Rain Swells Neshaminy Creek But Anglers Persist

The 2017 trout season opened in Bucks County on Saturday, but despite the anglers’ enthusiasm, mother nature wasn’t feeling so great.

Rain hit the area hard for most of Friday and when it came time to let loose the lines on Saturday morning, there was gusty winds and minor flooding in some areas.

John Karabian is an angler who lives in Richboro, about five minutes away from the Tyler State Park spot along the Neshaminy Creek that he settled into Saturday morning. He was one of the last anglers to stay out in the Newtown Township section of the park. Most others gave up due to wind, rushing waters and little luck catching fish.

Out of the anglers Karabian spoke with on Saturday morning, no one caught a fish, he said.

“When you get this rushing water, it’s tough,” Karabian said.

Usually, according to Karabian, the spot is ideal. It is not too crowded and people catch trout.

On the bank of the Levittown Lake in Tullytown, Bob, John, Fred and another Bob were fishing. The group spoke with Levittownnow.com last year, when Fred caught a 21 and a half inch golden rainbow trout. 

“It’s just tradition, you know?” said one of the Bob.

The trio has been coming together and separately to the lake for years and years. Since 1996, they have kept track of the angler with the biggest catch on a plaque.

After a couple of minutes of standing around and chatting, John’s rod bent and he was pulling in a rainbow trout. The guys have seen all types of weather, including strong winds and rains, but they always turn out.

“Whatever happens, we know to meet here on the opening day of trout,” one of the men said.

The guys argue that they could go somewhere else to catch more fish, but keep coming back to Levittown Lake for the tradition.

“We’re traditionalists, we come here because that’s what we do,” John said.