penns creek
Penns Creek is one of Pennsylvania’s most legendary trout streams, known for its wild brown trout, strong hatches, and challenging fishing. Flowing through central Pennsylvania, this large limestone-influenced freestone river offers a mix of classic riffles, deep pools, and undercut banks, making it a premier destination for fly anglers.
Fly Fishing Penns Creek: The most famous section of Penns Creek runs from Coburn downstream through Poe Paddy State Park, where wild brown trout thrive in cold, limestone-rich waters. The river sees some stocked rainbows in its upper reaches, but the real draw is the wild browns, many exceeding 20 inches.
Hatches & Flies: Penns Creek is known for its legendary hatches, particularly the Green Drake, which attracts anglers from all over. Key hatches include:
Blue-Winged Olives (BWO) – Early spring and fall
Grannom Caddis – April
Hendricksons & March Browns – Late April to May
Sulphurs – May to early June
Green Drakes – Late May to early June (most famous hatch)
Slate Drakes – Summer through fall
Terrestrials (Beetles, Ants, Hoppers) – Mid to late summer
Tricos – July through September (early morning spinner falls)
Best Times & Tactics
Spring and early summer provide the most consistent fishing, with March Browns, Sulphurs, and Green Drakes offering incredible dry fly action.
The Green Drake hatch is the most anticipated event, bringing up big browns for explosive takes.
Nymphing with Hare’s Ears, Pheasant Tails, Caddis Pupae, and Walt’s Worms is effective year-round.
Streamers are a great way to target large brown trout, especially in higher water or low-light conditions.
Summer fishing can be excellent with terrestrials and evening Slate Drake activity.
With tough-to-fool wild browns, prolific hatches, and stunning scenery, Penns Creek is a bucket-list river for serious fly anglers looking for a true challenge.
If you have any questions, drop me a line.
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