[DIY] Guide to the Best Fly Fishing in Pennsylvania
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Pennsylvania fly fishing for trout and steelhead is some of the best in the country. Pennsylvania is also a relatively large state that takes about 5 hours to traverse from Philadelphia on the eastern side to Pittsburgh on the western side.
So if you really want to find out where the best PA fly fishing spots are you'll need a good map.
Lucky for you we created one. Below is an interactive map all the best trout and steelhead fishing spots in PA.
The map below includes Pennsylvania Special Regulation Trout Streams, Pennsylvania Class A Wild Trout Streams and Pennsylvania steelhead fishing spots in the famed Steelhead Alley.
Click on map icons for information about each fishing location and to get directions.
Pennsylvania Trout and Steelhead Fishing Map
Some of the best trout fishing spots in PA are listed below by region. Use the search function of the map above to locate each stream. Click the map icons to get directions to fishing spots and real-time stream flow data.
So Where is the Best Fly Fishing in Pennsylvania?
The state of Pennsylvania is just brimming with fabulous opportunities for outdoor adventure and recreation year-round, and fly fishing is no exception. You're never far from a great lake, stream, or river, it seems, and all of them are easily accessible from towns and cities across the state.
While some lakes may be private fishing lakes, there are many others that are open to the public. The most common of the fish you'll be catching are trout, which is available all across the state. If you're looking for blue ribbon waters, Pennsylvania has a number of them.
With so many quality trout streams in Pennsylvania one could spark a serious debate about where the best trout fishing in Pennsylvania is. Let's take a look at some the leading candidates.
Best Fly Fishing in North-Central Pennsylvania
North-Central Pennsylvania contains some of the most fabled fly fishing waters in the Commonwealth including Fishing Creek, Penns Creek, Slate Run and Spring Creek. But that's not all. There are also 36 other special regulation trout streams that provide excellent fly fishing opportunities in north-central Pennsylvania. Why not check one out?
North-Central Special Regulation Trout Streams
Header | Enter your text here... |
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Loyalsock (DHALO) | |
Big Mill Creek (DHALO) | |
Black Moshannon Creek (DHALO) | Marvin Creek (CRFFO) |
Meade Run (ARWOYR) | |
Cherry Run (CR) | Middle Creek (DHALO) |
Muncy Creek (DHALO) | |
Clarion River, East Branch (DHALO) | |
Cross Fork (CR) | |
Rauchtown Creek (CR) | |
Red Bank Creek (CRFFO) | |
Sandy Lick Creek (DHALO) | |
Francis Branch Tributary (CRFFO) | |
Gray's Run (CR) | |
Hunts Run (CR) | Straight Creek (ATWOYR) |
Tunungwant Creek, East Branch (TT) | |
Kinzua Creek (DHALO) | West Branch Clarion River (CRFFO) |
Laurel Run (ATWOYR) | West Branch Tunungwant Creek (DHALO) |
Lick Run (TT) | West Creek (ATWOYR) |
Little Clearfield Creek (DHALO) | White Deer Creek (CRFFO) |
Little Pine Creek (DHALO) |
Best Fly Fishing in South-Central Pennsylvania
One could arguably say the best fly fishing in Pennsylvania is in the South Central region where you'll find iconic limestone streams such as the Letort, the Little Juniata River and the Yellow Breeches. There are also 22 special regulation trout streams that provide year-round fly fishing opportunities in south-central Pennsylvania. Why not check one out?
DIY Guide to Fly Fishing Yellow Creek in South Central Pennsylvania
[DIY] Guide to Fly Fishing the Little Juniata River
DIY Guide to Fly Fishing Falling Spring Branch Creek in South Central Pennsylvania
DIY Guide to Fly Fishing Yellow Breeches in South-Central Pennsylvania
DIY Guide to Fly Fishing Codorus Creek in South-Central Pennsylvania
DIY Guide to Fly Fishing Spruce Creek in Central Pennsylvania
DIY Guide to Fly Fishing Clark Creek in South Central Pennsylvania
DIY Guide to Fly Fishing Letort Spring Run in South-Central Pennsylvania
DIY Guide to Fly Fishing Big Spring Creek in South-Central Pennsylvania
South-Central Special Regulation Trout Streams
Header | Header |
|---|---|
Manada Creek (DHALO) | |
Mountain Creek (ATWOYR) | |
Muddy Creek (CRFFO) | |
Conowago Creek (CRFFO) | Quittapahilla Creek (DHALO) |
Cove Creek (DHALO) | Shaeffer Run (WBTEP) |
East Branch Antietam Creek (CRFFO) | |
East Licking Creek (DHALO) | Stony Creek (ATWOYR) |
Wiconisco Creek (DHALO) | |
Green Spring Creek (CRFFO) | |
Honey Creek (DHALO) | |
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Best Fly Fishing in Northeast Pennsylvania
The Poconos have more than just heart-shaped hot tubs. Northeast Pennsylvania, home to the Pocono Mountains (long-time destination of honeymooners) is laced with sparkling clear streams, wild brook trout and not so many anglers. If you are looking for a little more solitude on your next trout fly fishing outing we’ve got the spot for you.
DIY Guide to Fly Fishing McMichaels Creek in Northeast Pennsylvania
DIY Guide to Fly Fishing Bowman Creek in Northeast Pennsylvania
DIY Guide to Fly Fishing Hickory Run in Northeast Pennsylvania
DIY Guide to Fly Fishing Brodhead Creek in Northeast Pennsylvania
[DIY] Guide to Fly Fishing the Lehigh River
DIY Guide to Fly Fishing Fishing Creek in Northeast Pennsylvania
DIY Guide to Fly Fishing Tobyhanna Creek in Northeast Pennsylvania
DIY Guide to Fly Fishing Pocono Creek in Northeast Pennsylvania
DIY Guide to Fly Fishing Big Bushkill Creek in Northeast Pennsylvania
DIY Guide to Fly Fishing Loyalsock Creek in Northeast Pennsylvania
DIY Guide to Fly Fishing Lackawaxen River in Northeast Pennsylvania
DIY Guide to Fly Fishing Pohopoco Creek in Northeast Pennsylvania
Lackawanna River Fly Fishing Guide
Wild Trout Abound!
There are over 22 regulated trout streams in Northeast Pennsylvania including Catch and Release sections on Hickory Run, Roaring Brook, Tom’s Creek, and Catch and Release Fly Fishing Only sections on Bushkill Creek, Dyberry Creek, and Bowman Creek.
If beautiful wild brook trout get you going then check out Jeans Run and Kistler run where a Wild Brook Trout Enhancement Program is helping restore this native beauty.
Northeast Special Regulation Trout Streams
Header | Header |
|---|---|
Dingmans Creek (DHALO) | |
Roaring Brook (C&R) | Salt Lick Creek (DHALO) |
Tom's Creek (C&R) | West Branch Wallenpaupack Creek (DHALO) |
Dyberry Creek (CRFFO) | Jeans Run (WBTEP) |
Kistler Run Watershed (WBTEP) | |
Towanda Creek (DHALO) | Wolf Swamp Run Watershed (WBTEP) |
Mehoopany Creek (ATWOYRF) | |
South Branch Tunkhannock Creek (DHALO) | Sugar Run (ATWOYRF) |
Harveys Creek (DHALO) | |
Nescopeck Creek (DHALO) | |
|
Best Fly Fishing in Southeast Pennsylvania
DIY Guide to Fly Fishing Monocacy Creek in Southeast Pennsylvania
DIY Guide to Fly Fishing Manatawny Creek in Southeast Pennsylvania
DIY Guide to Fly Fishing Tulpehocken Creek in Southeast Pennsylvania
DIY Guide to Fly Fishing French Creek in Southeast Pennsylvania
DIY Guide to Fly Fishing West Branch Octoraro Creek in Southeast Pennsylvania
DIY Guide to Fly Fishing Valley Creek in Southeast Pennsylvania
DIY Guide to Fly Fishing Saucon Creek in Southeast Pennsylvania
DIY Guide to Fly Fishing Bushkill Creek in Southeast Pennsylvania
DIY Guide to Fly Fishing Wissahickon Creek in Southeast Pennsylvania
DIY Guide to Fly Fishing Little Lehigh Creek in Southeast Pennsylvania
Southeast Special Regulation Trout Streams
Header | Header |
|---|---|
Bear Creek (DHALO) | |
Brandywine Creek, East Branch (DHALO) | Pickering Creek (DHALO) |
Ridley Creek (CRFFO) | |
Donegal Creek (CRFFO) | |
Kaercher Creek Dam (ATWOYR) | |
West Valley Creek (DHALO) | |
Little Schuykill River (DHALO) | White Clay Creek, Middle Branch (DHALO) |
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Best Fly Fishing Northwest Pennsylvania
Northwest Pennsylvania has an embarrassment of riches when it comes to opportunities to fly fish for rainbow, brown and brook trout and here are 11 of them: Slippery Rock Creek, Caldwell Creek, Little Sandy Creek, Oil Creek, East Hickory Creek, Cool Spring Creek, Neshannock Creek, Piney Creek, Shenango River, West Branch Caldwell Creek and Tionesta Creek.
Nestled in the northwest corner of the state, all of these streams have special regulation sections including Catch and Release fishing on the West Branch Caldwell Creek, and Catch and Release Fly Fishing Only fishing on Little Sandy Creek and Caldwell Creek.
DIY Guide to Fly Fishing Slippery Rock Creek in Northwest Pennsylvania
DIY Guide to Fly Fishing Little Sandy Creek in Northwest Pennsylvania
DIY Guide to Fly Fishing Caldwell Creek in Northwest Pennsylvania
DIY Guide to Fly Fishing Oil Creek in Northwest Pennsylvania
DIY Guide to Fly Fishing Neshannock Creek in Northwest Pennsylvania
DIY Guide to Fly Fishing Hickory Creek in Northwest Pennsylvania
Northwest Special Regulation Trout Streams
Header | Header |
|---|---|
Shenango River | |
Cool Spring Creek (DHALO) | |
Tionesta Creek (APTWYRF) | |
West Branch Caldwell Creek (CR) | |
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Piney Creek (DHALO) | |
Best Fly Fishing in Southwest Pennsylvania
DIY Guide to Fly Fishing Dunbar Creek in Southwest Pennsylvania
DIY Guide to Fly Fishing Youghiogheny River in Southwest Pennsylvania
Southwest Special Regulation Trout Streams
Header | Header |
|---|---|
Buffalo Creek (DHALO) | Indian Creek (DHALO) |
Bull Creek (DHALO) | Laurel Hill Creek Upper (DHALO) |
Camp Run (WBTE) | Little Chartiers Creek |
Chest Creek (DHALO) | Little Mahoning Creek (CRFFO) |
Clear Shade Creek (CRFFO) | Loyalhanna Creek (DHALO) |
Deer Creek (DHALO) | Meadow Run (DHALO) |
Pike Run (DHALO) | |
Dutch Fork Creek (DHALO) | Pine Creek (DHALO) |
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Pennsylvania's Steelhead Alley
If it's steelhead that you're after then of course the tributaries to Lake Erie in Steelhead Alley are where you need to go.
Check out our Steelhead Alley Fishing Guide for maps, stream gauges and all you need to know to about fishing Steelhead Alley.
PA Fly Shops, Guides & Outfitters
Pennsylvania fly shops, fly fishing guides and outfitters are listed by region below. Be sure to stop in at your local shop to get the latest fishing report and pick up any fishing supplies you may need.
Note: If you own a fly shop or guide service and would like to be listed below, please contact us.
Northeastern PA - Delaware River and Lehigh River watersheds
Delaware River Club, Inc.
1228 Winterdale Road
Starlight, PA 18461
570-635-5880
Evening Hatch Flyfishing Shop
797 State Rte 940 East
Lake Harmony, PA 18624
570-443-0772
Southeastern PA - Delaware River and Schuylkill River watersheds
Dave’s Sports Center
1127 North Easton Road
Doylestown, PA US, 18901
215-766-8000
French Creek Outfitters
270 Schuylkill Road
Phoenixville, PA 19460
610-933-7200
Heritage Fly Shop
2643 Fish Hatchery Road
Allentown, PA, 18103
610-797-5599
Northcentral PA - Susquehanna East & West Rivers watersheds
Big Meadows Fly Shop
5541 route 6
Wellsboro, PA 16901
570-724-5261
Big Moores Run Lodge
RD3 Box 204-A
Coudersport, PA , 16915
814-647-5300
Cross Fork Tackle Shop
Main Street, Box 261
Cross Fork, PA, 17729
717-923-1960
The Feathered Hook LTD.
516 Main Street
Coburn, PA 16832
814-349-8757
Flyfisher’s Paradise
2603 E. College Ave.
State College, PA 16801
814-234-4189
Slate Run Tackle Shop
PO Box 1 Route 414
Slate Run, PA , 17769
570-753-8551
TCO Fly Shop State College
2030 East College Ave
State College, PA 16801
814-689-3654
McConnell's Country Store
10853 Route 44 North
Waterville, PA 17776
570-753-8241
PA Fly Fishing Books & Maps
There are a number of excellent books and guides available on fly fishing in Pennsylvania. A few that I highly recommend are listed below:
- New! Flyfisher's Guide to Pennsylvania by Tom Gilmore
- Trout Streams and Hatches of Pennsylvania by Charles Meck
- Flyfisher's Guide to Eastern Trophy Tailwaters: 40 Great Trout Waters from Maine to Georgia by Tom Gilmore
- Pocketguide to Pennsylvania Hatches by Charles Meck & Paul Weamer
- Pennsylvania Atlas And Gazetteer by Delorme