Thank you to everyone who added reports in the past. We are very excited to see so many people taking the time to give such great reports. Hopefully we will continue to grow in the future and give Pennsylvania Fly Fishermen a place to get the important up to date information they need to have a great year!
Add your report in the comment box below and please include:
- Stream or River:
- Date and Time of Day:
- Fish Hooked:
- Stream Conditions:
- Flies Observed and Used:
Went to spring today got two bows below bellefonte one was 24 inches probably a wash out from the park also fished above where bald eagle dumps in got 4 brown fish mostly favored egg patterns
FFO is Fly fishing only.
Perfect water at Spring Creek yesterday caught a few subsurface. Nice day to be out.
Went to Spring Creek by Shiloh Road in State College around 6pm and saw fish feeding on top of the water and from the air. Brown caddis flies were everywhere.
Caught six browns on spring creek last saturday, august fourth. Two took dry flies in the morning. The male trico and a tan midge is what they hit. There wasnt much of a trico hatch. I never even noticed one flying around or a dead one floting downstream. Later in the day the green weenie caught four.
does any one have any insite on how the little J is fishing? planning a trip this weekend Aug, 3 ?
thanks
Looks like it may be a good idea to have your Grannom caddis ammo ready for the first week in April this year
I figured they would be early – have you seen any?
not yet but signs look like a record early
Reports of great fishing on the lower Little Juniata early stones are here
Just started fly fishing. Need a little bit of addvice. Anything would help
Going to be coming across 80 on Wednesday afternoon. Never fished that area, but thought about hitting Fishing Creek, any suggestions?
I’ll be camping at Sinnamahoning St. Park next week. Any idea what the fishing will be like? Either on the lake or the First Fork?
Not good on the creek if it keeps raining but if the we get some days without rain it could be decent.
hey guys im just getting back into fly fishing and live in wexford pa im thinking about going down to pine creek near sample road and the railroad track im just wondering if its possible that ill have luck. What flies should i use what time and what will i catch if anything if you dont think ill have luck anywhere close i could go for luck thanks and i love the website
I’m glad you like the site. If we are talking about the same Pine Creek (Lycoming, Tioga Counties) I haven’t fished it since this spring. At that time it was lousy! Fishing should be starting to get a little better now that the days are cooler and the we are getting a little rain now and then. I would try to fish some catch and release creeks, a lot of times in hot dry summers the delayed harvest areas get picked over because the trout gather at cooler feeder streams and are easy to target. Good Luck!
You guys are not talking about the same Pine Creek. Anonymous, all of the fish died in Pine Creek this summer sometime around the end of June. You need to wait for a fall stocking in a few weeks from now.
Anonymous, I live in the area that you are speaking of. Drop me an e-mail if you would like some company on Pine Creek and I also hit the Erie tribs quite alot this time of year if you would like to go. This website is fantastic, I cannot wait to get up to the middle of PA for some fantastic fishing this spring.
Jon
jkachmar1@verizon.net
Thanks for the compliment on the site, it’s good to hear the work I have put into it is appreciated. I have been to Erie for steelies about five times this year myself. I never had any terrific days but manage to land a few each visit. Had a lot of tackle issues using bum leader and tippet and then the crystal clear water made the fishing tough. Pine Creek was a big dud this year – hardly any good hatches due to the flooding. It would be nice to catch it during prime conditions. I’ll keep your email handy for this spring.
I have Fly Fished for smallmouth on the Juniata for several years, just getting into Trout Fishing though. I am thinking of hitting the Little Juniata around Spruce Creek either this weekend or early next week.
Any advice as to what flies to use, places to fish/park?
Anything would be much appreciated.
I fished near Spruce Creek last year around this time with tricos and did well. You need to be on the water near day break – the tricos are often over by 9 am. Good Luck.
cant wait to check out the creek
Planning camping and fishing First Fork Sinnemahoning June 18, for a week. Might make some other stops. Is last week of June too late? Any fish left by then?
fished sinne yesterday, delayed harvest 2 of us caught 6, went to bait area’s caught 32 trout, 2 brookies, 2 browns and rest rainbows, 3 close to 15 inches long, beautiful colors..all caught on soft hackles and nymphs in fast water..I caught 7 nice rainbows in one fast riffle with pool behind rock..tan cdc nymph and hares ear soft hackle worked the best…soft hackle pheasant tail also caught me a few..everystop produced trout..below the dam also..water warming up..no hatches at all..couple mayflies…toads mating season, singing and mating everywhere..seen 2 bull elk on way over, 1 bear…and some deer..mink came up along the shoreline..great day..heat not bad..lots of shade …total trout 243 so far this year..all released.
Fishin Rich,thanks for the info hope it doesn’t get too warm till then. I’am not a dry purist yet but like artificials. Be camping there for that week.
mike email me, maybe we can hook up that week one day..huntdeer@pennswoods.net
Warning: don’t ever go to vermont trout fishing..king trout and i went to visit a friend in northern vermont, all reports from rivers/streams were excellent..Well, the worst trout fishing I ever experienced..no trout ….nice streams with great water..no fish..caught 3 small browns in one spot and kt caught 7total and 4 were little natives..nothing over 8in..Be thankfull that you live in pa..fished all over vermont very very dissappointed..only saw 3 deer in entire state and that was entering vermont and leaving..Nice scenery thats it..
came back to pa..fished Penns creek, Bald Eagle, Kinsua Creek, Kettle Creek,and east branch of clarion..Very poor fishing..I caught 18 and trout 24 , seen fish all over but wouldn’t hit good..streams with exception to bald eagle are ver low and clear..
Fished Penns Cr. near Coburn Sat. afternoon. got a few on woolybuggers. creeks were a lil high but not bad. Rain pm went to Spring and got a few on caddis. Sun. Bald Eagle. Lil high. got 5 on san juan worms. saw only 1 or 2 fish rise all evening. Hit Fishing Cr. Mon. fast water. got a few on hairs ear and a nice rainbow up near hatchery on a san juan worm. Again Mon. eve. very few fish rising on Bald Eagle. more on San Juan worms. Had a great time, Very friendly people everywhere. Beautiful scenery. Thanks to all for the info.
Considering a trip to Spring Creek this week. Any recent reports on fishing and hatches?
The fly fishing only section extends from fisherman’s paradise upstream a mile in the canyon.
heading out to Bald Eagle Creek/ Spring Creek Friday. How’s the creeks?
mark, could meet you there if you like, they were to high to fish last monday..but should be good this friday,, I am at exit 111 on 80..if you go by here
Anyone been fishing the Coudersport DHA?
Finally, heading east this weekend!!!! I want to hit Penns Creek for the first time. Any idea where I should start? A local flyshop or town?
I would hit the feathered hook in coburn. It’s going to be high and fast still
fished over the weekend with Kingtrout New Jersey, sandy lick, Little clearfield, Little J, twice..total 103 trout for both of us..only 4 caught on top in little j…all browns, sulphurs and cahills coming off sunday…k.t. caught 3 palaminos one 19 incher, all released..had a 20 incher break him off in sandylick and put on an arieal display 5 times out of the water..mostly all rainbows caught on double nymph rig with soft hackles and cdc flies..water still high and fast most creeks. went to Kinzua creek today with guy I graduated with 45 years ago, caught 15 on soft hackles..creek a little high..
After having the flu for a week I decided to go to First Fork for the evening spinner fall. I drove past project up to Austin hoping to have slower less deep water. Arrived in Austin about 6:20 and nothing happening on top. Water still very fast and deep. I threw on two big sinkers and a big nymph. Got snagged first cast and snapped rod in half trying to get snag out! Got back in truck headed for home. Almost got to town of Sinnemahoning and ran into worst storm I have ever seen. Funnel clouds, all kinds of debris in the air and trees three feet in diameter snapped in half like twigs all over the road. Spent the rest of the night stuck in between two downed trees and later clearing logs from the road. Rerouted 40 miles out of my way to get home. On a good note there were tons of PMD spinners in the air below Stevenson’s Dam. I didn’t realize this area got very good hatches. Five hours on the road for 2 minutes of fishing. Hope next week is better than this week!
After having the flu for a week I decided to go to First Fork for the evening spinner fall. I drove past project up to Austin hoping to have slower less deep water. Arrived in Austin about 6:20 and nothing happening on top. Water still very fast and deep. I threw on two big sinkers and a big nymph. Got snagged first cast and snapped rod in half trying to get snag out! Got back in truck headed for home. Almost got to town of Sinnemahoning and ran into worst storm I have ever seen. Funnel clouds, all kinds of debris in the air and trees three feet in diameter snapped in half like twigs all over the road. Spent the rest of the night stuck in between two downed trees and later clearing logs from the road. Rerouted 40 miles out of my way to get home. On a good note there were tons of PMD spinners in the air below Stevenson’s Dam. I didn’t realize this area got very good hatches. Five hours on the road for 2 minutes of fishing. Hope next week is better than this week!
My Buddy has a house right on Kettle creek, about a mile up stream from Cross Fork. We are coming up this weekend to do some fly fishing, has anyone heard how the hatching is? Thanks.
fished spring creek in the spring creek park , fished for an hour caught 8 browns biggest like 13 in,, mostly small ones had 2 nice ones get off probably around 13 inches also
Creeks were high in Potter Co. this past weekend. Shocking!!! Managed to get a few nice trout on bait in Portage Creek and First Fork near Costello tho. Saw a guy break a 3 wt. on a large Brown. oops. Lotsa fish in the streams, when you can get to them.
sunday fished little clearfield bait area, started with soft hackle pheasant tail combo, first nice hole hooked a 12 inch rainbow in riffles, colored up nice..saw a big palamino in riffles but vainished, about 5th cast indicator went under and set, out jumps the biggest palamino i ever hooked ,3 ft out of water if i had a net i could have caught it, jumped again and gone..all in 2 seconds, only ever caught 3 of them in my life and all under 12 inches..this was 20 inches at least..caught 7 more trout in that hole..creek high but very fishable..ended up with 10 , all released..9 bows, 1 brook..
Monday…redbank….fishing tough..6 in 4 hours..real small stuff..size 22..nymphs..
Fished Penns on Friday May 13th and Saturday the 14th. Caught quite a few, mainly on a March Brown #12 or #14. Water pressure was really strong, so weight was added to help get to the bottom where the fish are feeding. They were not very active, maybe because of how cold the water is.
Anyone have any idea of the drake activity
Finally! Im goin to fish First Fork in Costello next weekend. I will post how I did. Im looking forward to the following week. Heading out near Bellefonte area. What should I expect to hatch? Ive never fished there before. Im staying near Bald Eagle and Spring Creeks.
My best guess would be Sulphurs, Caddis and Crane Flys in that order. First Fork should be getting real good if it isn’t blown out after this week.
I got a chance to fish First Fork last night – before the rain came. Not much surface action going on when I arrived around 6:30. There were a lot of march brown spinners hovering above the stream so I tied on a march brown dun and started blind casting to spots that may hold fish. Within five minutes I had a large rainbow on. He managed to shake the hook after three or four minutes of fighting. I managed to entice six more within the next two hours and had about thirty bumps and looks. The march brown spinners never fell. I also saw a lot of green caddis and just before dark a small (around size 16-18) white mayfly hatching. I put a cahill on and had some looks but no takers. Water condition was very nice (240 cfs, 4.94′).
I fished the Little J with a buddy last night. It was his first time to witness a big hatch. Unfortunately where we were there wasn’t a huge hatch (B-ham Pike and Spruce Creek). We did get a lot of action right at dark. I couldn’t see anything on the water but I landed on of the most beautiful Brown Trout of my life on a sulphur emerger! I have caught bigger fish but not many as nice as this heavy 17 incher. Not much action the rest of the night. Water levels looking good and warming a little.
Fished little J. near tipton today with my buddie, no hatch at all coming off..worked hard to catch 5 each..tan cdc and pt nymphs size 18 down deep..no fish rising at all, creek very nice..from there went to Black Moshannon, buddie caught 3 and i missed one..lots of moss in stream..
I arrive next Saturday to fish for 5 days any grey fox action? Last year it was so warm we missed most of the spring hatches.
Anyone on first fork lately? looking to swing by on my way up north tomorrow.
Anyone know how First Fork is fishing? I am heading up through on Friday and was hoping to get a report. Did the March Browns start yet?
Thanks
I wanted to try this weekend too. Not sure what is going on, the water levels seem to be getting pretty good and the Sulphurs should be on. If I were betting I would guess another week for gray fox. I would really appreciate a comment back after your visit. Thanks.
Went to fish sulphers last night – 4:30 – 8. conditions seem great but only caught 4 on caddis. Sulphers hatching
Where were you fishing? _
section near Baree
I fished the Little J near Spruce Creek last night. It was a good night the water level was still high and fast (2.9′ 480 cfs) in spots but manageable. There were a lot of Sulphurs in the air when I arrived around 6 and they got heavier until dark. Trout were rising here and there at first and then more consistently near dark. I had equal success on Sulphur duns, emergers and pheasant tail nymph. Water was still very cold. Trout must be hungry, they were hitting hard.
Thanks ! I’m going there tomorrow.
Let us know how you do. I am planning on being there Thursday.
Fished several spots (upstream from the USGS gauge at Spruce Creek) on the Litle J yesterday (5/11) from 12:30 until dark.Caught 2 on caddis pupae at about 1:30. Caught 2 on Sulphurs at about 7:00. No real Sulphur action until 8:30 and it lasted about 15-20 minutes. Mangaed to catch 5 or 6 on Sulphur duns #14 and # 16 during that time. Caddis were on the water for a while and I was able to move a few fish, but no takers. A few fish actually jumped out of the water at my caddis.
My sister lives in Bellfonte. Going to visit May 7-10.Hope to get in some time on Spring creek. What flys will be advisable to take?I am from Greene County, Pa. Not many fly fishing areas here. Also where would be a good area to start?
Almost all of Spring is good but I would fish the Benner Springs section first just because it will be easy to get to and it is very woodsy natural setting. If you are in Bellefonte you definitely want to give the Paradise a shot too, which is closer to Bellefonte than State College. If you are looking to fish drys there may be some Sulphurs and Crane flys. If you are nymphing than Spring is loaded with Cress bugs and fresh water shrimp and if the Sulphurs are hatching I would definately have a lot of pheasant tails. Be sure to post again I would love to hear how you do and what you think of Spring Creek.
Go to Fishermans Paradise. Very nice water there and big fish too. Stop by the local TCO or Fly Fishermans before you go out and ask them about the hatches. I have not fished Spring yet this year but this is a great time of year up there. The TCO shop is on Benner Pike on the way to State College from Bellefonte. It sits on the left down in a dip right before a Sheetz gas station. You cant miss it. Flyfishersmans is a little harder to find. It is on the same road just past the mall behind the Long John Silvers. Both of these places have very great guys that will be more than happy to answer your questions.
Fishing Penns creek. Tons of black caddis. Trout taking hendrickdon emergers
brad, did you fish near poe paddy? how was the clarity? sounds like the grannoms are still around.
Lovetofish23,
Sorry about the delay, I attempted to reply a few times through new smartphone but apparently it wasn’t very smart. I fished near Coburn the other night. The caddis that I was seeing were Grannoms. They weren’t on extremely heavy but there were some pretty good clouds. I also saw some Grannoms still in there cases. The water clarity was actually pretty good Monday but I’m sure it’s still blown out now. Upper Penn’s was fast and high before we got a ton of rain. The trout were actually more keyed in on the few Hendricksons emerging and then at dusk a few Red Quill spinners dropping.
Fished blacky and six mile this week. Water levels good. Alot of hungry trout. Just waitin for levels to go down on other creeks.
wondered if anyone has had decent grannom experiences on bfc/penns. i have yet to see the grannoms and planned a trip for wedn thurs this week up that way. worried about the levels though,any thoughts would be appreciated. thanks
I had planned to fish them Thursday or Friday as well. I talked with the guy at Feathered Hook in Coburn this past Friday and he only saw a couple Grannoms. They generally begin hatching when the Forsythia starts to bloom. My Forsythia bushes just started – I am thinking late this week should be good for Grannoms in the morning and evening and Hendrickson during the day. Right now Penn’s is completely blown out! I don’t know if it will be down enough to fish by the end of the week. I have a USGS link on the main site as well as conditions that I look for before making the trip.
thanks for the reply, much appreciated, will continue to look at the weather,
it is nice to have a wet spring,, just wish it wasnt soooo wet
hey fellow fly rodders planning on going to firstfork this saterday has any one had any recent success if so would love to here about it
I fished Spring Creek this weekend – still pretty high and fast. Did see some BWO 18 and a few caddis16. Only a couple fish rising.
what is the ideal cfs flow for the kettle and does anyone know if it going to be good come this weekend?
If you look on the main site CentralPAFlyFishing.com and then click on Kettle Creek there is a section for stream conditions about 3/4 down the page it will give you a description of what to look for and a link to USGS to see what current conditions are. It’s not looking too great right now but these values are just suggestions. Good Luck!
but what is the ideal flow for the creek to fish?
I like it from 200 to 300 CFS. It’s 500 right now and will be on the rise tomorrow if we get the rain we are suppose to.
FLY FISHING ONLY
oops. I meant Fishing Creek, not Penns.
thanks for the comments. I will have to check out Fishing and Penns Creek. I fished a Penns Creek out near LightStreet near Bloomsburg,last year on my way back from NJ. Nice Creek. Caught some nice fish on Buggers in May
I fished Black Moshannon and Spring Creek on Saturday 3/26/11. Couldn’t find any fish in Blacky! I guess the delayed harvest section stocking was delayed. Didn’t have a lot of time on Spring it was still high and fast right around 3′ and 240 CFS. No surface action. Caught a small but legal Brown on a 16 Hares Ear. Very cold! Guides were icing up on Blacky!
Hello, I am planning on fishing the Bald Eagle, Black Moshannon and Spring Creeks in early June. I am seeking info on fishing these streams for the first time. Are they any different than fishing the Sinnemahoning in Potter Co? Im thinking of fishing Milesburg area. PS. i am hoping to fish mostly dries. thank you
All three streams are a lot different than Sinnemahoning. Blacky is tiny in comparison and I would stick to the project water if I were going in June – the whole experience may take 4 hours. Spring Creek is about twice the width of Blacky and will hold a lot more trout but it receives a lot of fishing pressure which makes catching big trout on dries difficult. Spring is also a limestone stream which will keep it a more consistent temp and water level in June. Bald Eagle is put and take but you should find fish in the Milesburg area. You may want to give Penn’s or Fishing Creek a shot too. Some of the best flyfishing I have done in June has been on these two streams. Good Luck! Let us know how you make out.
Mark Black Moshannon is terrific creek. I grew up about 1 mile away and have been on it with a fly rod for 42 years beginning at age 8. Contrary to what I read on these blogs the stream has an excellent holdover rate. Yes it is different that sinemahoning. The best dry fly you can use on that stream would be a Royalwullf with non white tail in size 10 or 12. You will find the trout almost always very near the edge so when casting to the far side you need to work it in as close as a foot from the edge. There are so many good stretches I wouldn’t know which one to pick but a usually good producer is the stretch from the I-80 bridges up to violet ray camp. fish the very small pools around rocks and you will be surprised. avoid the delayed harvest area at all costs. It used to be one of the nicest stretches until they made it “delayed harvest” and now it is fished hard by what appears to be mannequins from cabelas and orvis, although downstream from the huckleberry bridge to the CLR camp. Blacky is a tough stream and can leave you thinking there are no trout left from stocking and nothing could be farther from the truth you just have to know where to find them. best time at that time of the year would be from 7 am till noon it is and always has been and early morning stream… use the wullf in 10 or 12 as I said and you will do fine….
Fished Spring Creek today from 2:00 to 4:00. Pretty high and fast but definitely fishable (3.0′ and 250 CFS). Caught one on 14 Hares Ear, had a few more grabs. No surface action at all. A few midges in the air.
Today(3/15/2011) was a beautiful morning and decided to skip a few classes to head out to the FFO on Spring Creek. The water was up a little bit but still had good color to it. I got there around lunch time and didn’t see any fish rising till about 3 o’clock when I was leaving. I caught 6 fish plus hooked up on a few more with a sz 14 flashback tan scud. Thats the only nymph I had any luck with today.
What is the FFO?