There are no shortage of fun activities to entertain you and your family at Ohiopyle State Park. Enjoy the beauty of the park from the treetops as you zipline through an obstacle course. Or, you could admire the scenery from your raft as you take on some of the best white water in Pennsylvania for a thrilling adventure. But whatever you do, be sure to make some time for Meadow Run.
Meadow Run is unique as a fly fishing locale; not many trout streams offer two nature-made waterslides to cool off with. But if you stick to the right sections of the Creek, you might have success cathcing some trout.
The trout at Meadow Run are notoriously smart, so be sure to check out our guide before you visit, so your experience can be a successful one, as well as a memorable one.
Fly fishing Meadow Run in Ohiopyle, Pennsylvania
Meadow Run is a scenic stream located in Ohiopyle State Park, which eventually joins the Youghiogheny River. It is known for its awe-inspiring setting, as the surrounding foliage is particularly striking in the fall, and the moss-covered rocks dotting the banks offer year round beauty.
You can find stocked trout (and perhaps some wild rainbows!) in the deeper pools of the stream. As this stream is very popular with swimmers and tourists, it might not be the best location to visit if you are craving some alone time. On the other hand, there are plenty of activities to keep a family busy if you are travelling with loved ones.
Meadow Run Map and Fishing Access Sites
Get directions to fishing access points and real-time stream flow data with the DIY Fly Fishing Map
Best Places to Fish Meadow Run
The stream can be accessed from the Meadow Run Trail. You’ll want to stick to the deeper pools, which are located below the famous waterslides. You will also see trout at Flat Rock, which is about a mile up from the pools.
Best Time to Fish Meadow Run
The season for Meadow Run is the standard Pennsylvania trout fishing season. In the summer, the water temperature gets too warm to be hospitable to trout. The best time to fish is in the early morning or late evening, so the water temperature isn’t an issue.
Meadow Run has a decent aquatic insect population. The most common hatches you will see are a variety of caddis, Hendrickson, March Brown, Green Drake, and Sulphurs. The trout at Meadow Run are known for being picky, so be sure to match the hatch when you visit.
Best Flies for Meadow Run
Here is list of general fly pattern recommendations for Meadow Run:
- Little Blue Winged Olive (#18-24)
- Blue Quill (#16-18)
- Quill Gordon (#12-14)
- Hendrickson/Red Quill (#14-16)
- Grannom Caddis (#14-16)
- Apple Caddis (#14-16)
- Hare's Ear Nymph (#12-18)
- Little Brown Stonefly (#14-16)
- Crane Flies (#12-18)
- Midges (#16-22)
- Soft Hackle Pheasant Tail (#12-18)
- Soft Hackle Hare's Ear (#12-18)
- Rubber Legged Stoneflies (#8-12)
- Wooly Bugger (#6-10)
Need flies?
Ventures Fly Co. offers a great selection of dry flies, nymphs and streamers that will catch fish just about anywhere. Set includes 40 high quality, hand-tied flies (see list below) and waterproof fly box.
Dry Flies
- Adams Dry Fly
- Elk Hair Caddis
- Blue Wing Olive
- Royal Wulff
- Griffith's Gnat White
- Stimulator, Organge
- Chernobyl Ant
Nymphs/Wet Flies
- Rubber Leg Nymph, Brown
- BH Pheasant Tail Nymph
- BH Prince Nymph
- BH Hare's Ear Nymph
- Barr's Emerger Nymph
- Zebra Midge Nymph, Black
Streamers
- Wooly Bugger, Black (Size #8x2)
- Wooly Bugger, Olive (Size #8x2)
Gear Recommendations
A 9-foot 4-wt fly rod with floating line is perfect for fishing dry flies and small nymphs on Meadow Run. A tapered 9-foot leader, with tippet size 3X to 5X to match the flies you are throwing, is pretty standard.
Need Gear?
Check out our DIY Guide to the Best Fly Fishing Gear for recommendations.
Meadow Run Fishing Report
Area fly shops, guides and websites that can provide a Meadow Run fly fishing report 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.
Meadow Run fishing regulations are available on the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission website.
Trip Planning Tips
The nearest airport to Meadow Run would be Pittsburgh International Airport, which is about an hour and a half away from Ohiopyle State Park. You can travel to any major or municipal airport in Southwest Pennsylvania and arrive at your destination after a few hours of scenic driving.
Ohiopyle has its own campground, so you won’t have to travel far at the end of a jam-packed day of adventure. Ohiopyle at Kentuck Campground offers more than 200 campsites. If you are really looking for a unique experience, the campground also has cabins and yurts available for rent.
Of course, you could need a break from all that quality time with nature. If you would rather stay indoors, Heritage Inn is a short drive from Ohiopyle State Park and has reasonable rates for clean rooms.
Whether you choose to ride the water slides or just keep to fly fishing for hungry trout, visiting Meadow Run is sure to be a memorable experience. Bring the entire family, or just bring your favorite rod.
Looking for more places to fish? Check out our DIY Guide to Fly Fishing Pennsylvania
Feature image by AllTrails