DIY Guide to Fly Fishing Sinnemahoning Creek in North-Central Pennsylvania

Stretching all the way from Cameron to Clinton County, the headwaters of Sinnemahoning Creek form at the confluence of the Bennett and Driftwood branches. 

The Sinnemahoning and its tributaries are about as backcountry as trout fly fishing gets in North Central Pennsylvania.

The plentiful flows from its two source rivers and its passage through the Sinnemahoning State Park make certain branches of Sinnemahoning Creek an exceptionally productive fishery for wild brown trout.

The trick is knowing which branches to fish which we discuss in this guide.

About Sinnemahoning Creek

Ralph Scherder of Dark Skies Fly Fishing adapts to changing conditions and has a great day fly fishing the First Fork Sinnemahoning Creek in Potter County, PA

The creek makes it headwaters just outside the borough of Driftwood, a little town on the spur of Route 120 north of Interstate 80. It’s a relatively long drive out from State College, but if you want to be guaranteed solitude in the mountain splendor of Potter County PA, this is the creek to visit.

There’s nothing for miles around, much of it state forest or parkland. There are no less than four state parks nearby, so if you plan on a fishing tour of North Central PA trout streams, you want to put Sinnemahoning Creek at the top of your list.

The chief attraction in this area is the wild brown trout that roam the watersheds of this remote region of Pennsylvania. The Sinnemahoning is sped along by the various tributaries along the creek’s route through the backcountry hills most of which the PBFC classifies as Class A wild trout streams. 

The wild brown trout grow fat during prolific hatches of mayflies, and since many of them seldom see an angler year round they are not too difficult to catch.

Sinnemahoning Creek Map and Fishing Access Sites

Best Spots to Fish the Sinnemahoning Creek

Sinnemahoning Creek is made up of numerous branches including the Driftwood Branch, Bennett Branch, First Branch and East Branch.  Each of these branches contain reaches classified at Class A wild trout water with the exception of Bennett Branch.  The latter suffers from acid mine drainage and is not a productive fishery.

First Fork Sinnemahoning Creek

First Fork Sinnemahoning Creek is by far the most poplar branch.  The upper reaches above Costello harbor a good population of wild brown trout and is accessible via Route 872  and Route 3003 (First Fork Road).

The First Fork continues on down to Wharton where it is joined by the East Branch and gets considerably larger in size.  There is a Delayed Harvest – Artificial Lures Only (DHALO) section below Wharton that is very popular.  The DHALO begins where Bailey Run enters and continues on downstream for 2.1 miles.

Below the DHALO the First Fork of Sinnemahoning Creek runs south through Sinnemahoning State Park to the George B. Stevenson Reservoir. Here where you can find both parking and boat ramps on the western shore and close to the northern edge where the First Fork empties into the reservoir. The reservoir is an excellent spot for lakers, browns, brooks, rainbows, and even the occasional bass.

East Fork Sinnemahoning Creek

The East Fork joins the First Fork in Wharton and is an excellent trout stream that gets considerably less pressure than its sister stream.  The East Fork flows some 14 miles through Susquehannock State Forest down to Wharton.  The upper ~ 5 miles are classified as Class A wild trout water where you will find a healthy population of native brook trout. The East Fork is accessible via East Fork Road out of Wharton (see map above for access points).

Driftwood Branch Sinnemahoning Creek

Centered around the town of Emporium the Driftwood Branch has ~7 miles of Class A wild brown trout water extending from its headwaters down through Elk State Forest to the confluence with Elk Fork.

One of the main attractions on the Driftwood Branch is the Catch-and-Release – Flyfishing Only section upstream of the Route 120 bridge near Emporium (see map above).

Stream Flow and Current Conditions

Be sure to check the stream conditions before heading out to fish Sinnemahoning Creek. The USGS stream gauge on the First Fork provides a good indication of current conditions.

The graph below shows the stream flow (discharge) for the past 7-days. If flows are considerably above or below historical norms (yellow triangles on the chart) then fishing conditions maybe not be ideal. 

First Fork Sinnemahoning Cr near Sinnemahoning, PA

• Streamflow: 536 ft³/s
• Gage height: 0.91 ft

USGS

Best Time to Fish Sinnemahoning Creek

The big hatches are in the spring and early summer, typically mid-April through early June. The upper reaches of the First Fork, East Fork and Driftwood fish well through the summer.

In the lower reaches after about mid-June the water gets too warm for trout and they head for the cool waters of the many Class A tributaries that feed each branch.  

Evenings and early mornings, while the water is still coldest, are best, and the hatches of the day typically start just before the sun is over the horizon.

Sinnemahoning Creek Hatches

The upper reaches of the various branches of Sinnemahoning Creek have all the major mayfly and caddis hatches. Terrestrials are also important throughout the summer.

Here’s a generalized hatch chart for Sinnemahoning Creek along with fly recommendations:

Spring (March–June)

• Blue-Winged Olive
  • Size: #18-22
  • Color: Olive/gray body
  • Hatch Time: Cloudy days/afternoons
  • Time of Year: March–April, Sept–Oct
  • Patterns: Parachute BWO, RS2, Pheasant Tail
• Hendrickson
  • Size: #12-14
  • Color: Pinkish body, dun wings
  • Hatch Time: Late morning–afternoon
  • Time of Year: Mid-April–May
  • Patterns: Comparadun, CDC Emerger
• Sulphur
  • Size: #16-18
  • Color: Pale yellow
  • Hatch Time: Dusk
  • Time of Year: Late May–June
  • Patterns: Sparkle Dun, Sulphur Comparadun
• Green Drake
  • Size: #8-10
  • Color: Olive body, yellow wings
  • Hatch Time: Evening
  • Time of Year: Late May–June
  • Patterns: Green Drake Dry, Stimulator
• March Brown
  • Size: #12-14
  • Color: Brown/tan mottled wings
  • Hatch Time: Afternoon
  • Time of Year: May–June
  • Patterns: March Brown Dry, Soft Hackle
• Mother’s Day Caddis
  • Size: #14-16
  • Color: Tan/green
  • Hatch Time: Afternoon
  • Time of Year: April–May
  • Patterns: Elk Hair Caddis, X-Caddis

Summer (July–August)

• Trico
  • Size: #20-24
  • Color: Black/white (female/male)
  • Hatch Time: Early morning
  • Time of Year: July–Sept
  • Patterns: Trico Spinner, CDC Thorax
• Isonychia
  • Size: #10-12
  • Color: Black/dun
  • Hatch Time: Afternoon
  • Time of Year: July–Sept
  • Patterns: Usual, Pheasant Tail Nymph
• Terrestrials
  • Size: #14-18
  • Color: Black/brown (ants), tan (hoppers)
  • Hatch Time: All day
  • Time of Year: July–Sept
  • Patterns: Foam Ant, Chernobyl Ant, Dave’s Hopper
• Midges
  • Size: #18-24
  • Color: Black/red
  • Hatch Time: Overcast days
  • Time of Year: Year-round
  • Patterns: Zebra Midge, Griffith’s Gnat

Fall (September–October)

• Blue-Winged Olive
  • Size: #18-22
  • Color: Olive/gray
  • Hatch Time: Afternoons
  • Time of Year: Sept–Oct
  • Patterns: Parachute BWO, CDC Emerger
• Slate Drake
  • Size: #12-14
  • Color: Gray body, slate wings
  • Hatch Time: Dusk
  • Time of Year: Sept–Oct
  • Patterns: Sparkle Dun, Quill Gordon
• October Caddis
  • Size: #8-10
  • Color: Orange/brown
  • Hatch Time: Afternoon
  • Time of Year: Sept–Oct
  • Patterns: Egg-Laying Caddis, Stimulator

Winter (November–February)

• Midges
  • Size: #20-24
  • Color: Black/olive
  • Hatch Time: Midday
  • Time of Year: Year-round
  • Patterns: WD-40, Disco Midge
• Winter Stonefly
  • Size: #14-16
  • Color: Black/brown
  • Hatch Time: Sunny afternoons
  • Time of Year: Dec–Feb
  • Patterns: Black Stonefly Nymph

Additional Tips

• Terrestrials: Target grassy banks in summer with ants, beetles, and hoppers.
• Nymphing: Use Pheasant Tails, Hare’s Ears, or stonefly patterns year-round.
• Streamers: Woolly Buggers or Sculpin patterns work in high water.

Tactics: Prioritize size/color matching. Use dry-dropper rigs during sparse hatches. Fish slow pools in summer and riffles in spring.

Gear Recommendations

A 9-foot 5-wt fly rod with floating line is perfect for fishing dry flies and small nymphs the Sinnemahoning Creek.  A tapered 9-foot leader, with tippet size 3X to 5X to match the flies you are throwing, is pretty standard.

Fishing Reports & Guide Services

Area fly shops and guide services that can provide an update on current conditions and the latest fly fishing report include:

• Guide Service & Online Shop: Dark Skies Fly Fishing
• Fly Shop: Slate Run Tackle Shop (Wolfe’s General Store)

Fishing Regulations

Sinnemahoning creek fishing regulations are available on the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission website.

Trip Planning

Sinnemahoning Creek remains one of Pennsylvania’s less pressured trout streams, making it an ideal destination for anglers seeking solitude and excellent trout fishing. The extra effort to reach this remote stream is rewarded with beautiful scenery, wild trout, and the authentic Pennsylvania fly fishing experience.

Accommodations

For the complete DIY experience, consider camping at one of the rustic sites within Susquehannock State Forest or staying at Sinnemahoning State Park. The small towns of Sinnemahoning and Driftwood offer limited amenities, so come prepared with supplies.

• Camping: Rustic sites available in Susquehannock State Forest
• Sinnemahoning State Park: Offers modern campsites and cabins (reserve well in advance)
• Nearby Towns:
  • Emporium (20 minutes) – Several motels and B&Bs
  • Coudersport (30 minutes) – Wider selection of hotels and restaurants
  • State College (1.5 hours) – Full range of accommodations for those wanting more amenities

Getting There

From Philadelphia (5-6 hours)

• Take I-76 W (Pennsylvania Turnpike) toward Harrisburg
• Continue onto I-80 W toward State College
• Take exit 123 for PA-53 toward Philipsburg
• Continue on PA-53 N, then PA-144 N
• In Snow Shoe, take PA-120 W
• At Sinnemahoning, turn onto PA-872 N which follows First Fork

From Pittsburgh (3-4 hours)

• Take I-279 N/US-19 N to I-80 E
• Continue on I-80 E to Dubois
• Take exit 101 for US-219 N
• Follow US-219 N to Ridgway
• Take PA-120 E to Sinnemahoning
• Turn onto PA-872 N which follows First Fork

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