Delaware fly fishing

[Ggrove]

Hi all, I am going to be in Newark, Delaware for a few days next week visiting colleges. I’m very unfamiliar with the area and was wondering if anyone knows of trout spots within ~1 hr of Newark. I would like to get out a bit around where I plan on going to school. Would prefer spots that hold wild trout, but stockers work too. I’m good to fish in Delaware state, or SE PA, I have licenses for both. Any advice is very appreciated

 

[jgish92]

I don't think you'll find wild trout anywhere in that area. White Clay Creek is probably your closest bet. I don't think the state does a fall stocking. I think there was a private club stocking in the fall but I don't know when or if that still occurs. Might be worth checking if they stock White Clay Creek on the Delaware side of the border in the fall.

 

[Ggrove]

I don't think you'll find wild trout anywhere in that area. White Clay Creek is probably your closest bet. I don't think the state does a fall stocking. I think there was a private club stocking in the fall but I don't know when or if that still occurs. Might be worth checking if they stock White Clay Creek on the Delaware side of the border in the fall.

That’s kind of what I figured.. It says they do stock once in the fall, but I couldn’t find dates. That may have be where I check out

 

[troutbert]

White Clay Creek is a nice place to go for a walk.

 

[Tups]

White Clay Fly Fishers ( private club) has stocked the White Clay Creek special regs area (PA) in the fall for many years, however that stocking is typically after Thanksgiving. Their website may give dates.

 

[Fredrick]

Delaware could be the worst state in the union for trout fishing. Better off heading into Pa either Chester or Delaware counties

 

[Swattie87]

For wild Trout, you’ll need to get into PA. Though note that the SE corner of PA isn’t exactly a wild Trout paradise either, but it’s better than DE. Still, the wild Trout streams in SEPA are generally tiny, and there’s also a lot of private and posted land. The ones that are large enough to be appetizing to most FFers, and are on public land, are popular and fished hard.

If you’re looking for wild Trout within an hour of Newark, the “River Hills” of Lancaster and York County are probably your best bet. You could probably get to the Lancaster ones in an hour or a little more, add 15-30 mins for the York side. Beyond that, you’re talking well over 2 hours to get into the Poconos or north/west of Blue Mountain.

There’s some wild Trout in the “Furnace Hills” on the Lebanon/Lancaster County border too, but they’re not worth driving 2 hours to fish. Generally very small streams with fair to poor populations of wild fish.

Keep in mind that streams are very, very low in PA right now, and fishing will likely be tough no matter where you go unless we get some rain.

If proximity to wild Trout is an important feature of your college search, I’d recommend looking at schools further north in PA.

Edit: FWIW, my guess is your fishing ambitions may take a bit of a hiatus when you’re in college. Mine certainly did. You’ll likely have other things on your mind, both academically and recreationally speaking. Pick the college that feels right and meets your academic and financial needs first and foremost.

I went to Susquehanna. I was 2 minutes from arguably the best SMB fishery in the world and I may have fished it a half dozen times in 4 years. I was 40 minutes from what many would argue is the best wild Trout stream in the state, and NEVER fished it in 4 years.

 

[Nocktavius]

Gunpowder River below Prettyboy reservoir is a wild trout tailwater in MD, probably not too much further than an hour from there (some big roads so you can drive like a bat out of hell). Everything in SE PA is super low- I wouldn’t bother and I live here. Have you considered salt?

 

[poopdeck]

Sounds like a great opportunity to expand your horizons and say, “to heck with trout, let’s try some real fishing.” I’d fish for what’s there rather than travel to fish for little uninspiring fish. If I were trapped in the Delaware area I would fish for Snakeheads and stripers. You’re pretty much in snakehead country with numerous options. The stripers are in the salt and well within your driving range.

 

[troutbert]

White Clay Creek State Park (Delaware) is immediately north of Newark. You could probably ride bike there from the university. The trout fishing in the stream is probably not very good at this time of year, but it would be worthwhile just going there and going for a walk.

I've explored the White Clay Preserve on the PA side. The fishing is not very good there, but it's a beautiful place.

 

[Bamboozle]

Forget everything you hope to find except to be "within ~1 hr of Newark" and drive about 45 minutes to an hour north and fish Ridley Creek in Delaware County, PA.

No wild fish but two sections (Sections 2 & 3) received a fall stocking and one of those sections is Catch & Release Fly Fishing Only which will up your odds on hooking up. It's been about three weeks since those stockings so I would imagine the fishing pressure is low but there are probably still plenty of fish.

FWIW - Even though I haven't fished Ridley is a long time, I have caught fish in the FFO section in December & January.

Maybe it's not the out of the way wild trout fishing spot you might desire but it's a nice little creek for suburbia and both sections are accessible from multiple locations and Section 2 flows through Ridley Creek State Park which is a nice place.

Good luck if you go!!

 

[Ggrove]

For wild Trout, you’ll need to get into PA. Though note that the SE corner of PA isn’t exactly a wild Trout paradise either, but it’s better than DE. Still, the wild Trout streams in SEPA are generally tiny, and there’s also a lot of private and posted land. The ones that are large enough to be appetizing to most FFers, and are on public land, are popular and fished hard.

If you’re looking for wild Trout within an hour of Newark, the “River Hills” of Lancaster and York County are probably your best bet. You could probably get to the Lancaster ones in an hour or a little more, add 15-30 mins for the York side. Beyond that, you’re talking well over 2 hours to get into the Poconos or north/west of Blue Mountain.

There’s some wild Trout in the “Furnace Hills” on the Lebanon/Lancaster County border too, but they’re not worth driving 2 hours to fish. Generally very small streams with fair to poor populations of wild fish.

Keep in mind that streams are very, very low in PA right now, and fishing will likely be tough no matter where you go unless we get some rain.

If proximity to wild Trout is an important feature of your college search, I’d recommend looking at schools further north in PA.

Edit: FWIW, my guess is your fishing ambitions may take a bit of a hiatus when you’re in college. Mine certainly did. You’ll likely have other things on your mind, both academically and recreationally speaking. Pick the college that feels right and meets your academic and financial needs first and foremost.

I went to Susquehanna. I was 2 minutes from arguably the best SMB fishery in the world and I may have fished it a half dozen times in 4 years. I was 40 minutes from what many would argue is the best wild Trout stream in the state, and NEVER fished it in 4 years.

Thank you much for the input, I tried my hand with snakehead today and had some luck. Definitely will not be factoring fishing into my college decision, but it is always nice to have something in my back pocket when I'm not in the books (which I don’t think will be a common occurrence). I may check out White Clay creek tomorrow. Not expecting much but it would be cool to fool a fish or two. Next stop is Chapel Hill