Steelhead
Winter Egg Patterns
Fly
Fishing Adventures
My
Grandfather's Water|
The West Canada Creek | |
 #6 Black Stonefly |
"When the water receded to 200 cfs around 5pm March 19th, I landed two beauties(one around 18") in the trophy section using #6 black stoneflies fished at the head of a pool. Sunset was around 6:30pm." Matt Chapple |
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The lower
portion of the West Canada from Trenton Falls flowing south through
a picturesque valley to the Mohawk River at Herkimer is Central New York's
premier trout stream. Map of West Canada It offers everything a fly-fisher could dream. It has deep pools, long runs, classic riffle water, large brown trout, and excellent aquatic insect populations. There is a year round fishery now. |
| The section from
Trenton falls to the mouth of Cincinnati Creek is open year round, catch
and release and only artificial lures may be used.
The West Canada has excellent populations of stoneflies. During the winter months, fishing stonefly nymphs sizes #6 to #12 will produce fish. Excellent Hatches of caddis and mayflies start in the spring and continue throughout the summer and into the fall. Hatches start with some Quill Gordons (Epeorus pleuralis) in April, but the hatches become heavier in May with the emergence of the Hendricksons (Ephemerella subvaria). There are a variety of mayfly hatches and excellent caddis hatches throughout the season well into the autumn. Be prepared with Elk Hair Caddis with green, tan, or gray bodies. Caddis emergers and pupa are also good patterns at times when hatches are heavy and fish selectively feed on ascending caddis. Comparaduns and sparkle duns are good patterns for mayfly hatches. Some exciting hatches are the Golden Drakes (Potamanthus distinctus) in July, the White Fly (Ephoron leukon) in August and September, and Blue Winged Olives (Ephemerella attenuata) in the autumn. When fish are not surface feeding, nymphs and streamers will also take fish. Prince Nymphs, Stonefly imitations, Woolly Buggers, and streamers with a touch of yellow or chartreuse are effective. Access to the West Canada Creek is very good. Route 28 follows along the creek for the entire stretch and provides numerous access points. The West Canada Creek is subject to releases from the dam. A water level of 900 cfs is fishable, but levels from 500 to 600 are preferred. During the season after spring run-off water levels will typically change once per day. A toll free number has been established detailing the water releases (1-800-452-1742 site code# 365124). If the water gets too high while you are fishing upstream, get in your car and head down stream. The water flows at about four miles per hour. Hopefully your car can travel much faster. | |
