Pennsylvania Fly Fishing 4 min read
DIY Guide to Fly Fishing Little Lehigh Creek in Southeast Pennsylvania
At one time, the Little Lehigh Creek reportedly had more trout per mile than any other stream in Pennsylvania.
Known for its world-class trico hatch, this little limestone gem fishes well all summer thanks to a continuous supply of cool spring water.
Flowing through a beautiful park system in Lehigh County near Allentown, PA, the Little Lehigh’s wild brown trout are not easy to catch but worth the effort.
Learn more about the secrets of Little Lehigh Creek with the help of our handy guide!
Contents
- About Little Lehigh Creek
- Little Lehigh Creek Map and Fishing Access Sites
- Best Spots to Fish Little Lehigh Creek
- Stream Flow and Current Conditions
- Best Time to Fish Little Lehigh Creek
- Best Flies for Little Lehigh Creek
- Gear Recommendations
- Little Lehigh Creek Fishing Reports
- Fishing Regulations
- Trip Planning Tips
About Little Lehigh Creek
Fly fishing the lower catch-and-release fly fishing-only section of the Little Lehigh Creek near Allentown, PA.
Little Lehigh Creek is a 24-mile-long tributary of the Lehigh River. The stream is one of the limestone spring creeks that flows through Lehigh Valley (Monocacy Creek, Saucon Creek, and Bushkill Creek are the others.) Its source is located in Longswamp Township in Berks County, and it joins Lehigh River in Allentown. Jordan Creek also feeds it.
There is a 1.5-mile (upper) Catch-and-Release—fly Fishing Only (CRFFO) section that stretches from the T-508 bridge (Wild Cherry Lane) to the T-510 bridge (Millrace Road). A second (lower) CRFFO section (formerly the Heritage Section) runs from the Fish Hatchery Road Bridge to the 24th Street Bridge.
At Little Lehigh Creek, you will see brown, brook, and rainbow trout. Matching the insect hatch is important at Little Lehigh, so be sure to pack your best imitations.
Little Lehigh Creek Map and Fishing Access Sites
Get Directions to the Fishing Access Points shown above with the DIY Fly Fishing Map
Best Spots to Fish Little Lehigh Creek
The best fly fishing is in the lower CRFFO section, where a 27-inch nine-pound brown trout was caught in the early 1990s. However, this section experiences extreme pressure due to its notoriety.
There are other options, though, including some excellent water both up and downstream of the lower CRFFO section, which receives little angling pressure after the first few weeks of the regular trout season opener.
The section downstream of the lower CRFFO that runs through the Allentown Park system is accessible by very well-maintained trails. Plenty of trees lend shade in the hotter summer months.
Dedicated parking areas are available at the Hatchery section and the regulated area near Wild Cherry Lane. Roadside pulloffs make other portions of the creek easily accessible (see map).
Stream Flow and Current Conditions
Be sure to check the stream conditions before heading out to fish Little Lehigh Creek. The USGS stream gauge near Allentown, PA, indicates the creek’s current condition.
The graph below shows the stream flow (discharge) for the past seven days. If flows are considerably above or below historical norms (yellow triangles on the chart), fishing conditions may not be ideal.
Little Lehigh Creek near Allentown, PA
- Temperature: 52.52 ° F
- Streamflow: 41.8 ft³/s
- Gage height: 0.05 ft
Best Time to Fish Little Lehigh Creek
Little Lehigh Creek’s trout fishing season is standard Pennsylvania trout fishing season. The catch-and-release fly-fishing-only sections are open year-round. The water stays cool throughout the year, so you can tackle this stream anytime.
Little Black Winter Stoneflies hatch in February and March, while Little Black and Little Brown Stoneflies hatch in March and April. Blue Winged Olives hatch from the beginning of April to October. Towards the middle of April, the Blue Quill Hatch occurs. In the middle of May, the Pale Evening Dunes and Sulphurs emerge.
In the slower pools, you will find Yellow Drakes and White Flies. Caddisflies are also abundant, with Little Black Caddis and Cinnamon Caddis hatching in April. Other important year-round hatches include Midges, Scuds, Sowbugs, and Terrestrials.
Summer is the best time to visit due to the infamous Trico hatch that usually gets underway around the 4th of July (the holiday makes it easy to remember). Late spring is also a good time due to all the insect activity. You can also tackle the stream on warmer winter days, and fall can be the best time for catching large brown trout.
Best Flies for Little Lehigh Creek
Regarding fly patterns, here is a list of some of the best flies for Little Lehigh Creek:
- Black Stonefly(#16)
- Blue Quill (#18)
- Orange Crane Fly (#18 – 20)
- Tan Caddis (#16)
- Light Cahill (#14)
- Sulphur (#16)
- Trico (#22 – 26)
- Ants (#16 – 20)
- Beetles (#12 – 18)
- Caterpillars (#12)
- Grasshoppers (#10)
- Midges (various) (#20 – 24)
Gear Recommendations
A 9-foot 4-wt fly rod with a floating line is perfect for fishing dry flies and small nymphs on Little Lehigh Creek. A tapered 12-foot leader, with tippet size 5X to 7X to match the flies you are throwing, is pretty standard.
The waters of the Little Lehigh run gin clear, and the wild brown trout in the stream are highly educated and wary. It is not recommended that you attempt to wade this Creek, as you will likely spook the trout. However, there are some areas of the Creek where you must wade to reach the trout, so just be careful to move slowly in these sections.
Little Lehigh Creek Fishing Reports
Available Little Lehigh Creek fly fishing reports are listed below:
Fishing Regulations
Pennsylvania requires all anglers 16 and older to have a standard fishing license and a special permit for trout fishing, which can be obtained online or in most sporting goods stores in the state.
Little Lehigh Creek fishing regulations are available on the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission website.
Trip Planning Tips
The nearest airport to Little Lehigh Creek is Lehigh Valley International Airport, less than a half hour from your destination. You could also travel to Wilkes-Barre Scranton International Airport, but that will entail a longer car ride to the Creek (although the beautiful Pennsylvania countryside might make the extra time worth it!).
If you are looking for a nearby location to hang your bucket hat at night, The Comfort Inn Lehigh Valley West is a 13-minute drive from Little Lehigh Creek. It offers a delicious free breakfast and a fitness center. If you prefer staying at a campground, Lizard Creek Campground is less than an hour away from the stream. The campground offers a stocked creek, but don’t let it distract you! Little Lehigh Creek is waiting.
Looking for more places to fish? Visit our DIY Guide to the Best Fly Fishing in Pennsylvania.