Where to start for bigger wild Browns/Brooks?

[youngtroutbum]

Id like to start this Theard off by saying I don't mean to spot burn and I don't want anyone to give out their secret honey hole. I also know that there probably threads already on here that cover this topic I just haven't found yet (I found Greenlanders thread from 2011). With that being said I've fishes the Yellow breaches creek in SC Pa for basically all my life and spent a good amount of time in Mountain Creek in Mount Holy. I've caught many small wilds out of Mountain and really want to chase after some bigger wild fish. I spend most my time In SC pa and SE/Eastern Pa, I go home to the beaches ( Im currently in college in Lancaster and my best friend goes to school in Exton). Are there creeks and rivers in these areas that would be a good starting spot for us, again I don't want to burn any spots just looking to be pointed in the right direction. Thanks in advance for any insight.

 

[6xAdams(Jones)]

Apologies that this reply won't expound on all the pros and cons of this-or-that blue line, but this can point you in a direction. I don't know if it will be the right direction.

ArcGIS Web Application

pfbc.maps.arcgis.com

 

[youngtroutbum]

Apologies that this reply won't expound on all the pros and cons of this-or-that blue line, but this can point you in a direction. I don't know if it will be the right direction.

ArcGIS Web Application

pfbc.maps.arcgis.com

Ive been studying this map for the past couple of weeks 😉. The only big wild I've ever hooked into was in a creek not listed as a class A or reproductive stream which is sort of why I made this thread. I think those of us actually out and about exploring streams know more then the pfbc.

 

[HoboWithAFlyRod]

I think enough big wild trout exist in the Yellow Breeches. I caught a decent sized brown in the post-spawning period last year in the special regs section. Other times when I’ve been there at night I’ve heard surface eats that practically make the trees shake.

 

[HopBack]

There is not really many wild trout streams between Lancaster and Exton let alone ones that produce large wild trout. Your best bet is to stick close to home and fish the letort and big spring. Those are both very extremely hard streams to fish but given enough time, you will probably catch a substantial sized brook trout or brown trout. I’ll PM you some Lancaster county streams that have the potential to produce 14+ in brown trout from time to time.

 

[tjsingle]

To be honest, nothing really comes to mind between Lancaster and Exton. That's not to say there isn't large wild trout in SEPA, but that particular US30 corridor area is mostly farmland. If you want to fish Eastern PA, I'd still look North.

If I were you I would look North and West from Mechanicsburg. Use the PFBC Trout GIS map as a starting point. Don't overlook waters close to home, knowing those local waters will help you too. Especially if you can hone in where the wild fish are.

SCPA has some good fishing 🙂

Probably my best advice to catch larger trout is to just keep fishing, you'll find them. Some of my best days have came out of the southern half of the state, its all about right time, right place. I've caught them in all types of conditions whether it be high water, low water, muddy water, or gin clear water. Like you said, you can even catch them in waters that aren't listed on the PFBC resources dependent on the time of year.

 

[jifigz]

I'm no Yellow Breeches expert, but surely there are plenty of decent sized wild browns to hold you over in there....

 

[6xAdams(Jones)]

Good advice on here about YB. It's implied, but I'll say it outright... Don't limit your fishing to the fabled historic hotspots you can read about - or places your buddies tell you about. There is lots of good fishing well away from Boiling Springs and Allenberry. I'm sure that's true for a lot of other creeks.

 

[dryflyguy]

The larger the water, the better chance you have at catching larger fish.

For Browns, I favor our large tail waters.
Cold bottom release dams do good things for trout.

As for brooks, I'm still trying to find somewhere in PA to catch really nice brook trout.
Haven't quite succeeded yet.
But its sure fun trying

 

[youngtroutbum]

I think enough big wild trout exist in the Yellow Breeches. I caught a decent sized brown in the post-spawning period last year in the special regs section. Other times when I’ve been there at night I’ve heard surface eats that practically make the trees shake.

Okay now you guys have me thinking I caught this fish a good ways down stream form the water plant on the breaches. I just assumed because of how stocked the breaches there wouldnt be a wild population.

 

[troutbert]

Okay now you guys have me thinking I caught this fish a good ways down stream form the water plant on the breaches. I just assumed because of how stocked the breaches there wouldnt be a wild population. View attachment 1641240483

That looks like a wild trout. Stocking over wild trout populations (both browns and brookies) is very common in PA.

 

[jifigz]

Okay now you guys have me thinking I caught this fish a good ways down stream form the water plant on the breaches. I just assumed because of how stocked the breaches there wouldnt be a wild population. View attachment 1641240483

The Breeches has a strong population of wild brown trout throughout most of its length.

 

[troutbert]

The Breeches has a strong population of wild brown trout throughout most of its length.

For long-time Breeches regulars: Has that always been the case? Or has the wild trout population changed a lot over the years?

 

[Swattie87]

Looks like you’re already catching big wild Browns. Very nice fish.

They’re in way more places than you’d think. And even way more places than that probably. Just go explore. You’ll start to put the puzzle together of what to look for. Or what not to look for. Figuring it out becomes the fun.

 

[youngtroutbum]

That looks like a wild trout. Stocking over wild trout populations (both browns and brookies) is very common in PA.

I think thats pretty dumb especially in limestone creeks that would be able to support good fish, I know a pretty popular stream in Carlisle had a derby held in it a few years ago and that upset quite a few people for good reason.

 

[6xAdams(Jones)]

I just remembered my boys catching a few small ones in Trout Run just upstream of where it flows into YB at Messiah. They saw (and avoided) redds in there too, but this was over 5 years ago. There may be some big ones in there if property owners don't mind you looking for them.

 

[youngtroutbum]

I just remembered my boys catching a few small ones in Trout Run just upstream of where it flows into YB at Messiah. They saw (and avoided) redds in there too, but this was over 5 years ago. There may be some big ones in there if property owners don't mind you looking for them.

I was walking on trout run when it was iced over and fell through like a week ago :0

 

[wildtrout2]

That looks like a wild trout. Stocking over wild trout populations (both browns and brookies) is very common in PA.

I agree, looks wild. Especially with an eye spot and some red on the adipose fin. Has anyone seen a holdover aquire an eye spot?

 

[6xAdams(Jones)]

I was walking on trout run when it was iced over and fell through like a week ago :0

Are you in the Grantham section of Mechanicsburg often? You're probably more familiar with that area than we are. I haven't fished along the campus stretch since our youngest graduated from the school.

 

[Mikey2006]

That looks like a wild trout. Stocking over wild trout populations (both browns and brookies) is very common in PA.

Even with that tail? I can’t tell if it’s just being squished against his jacket but it looks like half of its tail is missing. Could that really just be from spawning?