South Central PA Streams

Let’s begin our journey with a look at five streams located in the South Central part of the State. This area includes Berks, Lancaster, York, Dauphin and Cumberland Counties and covers the Southeast Quadrant of Pennsylvania.

Clarks Creek:
Clarks Creek is another tailwater stream emanating from the impoundment of the stream by Dehart Dam and it is located in Dauphin County, northeast of the State Capital of Harrisburg. It is primarily a freestone stream with a classic riffle and pool configuration and flows through a combined conifer and mixed hardwood forest. The stream features Brown, Rainbow and Brook Trout and is stocked by the state. Hatches on Clarks consist of the classic freestone mayfly hatches with Hendricksons and March Browns being the primary contributors. In May and June, Inch Worms are available in large concentrations and the trout feed actively on imitations of these insects. As with most of the streams in Pennsylvania, Caddis are found and terrestrials will work when hatches are not on.
 

Letort Spring Run:
The Letort is a beautiful spring creek located in Carlisle in Cumberland County. Small in size, it is large in stature due to the place it has occupied in the evolution of fly-fishing in this county. Noted angling authors Vince Marinaro and Charles Fox used the Letort as a laboratory in developing many of the fly patterns and techniques employed in bringing trout to fly. This stream also played a major part in the evolution and development of terrestrial fishing in the U.S. and continues to produce some surprising Brown Trout each year. The Letort can be a very challenging stream to fish and will require the angler to be both precise in presentation and diligent in approach. The water is small, rich, clear and filled with aquatic vegetation making trout wary and selective.  

Susquehanna River:
This mighty river emanates from branches both in Pennsylvania and upper New York State, and finds it’s way after traveling many miles, south to the Chesapeake Bay near Havre de Grace, Maryland. The name Susquehanna was given to the river by Native American Indians and is translated to mean "from the smooth flowing stream." The section of this river, which flows through South Central PA, provides excellent water and habitat for Smallmouth Bass. Wading the river and fishing the pocket water can produce fine catches both above and below the surface. It is advisable to hire a guide for first time Susquehanna fly fisherman as this is a very large river and many hours might be wasted in locating fish. Guides will put you on fish quickly and also provide flies that will produce. If you have not sampled Smallmouth Bass on a fly rod, you need to try it. It is not uncommon to catch twenty-five or more fish in an evening and some may be sizable. In August the large Whitefly hatches are very thick on the Susquehanna, and bring some of the wary old-timers to the surface. A three to five pound Smallmouth on a number twelve Whitefly is about as good as it gets!

Central Pennsylvania Streams

We will now focus on the streams located in the central part of the state. These streams are located in the counties along the spine of the Appalachian Mountains. The geography contains alternating valleys in which some of the best streams in the state are found. There are several excellent waters to fish in this area and the stream types are varied. Spring creeks, freestone rivers and mountain streams provide habitat for our three primary species of trout. Most of these streams are within a four-hour drive of Baltimore or Philadelphia and only two hours from Harrisburg. Let's look at four prominent water of the Central Pennsylvania Region.

Spring Creek:
This limestone creek is located in Centre County in the area of State College and Bellefonte. It is a classic limestoner with riffle and pool configuration and due to its nutrient content can appear slightly colored, as do many of these limestone creeks in the area. Hatches on Spring Creek include the classic mayflies and caddis hatches, and terrestrials can play a major part in feeding the Browns and Rainbows in the stream. Hendricksons and Sulfur hatches are strong in most areas of this stream, and fishing Sulfur imitations in the Fisherman’s Paradise area in Mid to Late May can produce some vary exciting dry fly activity. Streamers and nymphs should not be overlooked if surface feeding is slow. This stream has the ability to produce some very fine trout and raise some eyebrows with its productivity. It is definitely worth a try!

Mountain Streams:
There are several opportunities throughout this area in Central PA to fish small mountain streams for native Brook Trout. These trout will not be large, but they are very opportunistic in their feeding habits. Small rods and light lines enhance this type of fishing, and the color and markings of a native trout are incredibly beautiful. Generally, these fish may be taken on attractor patterns such as the Royal Coachman, Mr. Rapidan, Royal Humpies or Stimulators. A good place to prospect for Brookies is in the Bald Eagle State Forest in the area of Penn's Creek. Cherry Run is a likely spot to search for fish and it is located near the state parking area for Penn's above the town of Weikert.