According to a quick Internet search, apparently no single individual is credited with coining the phrase “timing is everything.” I’d offer, however, that the person might have been an angler, one that pursues trout in particular.

Hitting a stream when it’s in prime fishing condition can significantly up your odds of having an action packed day. Thanks to readily available host of online resources — accessible on your personal computer, tablet, even smart phone — it’s never been more likely to time things right.

Though “prime” conditions might differ from stream to stream, in general most fish best when they have a nice flow and are a bit off-color, conditions that typically occur after a period of moderate rain, particularly the freestone streams found in our area. How quickly a creek clears following a period of rain is largely dependent on the surrounding land use. Ones that drain farming or otherwise developed land take longer to clear off than those in largely forested settings. Limestone-fed streams like ones found in portions of central and eastern Pennsylvania are far less affected precipitation.

When your intended target is a small mountain stream that drains off quickly and clears within a couple of days — one that supports a Class A population of wild trout — getting the timing right is even more focused.

So it was recently when weather forecasters predicted anywhere from a half to an inch of rain Thursday night across much of Western Pennsylvania. Saturday’s forecast called for high winds along with a mix of rain and snow. Fishing a lake or large river didn’t seem a wise option. If the predicted rain happened, the area’s special regulations trout waters would probably still be dirty, as these larger streams take a few days to clear. And of course standard stocked trout waters remain off-limits until the season opener later this month. But the timing could be just right for an unstocked smaller stream in a mountain/forested setting.

Around lunchtime on Friday I fired up my laptop and opened up the weather program “Weatherunderground.” While the predicted heavy rain hadn’t happened in my area I was anxious to see what had occurred to the north. In the “search map” prompt I typed in the name of a town in my targeted area, bringing up the weather for that general area. From there I clicked on the Nexrad radar map, opening up that option. The Nexrad map shows current weather along with the option to animate the most recent 30 minutes. There’s also a “total precipitation” option which shows — via color-coded bands — total rainfall during the past 24 hours, the information I was seeking. By zooming in to the exact small drainage I could see it had received from .4 to .6 inches of rain, suggesting the potential for excellent conditions the following Saturday.

The stream I had in mind requires about a mile hike to reach, not all that far, but the last quarter mile is quite a steep descent. So it’s an effort, one where you hope you’re not greeted with a too low/too clear stream to fish well. The invitational email message to my friend Dave Keith included a disclaimer, one noting the risk of trusting the technology. The true adventurer, he suggested we go ahead with it.

6:30 Saturday evening found is sitting on the truck’s tailgate munching well-earned sandwiches following outing, one that all-told covers about five miles. The stream was perfect, the rain and snow held off until we started home, and the trout cooperated well. It was a trip we might not have made without reasonable confidence the creek would be in good shape.

Crappie fishing seminar will highlight special techniques —  A free crappie fishing seminar will be offered on Thursday, May 19, 2016, at the Reynolds VFW in Transfer, Pennsylvania. The VFW is located just off Rt. 18 at 115 Edgewood Drive Ext. 

 Scheduled to begin at 7 p.m., the seminar will be held in the Pavilion adjacent to the VFW hall. The large parking has room for vehicles with boat trailers, thereby allowing anglers who may be getting off local lakes to go directly to the seminar.  

 Presentations will be offered by crappie fishing experts representing several tackle companies. These pro-staff members are in the area for the 2016 PA Crappie Camp — an outdoor media event hosted by both Crawford County Convention & Visitors Bureau and Visit Mercer County PA tourism. After fishing Pymatuning Lake and Shenango River Lake for three days, pro-staff anglers will explain how to apply special techniques to local waters at the Thursday evening public seminar.

 Scheduled topics are “Spider Rigging” (a multiple pole, slow-troll technique); “Single Pole Dipping” (shallow cover presentation); “Dock Shootin’” (technique to slingshot baits into hard to reach areas); “Advanced Float Fishing” (tips on effective applications of bobbers); and “Getting the Most Out of Marine Electronics.” 

 Speakers include Dan Dannenmueller, pro crappie tournament fisherman and publisher of Crappie Now online magazine; TJ Stallings, Marketing Director at TTI Blakemore Fishing Group and co-founder of Crappie Now magazine; Mark McQuown, regional sales manager for Garmin Electronics; and Darl Black, local guide and editor of the NW PA Fishing Report. Also available to answer crappie fishing questions will be representatives from Driftmaster Rod Holders, Bobby Garland Crappie Baits, B’n’M Rods, and Gamma Fishing Line. 

 There is no charge to attend the seminar. However seating is limited in the VFW 

Pavilion and individuals must obtain a ticket in advance of the seminar. Free tickets may be picked up during normal business hours at Crawford County Convention & Visitors Bureau, 16709 Conneaut Lake Road, Meadville, or at Visit Mercer County PA, 50 North Water Ave., Sharon. Tickets are also available at many of the bait and tackle shops in the Pymatuning Lake, Shenango Lake and Lake Wilhelm area. 

Jeff Knapp is an outdoors columnist for the Butler Eagle.