Penns Creek Pensylvania

 

The first section of Penns Creek starts at the mouth of Penns Cave and flows through the beautiful Bush Valley and the Penns Valley, adding water from several small springs as it continues down to the little town of Coburn where it receives more cold spring water from Elk and Pine Creeks. Much of this twelve to thirteen mile section flows through agricultural land and for the most part is private property.

 

Note that Pennsylvania divides its trout waters into different categories depending on the fish species and populations. This section of the creek has a decent population of wild brown trout but not enough of them to be declared a "Class A" wild trout stream. It carries the designation of "Class B" and it is stocked by the state a couple of times per year to supplement the wild trout population of trout.

 

The next section downstream of Coburn is what most anglers refer to as Penns Creek. It is very different from the upper section as it flows like pocket water for about 15 miles through a forested area called the Seven Mountains. A fine spring creek known as Elk Creek brings cold water into Penns Creek in this section and that helps the temperature to remain cool even in the summer. This section is larger, often reaching up to 100 feet wide, and consists of fast runs, riffles and pools, with rocks for the bottom. Most of this section is considered "Class A" water and is not stocked but contains a healthy population of brown trout, some of them quite large. There is a catch and release portion that is about 7 miles downstream from Colburn near the Poe Paddy Campgrounds. Most anglers consider it the best part of Penn's Creek.

The last section of Penns Creek slows down and warms some as it flows out of these hills into Buffalo Valley where it is again rated as Class "B" water and is stocked for the next few miles. The river finally becomes too warm to support trout so the area bellow the stocked section is not considered in the total trout fishing length of 35 miles.

Fishing Penns Creek:

This stream is the home of a huge amount of aquatic insects and in fact is an aquatic insect heaven. It has as many different species and as large of quantities of insects as any stream we know of or have taken samples from. Most of the time there are multiple hatches occurring. Knowing what to fish and when to fish it frustrates many anglers to the point they lose patients with what is one of the better spring creeks in existence.
 

But the main reason why anglers come from across the country to fish this stream is the highly famed hatch of the Green Drake or “Shad Flies” (as the locals call them) which occurs in late May or early June. When the Green Drakes start hatching on Penns Creek, you may think you are seeing flocks of hummingbirds rather than mayflies. It is a sight to behold! They come up on the surface and ride the water for a lengthy time, provided they are lucky enough not to be eaten by a trout. The hatch goes on in the afternoon and later on, when the sun is setting and darkness is approaching, the sky is filled with clouds of spinners. Below them, waiting patiently are plenty of large, wild brown trout ready for a meal. If you are lucky, you will be one of the many anglers watching with a fly rod in your hand
 
Spring:
Spring is certainly the most popular season to fish Penns Creek because of its numerous hatches. From the end of March through the middle of May, hatches of different species of Blue-winged Olives occur. Of course, the famed “Shad Fly” hatch starting in late May is a must for any angler. At almost the same time, hatches of Blue Quills will be coming off until the first week or two of May. The Hendrickson mayflies start about the second or third week of April and last about a month. Chocolate Duns hatch during the month of May for about the entire month and the March Browns will also be found hatching in the fast water areas from the first of May throughout the month. By the way, this is the same mayfly as the Gray Fox.

 

Summer:
Summer time can slow down the action but fishing both early and late in the day will improve your chances. Eastern Pale Evening Duns often called Sulfurs start hatching by the middle of May and continue on through June. Green Sedges hatch from the middle of April through the middle of June as well. The Green Sedge larvae are called Green Rock Worms and flies imitating them will work very nicely year-round. Cinnamon Sedges, net spinning caddis of several species will hatch from about the first of June through August. This is the most common caddis on Penns Creek. Starting about the middle of June through September, imitations of terrestrial insects including grass hoppers, ants and beetles will work on Penns Creek

 

Fall:
Fall season is a great time to catch the large brown trout and is overlooked by many anglers. The Blue-winged Olives hatch again picks up in the last week or two of August and continues well through October. Slate Drakes hatch from about the first of August all the way through the month of October. Mahogany Duns, called Blue Quills by many locals, hatch from about the middle of July through September. Tricos, or the little White Winged Curses, hatch from about the first of July through September.
 

Winter:
Trout can be taken on all but the coldest days of winter on imitations of midge larvae, pupae and sometimes, the
adults. It is wise to have a good selection of streamers in your fly box because the large brown trout eat small baitfish, sculpin and even small crayfish.

 

Note:

We recommend our Perfect Flies for Penns Creek. They have been tested and proven
effective on this stream many times. Our imitations of the Green Drake nymph, dun and
spinners are the most realistic and effective flies you can purchase. If you haven't tried them
already, please do so. You will be very glad you did.

 

Penns Creek Trout Fishing Pictures