Old Grandad.
Tennessee whiskey, three chicks from E-Town College and the Susquehannock Trail, June 1972. I'll say no more.
This damn blasted campsite is just beyond the switchback before you get to the branch. I'll be there June 9-11 just in time for the snakes.
Eroc - identify yourself.
Chief - I'm a grizzled Slate and Cedar Run vet. I camped on the CCC flats and Morris Run areas before they closed them down. I remember (ok, barely) when Tom & Deb bought the Gen'l store, when they put on the fly shop and other additions. I catch trout on Slate at will, in the dark, thru ice, hear them take my fly, etc. Spent the past 25 years honing my skills on central PA limestoners, and now both my fly-fishing skills and waistline are well-rounded.
I still frequent, as you put it, a "once popular forum hosted by a once popular fly shop" under the nom de plum of "eroc144." Midger or another RBF'r vouched for me a few years ago when I considered attending the Big Woods Summit, and I fish the stretch near the Rossiter lodge while escaping the dreaded in-laws when forced to do time in St Marys.
In short, I'm no one to be trifled with. ;^)
eroc - Well done. I challenge you to a One Fly - One Beer Contest at the Big Woods Summit. Just keep in mind that I can catch trout on a dry fly in the PF&BC assess parking lot at the Slate Run bridge.
Bring a tent as there is no room in the Lodge.
When I am forced to do time in St. Marys, I stop by the Eternal Tap to ease the pain.
First fished Slate Run in 1969 like a kid in a candy store. Deb had the store before Tom, the flatlander, arrived in Slate Run. Great place to to get a RC and a Moon Pie after turkey hunting. Used to fish Big Pine nearly daily in the 80's when my friend owned the Waterville Hotel. Nothing like eating Jan's World Famous Mountain Burger" and washing it down with a cold draft. Shirley Grenoble did a article on me and Pine Creek in some PA fishing magazine back when I was famous. Life will never be the same.
Chief – Many thanks for the invite to the BWS and for the challenge, which promises to be great sport. I spent last week pulling native brookies and trophy browns out of Manor, Francis, Mine Hole and Fahnestock, which were each pushing more water than Slate or Cedar do under “normal” flows. After last week at Slate and with next week reserved at Poe Paddy, my kin require my presence this weekend for our own backyard celebrations. It includes grilling, beer and tequila, so it will be righteous. I also promised to put a pool together for my daughter so don’t think it will be all fun & games.
You’re welcome to join me on Penn’s next week if you’re free. If not, consider the challenge accepted and on hold until our paths cross.
PS - One fly sounds interesting, One beer, however, is barbaric. Unless we can finangle a 72 oz haversack-mounted stein.
eroc - One Beer actually means that you must fish the entire time with one beer in hand. Hell if you can drink a case of Straub during the challenge that would be most entertaining. Seems one year Bowhunter challenged the Chief to such a contest and got his ass handed to him in an Igloo Cooler.
I can only plan a week at a time at my age but anytime you see a 1985 Chevy Van Jayco mini camper or a white GMC PU both with Straub license plates, the Chief ain't far away.
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