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The class typically takes place on Oil Creek, in Venango County, and includes casting, presentation, using indicators and more. It’s largely intended for those who have taken a Trout 101 class or have some fly-fishing experience.
Lunch, a fly assortment, and a tackle assortment are provided with class. Cost is $100, which must be paid by April 27.
Class size is limited; early registration is recommended.
A Sunday drive through Oil Creek State Park turned up six white-tailed deer, including a beautiful and alarmingly brave buck, as well as a ring-necked pheasant, three common mergansers, a couple belted kingfishers and dozens of blue jays and dark-eyed juncos.
But this guy stole the show:
This male ruffed grouse either believed our car was a female or it simply liked showing off. It used about 2 full minutes to cross a one-lane road just feet in front of the car, in full display most of the time. It couldn’t have walked more slowly if it was dragging a Olympic weight.
Two juvenile Bald Eagles at Oil Creek State Park usually are willing to pose for photos if you catch them out and about near their haunt at the ice dam on the south end of the park.
One of my favorite haunts is Oil Creek State Park, where my wife and I happened to spend much of Sunday afternoon.
An early afternoon storm left northwestern Pennsylvania overcast and gloomy for most of the day, but when the clouds cleared out we were left with a glorious few hours of perfect summer weather.
The gorgeous view of Oil Creek from Miller Farm Road Bridge. Imagine an American Bald Eagle soaring overhead and toward the hills in the distance.
Miller Farm Road Bridge.
If I had a camera instead of an iPhone you’d be able to see that the stick figure in the middle of the photo is a Green Heron on the hunt. It nabbed a crayfish from a behind a rock with lightning speed.
The instruction continues Saturday with the Trout 201 class on the water at Petroleum Center in Oil Creek State Park Learn about casting, fly choice and more. The 201 course cost is $50. Make sure to bring a lunch, waders and your license.
To register for either course, call the shop at (814) 833-4040 or send an e-mail to Steve@ShopUltimateAngler.com.
Neshannock Creek Fly Shop in Volant also is among the participating Orvis partners in Pennsylvania. Contact the store for information.
Getting started in fly fishing can be a daunting challenge, even for those who have a real taste for the outdoors.
Mike Laskowski, owner of Oil Creek Outfitters near Titusville and a certified casting instructor, will lead beginners through the particulars with a Fly Fishing 101 session April 3 from 9 a.m. to noon at Oil Creek State Park, Venango County.
Laskowski will cover rods, reels, flies and gear. Bring your own rod and reel and dress for the weather. Registration fee is $10 per person. Only seven openings are available.
For information, or to register, call Robin Baker at (814) 6767-5915 or e-mail oilcreeksp@state.pa.us.
Oil Creek gave up few fish this weekend — to me, anyway — but delivered on every other front, as always.
If you’re going to Oil Creek, then you’re all but committed to stopping at Oil Creek Outfitters for Mike Laskowski’s stream updates and tips (BWOs are coming, if they’re not coming off already). Be sure to ask Mike about his Cape Cod striper trip. His photos are must-sees.
The DHALO areas were stocked Oct. 5, and big trout were feeding just below the surface in the southern section, but little would coax them to feed up top. Nymphs and streamers had little effect that day.
Leaves and green crab apples litter the ground at Petroleum Center, the starting point for so many adventures in Oil Creek State Park. The skies were full, too: Two bald eagles twisted in a midair ballet well up the ridge, and a couple hours later a sleek osprey hunted a stretch of stream from a leafbare tree. I’d have given it the single smalllmouth bass I caught, but that 2-incher went through ordeal enough just by taking my Adams. And it probably had to dodge the kingfisher that patrolled the valley a bit later yet in the day.
At the Russell Corners Road-Burns Lane intersection, a feeding buck wandered just far enough into the forest cover to believe he was out of sight. He wasn’t, and his face and rack, framed in the boughs, made a memorable photo.
A moment later, a wild turkey jumped the ditch and raced ahead of the car down Russell Corners Road, disappearing into a mess of leaves on the other side of the road.
Those moments, plus fishing in shirtsleeves in October and driving home in a sunset that painted Route 8 pink, more than made up for a trout-free day.
I usually find fair weather, finicky trout, plentiful wildlife and a relaxing time at Oil Creek State Park in Venango County.
On Sunday, I found fairest weather, disinterested trout, two Garter snakes — and a wading staff.
If the staff is yours, call me at (814) 870-1704 or e-mail me at matt.martin@timesnews.com with a description or the staff and where in the park you last had it. We’ll figure out a way to get it back to you.
