Eastern NC Pa advice

[Sharknado5]

Hi all. I've fished central and NW PA streams and tribs of the West Branch for 60 years, but never fished east of Big Pine. I'd like to correct that error this spring/summer. Any advice about which streams or segments to focus on and whether any streams might fish OK into mid June, depending on enough water of course? My time frame is early-mid May (if the winter ends by then), or June, TBD.

I'm looking at Little Pine, Lycoming, Loyalsock and Muncy Creeks. Maybe Fishing or Little Fishing? I'm OK with stocked trout. I'm old but still pretty agile, but decent access is preferable. I'm OK wading. I expect my trip to last about 7 days. I'd like to fish at least 2-3 streams. I could tent camp but probably will stay in motels or maybe a cabin. Looks like I'll be solo.

If you were me, but knowing the area, where would you go? Where would you stay? And eat? I'd be happy in one or two central locations. Nice scenery would also be a plus. I really want to try out this part of the state, at least once 🙂

Thanks in advance, Bob

 

[Swattie87]

Of the ones you mentioned, they’re all going to warm similarly, with the exception of Fishing Creek (assume you mean the one near Benton). It has some weird geology that sinks it in spots, and keeps it cooler. Fishing Creek has a decent wild Brown population. Little Pine above the lake is another with some wild fish and that will stay cooler a little longer than the others, simply because it’s a little smaller. The rest are all big freestoners, with good hatches and bug populations, but are mostly, or nearly all, stockers. They’ll likely all fish similarly. My personal preference is Pine and Loyalsock (from a scenery perspective mostly) over Lycoming and Muncy. Again, all four of those will fish similarly probably though.

I’d say most years on these streams, peak fishing will be in May, and most years by mid-June you’re probably talking too warm to ethically C&R Trout. Though clearly this can vary based on individual year’s conditions, but if it were me, I’d shoot for the back half of May personally. If we get a wet, cool Spring, the first half of June is awesome up there. Sulphurs and Slate Drakes. Again, you need a wet, cool Spring to make that work though.

 

[lycoflyfisher]

Little pine is a fun stream, but got pounded by hurricane debbie.

If you have never fished the keystone select section on Lycoming near powys curve that is worth spending a day. There is a fair bit of habitat diversity and the Trout Run hotel is nearby with good food.

Loyalsock can be fun, but may warm the quickest out of the ones mentioned. The keystone select section has decent water, but can be challenging to wade in moderate flows. Lots of good water between barbours and Forksville, but access can be a bit tricky. Forksville Tavern, High knob inn and Big Mikes Cheesesteaks near the covered bridge in Hillsgrove are all good food stops.

Muncy, Fishing Creek and Little Fishing creek are all worth exploring depending on the experience you are looking for. Access can be a bit limited outside of obvious bridge access points unlesd you ask permission. Tivoli Tavern, Silverthorn Tavern, Kathys Cafe and the Central Hotel are all good food.

There is also now a TCO flyshop in muncy at Euro Optic if you need supplies.

 

[Swattie87]

I love that for many of us the allure of a certain place involves the food stops. I have a couple streams that are higher on my list than they otherwise deserve to be simply because of the food nearby.

A certain meh limestoner and a certain hot turkey sandwich and MP (gravy on both) come to mind for me at the moment. Maybe because everything else is probably ice!

In all seriousness, good advice on all fronts by lyco above.

 

[Sharknado5]

Thanks for the detailed info guys. I'll be at my usual haunts the last 2 weeks of May. By early May it should be pretty obvious what kind of water year we're having, so if it's a normal year I'll try to go then. I suspect paflyfish will plenty of timely info to guide me!

 

[JimKennedy]

A bit of an trek:

After June 1, the south central limestone creeks detailed in Limestone Legends are the places to fish east (and way south) of big pine.

Letort, including the official fly only catch and release, but also the lower open water, is good in June from first light until the sun is on the water. Streamers and terrestrials are your friends. Similarly, big spring is a great early morning option. For both, get there before anyone else and leave when the other guys start to arrive. Then head over to Yellow breeches. Historic fly area at boiling springs is well stocked, and also has plenty of wild brown trout, but the whole of the breeches (30 ish miles) is good fishing until July 4, with a mix of wild browns, stockers and the occasional holdover monster or big wild fish

South central gets pounded, so fish Monday through Thursday for best results.

Closest to just east of big pine:

Little Juniata, spring creek, Penns Creek (presuming a relatively cool June) are decent options and relatively close to the territory you are talking about. Easy access, reasonable lodging since it’s not football season, solid wild brown populations, but stocked (easy) trout are available.

Also pounded, but not quite as much as south central. Check out vrbo for lodging. Some good places, especially if you’re fishing with a buddy.

Eastern meat hole mixed with wild browns mixed in:

Little Lehigh at the coop hatchery is stocked almost every day in April, May and June. But it also has wild browns (as you get farther from the hatchery meat hole). Nearby are a few other limestoners that are class a wild brown havens. Long drive for you, but if you’re in the area…

The little Lehigh meat hole is a real throwback to the heavily stocked fly only trophy trout streams of late 1970s Pennsylvania.

This is suburban Philadelphia fishing, so no major lodging bargains. Possibly use the Lehigh river valley in the Jim Thorpe region for possible camping. (I used to have relatives in the territory, so my knowledge of places to stay is weak)

Due south in Maryland:

Yough downstream (north) of the deep creek lake cold water discharge (call (508) 251-7704), savage river downstream of the reservoir, or above the reservoir, north branch of the Potomac river downstream from Jennings Randolph lake. Camp at big run state park, or Barnum, West Virginia county park cabins. Do some research and plan your days. Lots of anglers, but plenty of places to fish.

Yough: mostly stocked, but a lot of stockers live and grow over a few years. Find out the release schedule and fish from when it’s ending until the bite ends. Nymphs are your friends.

Savage below the lake: a paradise of sorts with potential for brook, brown and rainbow trout (wild b&b with holdover rainbows.

Savage above the lake: a wild brook trout fishery that’s hard to match.

North branch Potomac: a pretty amazing tail water fishery. Big water, especially from an east coast perspective.

 

[Sharknado5]

Thanks Jim, boy what a rundown 🙂

I lived in State College when Steve and Dan's shop was in Lemont! And fished those streams a lot (and still do). Boy was Spring hot back in those days! As was Penns and LJ.

Also fished the Yough a little bit, and the Savage below the dam. And Boiling Spring once, that was a very surprising place. Never made it to the Letort or the Breeches, not sure I'm that good to not embarrass myself there. But if I have to fish in June/July your advice sounds hopeful.

The Lehigh is a little far for me, and sounds kinda scary, from what I've read on here 🙂 At this point I'm just going to try the Lycoming/Sullivan area since it's new to me. But thanks for the effort (as Bill Murray said to the Dalai Lama).

Bob