Semper on the Fly: Davis Fish Camp

Jack and Matt swing streamers at the Wers Hole in Club Waters on the Tobyhanna

I'd been looking forward to a return trip to little-blue-trout streams of Potter County for a year. Its a first week of June trip, but when I checked-in Jack Davis who's been fishing these waters for 50+ years reported the water was running too high for good fishing so we changed our plans and set our sights on the Northern Poconos and the Davis family fish camp.

small stream trout on a hidden gem stream

The 'Camp' is nestled on the side of a hill which slopes down to the Lehigh River about 300 yards away. It's just south of the Town of White Haven. I'd heard Bryan talk about the Camp and fishing in their club waters for years so I was thrilled to be invited along. We'd all arrived Sunday afternoon and decided to head out to scout some waters.

Bryan upstream in the Delayed Harvest Section of the Tobyhanna

Jack and Bryan recounted old stories and let me in on a few secret spots and access points. We ended the eve sitting on a picnic table at their private club water watching trout rise to an evening hatch on the Tobyhanna. Day 2 the first fishing day, with waters high but falling we decided to hit a small stream in one of the neighboring state parks. If you want to get their you'll have to tag along with us next time as Jack asked me not to name it.

Its a small stream, Rapidan sized, meandering through a valley. Jack and Bryan fished down stream swinging streamers with wetflys and dropped above the streamer fromt he main line on light long rods. I fished upstream with my usual dry dropper combo after I noted one trout slurp a fly during our walk-in.

I didn't count trout but we all caught enough to augment the beautiful warm day. We ended day one fishing the delayed Harvest section of the Upper Tobyhanna. Jack scouted and Bryan and I followed in his trace looking for rising trout. We found a few and made the night worthwhile.

As a cautionary tail, as frequently happens, the rise was the best as the dark settled into the valley and we nearly had a adventure getting out! We were all looking forward to day 2 which we'd decided to spend on Blakeslee Club waters on the Tobyhanna. We had the club waters to ourselves early and started swinging flies into the tannin-brown waters. The holding water and feeding seams were old friends to Jack and Bryan and I became more knowledgeable reading the water.

After picking up a few smallies on a golden retriever I switched to a green bugger w tagged wetflies above it and bows and browns came to hand. I was fishing a 9'3" 5wt Spring Creek from the Original Superfine series and it nearly doubled over, a shock-absorber against the fight of the trout. During the morning Jack was fishing above me just before lunch and I helped/watched him land a handomse 19-20" brook trout.

Jack -- fish-on -- the large brookie you see below!

He thought it was probably breeder stocked into the river by the club upstream. Wowsa what a fish, it'd grown so much the char in it was obvious. After admiring it we slipped it back into the 66 degree water to make someone's day. Lunch was an unexpected treat as we feasted on a local cheesesteak variant from Antonios in White Haven. Antonios slathers a bit of marinara sauce in their sub for a delicious meld of streak, cheese and sauce...man it was good.

Bryan on the Toby

Jack and Bryan took it a bit easy during the afternoon, eyes may have closed for a piece and I went exploring deeper into club waters with steady action for 12-14" bows and browns. As evening approached we all got a bit excited as a few other club members joined us for the anticipated evening hatch. The hatch wasn't heavy but a few march browns and sulphurs were in the air and the trout began to rise to a few on the water and some spinners (I think) in the film.

Size 12 march brown tied by Jack

We separated on the river hunting rises but were soon drawn together in the Weis Pool as that seemed to have the moist activity. Trout came steadily to well drifted size 12 and 14 march brown dry flies. I even caught several on a size 14 Mr. Rapidan Parachute which with its yellow parachute was visible later into the dwindling light. What a treat to have those trout materialize from the depths and take your dry on the surface! Thanks to Bryan and Jack for including me on their home club waters.