I think in general targeting WW species is a good way to start FFing. Most people start on Trout and move to WW later, but I think the opposite makes a lot of sense. WW fish generally are much more forgiving presentation wise for someone starting out than Trout are. (Yes, Brook Trout are relatively easy to catch, but also are easy to spook. And when you’re a newbie you tend to need to get closer to the spot you’re casting to than someone more experienced who can perhaps make the same cast from further away, and is less likely to spook the pool or run you’re fishing to.) With WW species like Sunnies, SMB, and Fallfish, you can practice your casting, retrieving, mending, etc, and still be pretty sloppy, yet still catch fish. Just tie on a small Bugger in black and have at it. You’ll learn the mechanics quickly, which will then help you on Trout streams. The same stuff still applies and works generally the same, the margin for error is just smaller with Trout.
So you’re on the right track in that sense. Just not the right time of year for it! I start WW (stream) fishing typically when the Spring time higher flows start to drop off and the water is warm enough to start wet wading. This is roughly about June 1st most years. Plenty of good options around the Harrisburg area. Swatara/Conodoguinet/Shermans. Just look for parks or water trail accesses where you can access them safely and without trespassing. Hint…Stand in the middle of the creek in the sun, and cast toward the bank and into the shade, wherever you can find it. Depth helps, but in the Summer Sunnies specifically will sit in very little depth, as long as it’s shaded and against a bank.
Edit: Just keep in mind that nothing is going to fish all that well when it’s THIS cold out. Yes, there are some guys who fish high, cold water for Smallies in the Winter, but that’s a nuanced type deal, and requires a pretty specific set of skills and knowledge (and spinning tackle generally) and not something I’d recommend for a FFing beginner. The fish are typically stacked in deep slack water, that is often difficult to safely wade/cast to in Winter. Most of the guys doing this kind of fishing are doing it from a boat, which isn’t the place for a new fly angler to be learning.
If you have the itch to get out now, I would also recommend sticking to Trout, but wait for a warm up. Target days with afternoon highs over 40F, and the previous night’s low not much below freezing. Don’t bother with dry flies. Fish a small streamer, mostly dead drifted, or a nymph rig of some kind. If nymphing, one of your flies at this time of year should almost always be an egg. An egg and a big heavy stonefly is my standard Winter Trout rig, FWIW.
