Places to Fly Fish

Places to Fly Fish in Pennsylvania and Delaware

www.flyfisher.com    Flyfisher.com

www.muddycreektu.org    Muddy Creek

www.tcoflyfishing.com/1sc_home.cfm    Tulpehoken Creek

http://pfbc.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=bd4e40226dd949a2b1bbf9a2a38c3314

Dave Panichelle – Wild Trout Streams

Streams within one hour of South Jersey:

Although a number of streams have wild trout in them, there is but one major stream worth fishing within this distance. Valley Creek in and above Valley Forge National Park is a class “A” wild brown trout stream. It is limestone in chemistry but freestone in character. From interstate 95 take I476N (Blue Route) to I76W to 202 S to 252 N into the Valley Forge National Park.

Streams, two hours of South Jersey:

There are a number of really great wild trout streams within this distance; limestone, freestone and tailwater.

In Pennsylvania:

Lehigh and Northampton Counties:

Little Lehigh, near Allentown, Cedar Run near Domey Park in Allentown, Monacacy in Bethlehem, Saucon in Hellertown, Bushkill creek in Easton. All have good populations of wild browns, both in and out of the special regulation areas. To reach Little Lehigh take 1476 (Blue Route) and Northeast extension of the PA turnpike to Lehigh Valley exit. Take 22 E for approximately 1 mile to 309 S. Take 309 S for 4 miles to 29 S (Cedar Crest Blvd). Follow 29 S to Fish Hatchery Road (left turn). Puts you in the catch and release area.

Monacacy:

1476 N to 22 E for approximately 11 miles to Centre Ave.exit (Bethlehem) go left onto Centre Ave toward Bethlehem. You immediately cross the Monacacy at the upper end of the catch and release area.

Cedar Run:

Very small stream. 1476 N to 22 E approx. 2.5 miles to Cedar Crest Blvd South. Go approx. 1.5 miles to a park where Cedar Crest crosses the stream.

Saucon:

1476 to 22 E approx. 1 mile to 309 S to 78 E. Take78 E for approx. 13 miles to 412 at Hellertown. Meet the stream in a country park or upstream.

Bushkill:

1476 N to 22 E for approx. 21 miles to 13th Street exit at Easton. Make left onto 13th street, go 200 yards to lower end of catch and release area.

Berks County {Reading Area):

The most noted trout stream in this area is the<u>Tulpehocken which is a tailwater and also a limestone stream. Although it doesn’t have stream bred wild trout, I included it here because all the trout stocked are stocked as fingerlings and grow up wild. “Tully” trout are some of the hardest fighting fish around. The stream has great fly hatches as well. From Del. Mem. Br. take 1295 S to 141 N to 41 N approx. 18 miles to Route 10 N to I-176N to 422W to Paper Mill Rd. (right). This will bring you to the middle of the delayed harvest area. From Corn. Barry Br, take 95N to 476N to76W to PA. Turnpike West.  Take turnpike to the Morgantown exit. Take 176N to 422W to Paper Mill Rd.

There are many other small streams in Berks County, both limestone and freestone with  both wild browns and brookies. Refer to “Trout Streams of PA” by Dwight Landis or  “PA Limestone Streams” by Joe Armstrong.

Cumberland County (Carlisle Area):

The Letort, Greenspring, and Big Spring all have browns and brookies, the Letort being the best. The Yellow Breeches has some wild fish but most are stocked and fished over  very hard. There are numerous other spring creeks in the area sito qui. Do some exploring.

Lancaster County:

Donegal Springs near Mt. Joy relies on stocked trout but more and more wild trout are showing up each year. Lancaster Co. also has some tiny native brookie streams, most of them freestone without names. Explore around the Quarryville area south of Strasburg.

 

York County:

Muddy Creek and Codorus Creek.

Lebanon County:

Quittipahilla and Tulpehocken.

Schuvlkill County:

Little Schuylkill and tributaries of the Schuylkill River.

In Maryland:

The Gunpowder Falls River, below Prettyboy Reservoir, is a great tailwater stream with brown and brook trout. The Gunpowder is bisected by 183 north of Baltimore.

 

Streams within 3 hours of South Jersey:

 

In Pennsylvania:

 

Franklin County:

Falling Spring Branch is one of the best and most famous streams in the east. Famous for it’s large wild rainbows, this is one of my favorites. There are also many more good wild trout streams all over Franklin Co.. Check your books. Take PA turnpike to the Carlisle exit. Take Rt. 1 IN approx. 1.5 miles to 18 IS to Rt. 30E at Chambersburg.Take 30E for only 100 yds.,make a right onto Falling Spring Rd.

 

Lackawanna Co.( Scranton):

The Lackawanna River is a revived trout stream, polluted for years by acid mine drainage. Now the very coal mines that once polluted it are providing the icy water that turned the river into a class A wild trout stream. Take 181 north of Scranton to Rt. 347N approx. 4.5 miles to the special regs. area.

 

Mifflin County:

This is one of my favorite areas for wild trout. The Kishacoquillas (Kish) and its tributaries. Honey and Tea creeks are clustered around the town of  Reedsville. Take the PA. Turnpike to I283N at Harrisburg to I83N to I81S to Rt. 322/22W. Stay on 333W approx. 50 miles to Reedsville.

 

Pocono Mt. Region:

There are plenty of native brook trout as well as wild brown trout streams throughout this area. Check your books.

 

New Jersey:

Sussex, Warren, Hunterdon, and Morris Counties have their share of native brook trout streams.

Streams more than 3 hours away:

 

I generally consider streams more than 3 hours too far to reach and return home the same day. However some of the best wild trout streams in the country are only 4 to 4.5 hours away and make a great weekend trip.

In Pennsylvania the State College area is tops with streams like Spring creek. Spruce creek. Little Juniata, Fishing creek, Penns creek, and many more. A little further south in Blair County you’ll find Clover, Piney, and many more streams.

In Bedford County, Yellow Creek is a great limestone stream with both stocked and wild trout.

The northern tier counties of PA are loaded with streams. Some of the better known streams are Slate Run, Cedar Run, Kettle Creek, Pine creek, Young Woman’s Creek and  Crossfork Creek. There are also thousands of miles of native brook trout water.

One of the best areas for wild trout is in Garret Co. in western Maryland. Circled around Deep Creek Lake are a number of great tailwaters and nearly all of their tributaries have native brook trout in them. The Savage River is my favorite but the North Branch Potomac and the Youghiogheny rivers are easily as good. These are big streams with lots of pocket water. The native Brook trout fishing is fantastic.