Trout Source

Introduction

Penns Creek is an outstanding fishery in rural central Pennsylvania.  While the Green Drake is its most fabled hatch, Penns hosts numerous others in its fertile currents.  It is a quintessential Pennsylvania limestone stream, loaded with brown trout, and is much longer than most (18 miles of quality water and a total of 42 miles).

River Character and Access

Penns Creek originates almost mystically from a cave -- Penn's Cave, where one can actually take boat tours into the cave -- and ends when it enters the Susquehanna River in Selinsgrove.  The first five miles downstream from the cave to where route 45 crosses the creek at Spring Mills is difficult to access due to private property.  However, access improves from Spring Mills downstream to Coburn (about six miles), although this water can warm significantly in summer as it flows through farming areas.  This section can be reached via Penns Creek Road, which parallels the creek.  The most prolific part of Penns Creek begins below Coburn, where cold Elk Creek (itself a limestone spring creek) provides a substantial shot of cold, nutritious water.  From there, Penns cuts through Big Poe Mountain and threads its way through a series of long, straight, smooth Appalachain-style mountains that are a hallmark of this part of the state (take a look at the Google topo map).  The water is "All Tackle Trophy Trout" for the first seven miles below Coburn (to Swift Run).  Upon reaching Cherry Creek (a beautiful, cold brook trout stream), it receives another shot of cold water and soon thereafter the valley widens somewhat until reaching the town of Weikert, where the water begins to warm.  Four miles of water from just below Swift Run to just below Cherry Creek is Fly Fishing Only.  The entire scenic stretch between Coburn and Cherry Run is about 15 miles.  Famous sections in this stretch include Sand Pool, Broadwater, Rainbow Riffle, The Claybank, Blue Rock Pool and Johnson's Camp Pool.  Access in the upper portion of this section is from a road that dead-ends about three miles south of Coburn.  Here you can park and access the creek through an old railroad tunnel and abandoned railroad tracks that parallel the water.  The railroad can also be reached from Poe Paddy State Park or Ingleby Road.  Access becomes easier again at Cherry Run where a road leads to the creek and parallels it down to Weikert and beyond.  However, as mentioned, fishing is much less rewarding beginning at Weikert (a few miles below Cherry Run) since the water warms considerably in summer.

Penns Creek is highly scenic owning to the surrounding mountains, lush forests and absence of any real development.  It is completely rural, unlike some other streams in Pennsylvania.  Coming out of Penns Cave, it is roughly 30 feet wide.   By the time it reaches Weikert, it is nearly a half mile across.  In between it averages about 100 feet across, quite large for a limestone creek.  Structurally, the creek contains many giant pools, riffles, and some pocket water.  Coburn, the main hub village for fly fishing here, is in the heart of northern Pennsylvania Amish country, so you may see a few horses and buggies (be careful when you drive).

When and How to Fish

Like most limestone spring creeks, Penns is loaded with nutrients, which means its soupy water functions as an insect factory.  Moreover, because of numerous cold feeder streams, Penns water temperature remains low enough to support hatches throughout the entier spring and summer.  Hatches begin in April with Blue Quills, Hendricksons, Quill Gordons and Brown Stone Flies.  In May and June, new entrants include the Gray Fox, Sulphur, Light Cahill, Green Drake (the big enchilada), Tan Caddis, Grannom Caddis, Slate Drake and Cream Cahill.  Trico's appear in July and August, and in September the Tan Caddis, Slate Drake and Cream Cahilll reappear.  Tan and Green Caddis come off from April straight through October.  Terrerstrials are important from June through September. 

 

Troutsource highly recommends the services of a local fly fishing guide.  We've listed the best ones below, and you can contact all of them at once using our e-mail form.  A guide can be the difference between getting skunked and catching 20 fish.   Remember, getting the right fly is only half the battle.  You need to know exactly where to put it, and how -- and this is where guides earn their money.   A customary tip is 15%.