Hiking Fishing the STS

[tyeager]

So recently I wanted to take a trip to Shenandoah but that doesn't look like it will happen. I want to backpack and fish and now I will have to look a little closer to home.

I am looking for advice on fishing along the Chuck Keiper trail in Sproul State forest or along the STS in Potter County. The obvious answer to me is the Hammersly Fork which has part of the STS along it.

I'd like it to be about 3 days (2 nights) like Friday to Sunday if that plays into any responses.

I fish quite a bit in the Quehanna area so that trail is not an option right now.

I know native streams are highly guarded secrets as I have a few myself so don't feel the need to tell me to fish this pool on this stream and this feeder stream. Just give some general information about trail conditions, overall fishing, or PM any specifics.

 

[klingy]

My dad and I fished those small streams around renovo for two weeks (1 wk in the spring and 1 in the fall) last year. The Keiper trail from Fish Dam through Burns Run and Yost Run would be a great route to hit several brookie (and the occasional brown) streams. We fished most of the streams in that area that flow down the plateau into the Susquehanna, and found good fishing in all of them. Just be aware that it is about as rugged an area as you will find in PA. The climbs into and out of the stream valleys are pretty grueling, and the preponderance of rattlers, bear, elk, and other wildlife keep things interesting. Be prepared for a true backpacking experience in one of the most remote areas of the state.

 

[barbless]

One of the most remote areas of the country, from what I've read.

 

[Chaz]

The Keiper Trail is a good one to start on, there are some good streams there.

 

[evw659]

My brother and i have done a couple fishing/backpacking trips to sproul in the last couple years, and our experience has been similar to what Klingy described. One thing i would add is that north of 144, all the streams lie in very deep hollows(700-1000ft), and south of 144, most of the stream valleys are much shallower in nature, and the streams are significantly easier to access. All those streams up there are beautiful, and it is a rugged remote area. Keep an eye out for rattlesnakes on the trails, especially if you head to Burns or Fish Dam.

 

[Cold]

I've spent a bit of time in the Keiper trail area, as a friend of my dad's actually has a camp that the trail runs right beside, near the Yost area.

There's not really many secrets, based on the few times I've been there. If it's a ditch that stays wet on the bottom year round, there's brookies. They'll eat more or less the same as any other wild brookies in the state.