I've been wanting to check this place out for a couple years now. I'd driven by looking for an access before, but never found one. There was a spot on the creek that drains it that was a potential put in but the State was repairing the bridge and there was no access for a couple years. I had googled it to get some info, but unbeknown to me, the info I got was for another Long Pond. Needless to say what I found was different from what I had expected.
This part I did expect. After poling up the creek, Tunkhannok Creek which had a good volume of water, it turned marshy and shallow. What I didn't expect was it never turned into a pond that was deep enough to fish. I thought the trip was a bust but I kept going upstream hoping I would find a reason that would make me want me to return. It was scenic with lots of wildlife. There were lots of herons, I saw lots of deer close up, one bear and possibly heard another one busting through the brush. I also saw an osprey and a small otter.
The only development that I saw was a few deer stands and a couple duck hunting blinds.
After almost two miles of the shallow multi channeled pond it turned back into a mostly single channel creek. This is where I surprised the deer and saw the bear. The water also got deep enough for good navigation and eventually I came across some deep holes that looked like they would hold fish. I was hoping to get as far as the creek was navigable before turning back. I was familiar with this upstream end of the creek from the times I'd driven around looking for the access. Where it crossed the road it was white water but looked floatable. I wasn't sure if I could make it upstream, but would have been happy just to reach to fast water. After five miles I could hear traffic and soon saw a vehicle on the road ahead. I could have tried to keep going but it was 7pm and I had five mile to get back to the truck. I usually don't mind getting back after dark but I was concerned about shallow water and getting mixed up it the wrong channel. I was also concerned with the precarious situation at the take out. Because of the current and sharp rocks I knew it wasn't going to be easy.
This was the turnaround point. I rigged up my spinning rod with a small spinner to see if those deep holes held any fish. I didn't have much time to spare for fishing and because of my haste I got my line tangled and didn't fish long. I did manage to catch a chub and miss a couple others. I suspect the holes held trout, possibly big ones because there is at least one private trout fishing spot upstream and I think very few people get to this spot.
I enjoyed a lovely sunset, found a better channel than I did on the way in and was happy when I got back to the truck at 8:50pm. I was able to avoid landing on the sharp rocks in the current by dragging the boat over the brush. For a trip that I thought was going to be a bust, it turned out pretty good. After discovering that the pond had no real recreational value now I know why there is no access to it. It turned out to be a perfect spot for someone with a canoe and a sense of adventure, I'll be back.
This part I did expect. After poling up the creek, Tunkhannok Creek which had a good volume of water, it turned marshy and shallow. What I didn't expect was it never turned into a pond that was deep enough to fish. I thought the trip was a bust but I kept going upstream hoping I would find a reason that would make me want me to return. It was scenic with lots of wildlife. There were lots of herons, I saw lots of deer close up, one bear and possibly heard another one busting through the brush. I also saw an osprey and a small otter.
The only development that I saw was a few deer stands and a couple duck hunting blinds.
After almost two miles of the shallow multi channeled pond it turned back into a mostly single channel creek. This is where I surprised the deer and saw the bear. The water also got deep enough for good navigation and eventually I came across some deep holes that looked like they would hold fish. I was hoping to get as far as the creek was navigable before turning back. I was familiar with this upstream end of the creek from the times I'd driven around looking for the access. Where it crossed the road it was white water but looked floatable. I wasn't sure if I could make it upstream, but would have been happy just to reach to fast water. After five miles I could hear traffic and soon saw a vehicle on the road ahead. I could have tried to keep going but it was 7pm and I had five mile to get back to the truck. I usually don't mind getting back after dark but I was concerned about shallow water and getting mixed up it the wrong channel. I was also concerned with the precarious situation at the take out. Because of the current and sharp rocks I knew it wasn't going to be easy.
This was the turnaround point. I rigged up my spinning rod with a small spinner to see if those deep holes held any fish. I didn't have much time to spare for fishing and because of my haste I got my line tangled and didn't fish long. I did manage to catch a chub and miss a couple others. I suspect the holes held trout, possibly big ones because there is at least one private trout fishing spot upstream and I think very few people get to this spot.
I enjoyed a lovely sunset, found a better channel than I did on the way in and was happy when I got back to the truck at 8:50pm. I was able to avoid landing on the sharp rocks in the current by dragging the boat over the brush. For a trip that I thought was going to be a bust, it turned out pretty good. After discovering that the pond had no real recreational value now I know why there is no access to it. It turned out to be a perfect spot for someone with a canoe and a sense of adventure, I'll be back.
