DIY Guide to Fly Fishing Little Sandy Creek in Northwest Pennsylvania

Little Sandy Creek might not be the best-known Pennsylvania fishery, but it still provides plenty of opportunities to snag wild brown trout. If you enjoy small stream fishing and venturing off the beaten path, you’ll love what it has to offer.

Depending on your level of experience, Little Sandy Creek can be difficult to fish, so be sure to check out our guide before embarking on your angling adventure.

About Little Sandy Creek

Fly fishing Little Sandy Creek in Pennsylvania with In The Wild Outdoors

Little Sandy Creek is a six-mile-long tributary of Sandy Creek, located in Northwest Pennsylvania. It begins near Wades Corner and has a Delayed Harvest Fly Fishing Only Section. At Little Sandy Creek, you’ll find wild and stocked brown trout. 

The banks of Little Sandy Creek are enclosed with bushes and trees, which means that there is plenty of shade and ample hiding places for wily trout. Access to this stream is pretty good, but it does require hiking in some places. In most areas, the stream takes on the classic configuration of a Pennsylvania trout stream and consists of pools, riffles, and runs. While it is narrower in some sections, the Creek is about 30 feet wide.

Additionally, Little Sandy Creek has an excellent population of aquatic insects. It is the perfect stream for the angler who wants to be challenged while avoiding the more crowded fisheries in the state.

Little Sandy Creek Map and Fishing Access Sites

Best Spots to Fish Little Sandy Creek

You can access Little Sandy Creek from State Route 62 and State Route 3024. Take the roads leading off of State Route 3024 to the Creek. It will require a short hike to reach the stream. 

The upper reaches of the stream are more difficult to fish when it’s warm, as the water becomes lower and clearer. In the summer months, you will want to avoid this area.

The Delayed Harvest Fly Fishing Only section extends from State Route 3024 at Polk (located upstream) to the old bridge at the Polk Center pump house. It is roughly 1.3 miles long and teems with both wild and stocked brown trout.

The best area for catching large brown trout is in the headwaters, located above T-334. Because the stream is smaller in this area, it can be more challenging to fish. But once you get the hang of this stream, you’ll be glued to this spot.

The stream is accessible to wade fishermen.

Best Time to Fish Little Sandy Creek

Little Sandy Creek has a great insect population. In the spring, you will see Green Drake Mayflies, as well as other species of Mayflies, Caddisflies, and Stoneflies. In the summer, terrestrial imitations will work best if you are trying to match the insect hatch.

The spring is the best time to visit due to the insect hatch, but you’ll have the easiest time catching larger brown trout in the fall.

It can be tricky to fish in the summer, as the water becomes too warm in sections to be hospitable to trout. However, if you stay away from the upper sections, you’ll have better luck finding cooler areas in the stream.

Best Flies for Little Sandy Creek

Here is a list of generally recommended patterns for Little Sandy Creek:

• Blue Quill (#18)
• Quill Gordon (#12-14)
• Hendrickson (#12-14)
• Red Quill (#12-14)
• March Brown (#10-12)
• Tan Caddis (#16)
• Blue Winged Olive (#14-16)
• Light Cahill (#14-18)
• Gray Fox (#12-14)
• Green Drake (#8-10)
• Terrestrials (various) (#10-18)

Gear Recommendations

A 9-foot 4-wt fly rod with a floating line is perfect for fishing dry flies and small nymphs on Slate Run.  A tapered 9-foot leader, with tippet size 4X to 6X to match the flies you are throwing, is pretty standard.

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 Sandy Creek fishing regulations are available on the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission website.

Trip Planning Tips

The nearest major airport to Little Sandy Creek is the Erie International Airport. Another nearby is the Pittsburgh International Airport, if you don’t mind adding ten minutes to your journey. You can travel to any major or municipal Airport in Western Pennsylvania and arrive at your destination after a few hours of scenic driving.

Looking for campgrounds in the area? Camp Wilhelm Campground is only 15 minutes away from the Creek. They put on several activities throughout the year that would spice up any angling vacation. 

If you would rather sleep with a roof over your head, you might try the Motel 6 in Harrisville. They offer clean rooms that are perfect for the budget-minded fisherman.

It might not be the most famous Pennsylvania trout stream, but that means you’ll likely have this stream all to yourself. Enjoy!

Looking for more places to fish? Visit our DIY Guide to the Best Fly Fishing in Pennsylvania.