Fly Fishing in Pennsylvania

A regional note specific to this state: the trout water here is a mix of tailwaters below hydroelectric dams and a few high-country freestone streams, and the most productive water is the tailwater that produces the largest fish and the most consistent fishing throughout the year and across all seasons. Pennsylvania trout fishing is the most diverse in the Mid-Atlantic, ranging from the legendary spring creeks of the central part of the state to the wild freestone streams of the Allegheny Plateau. The state has more than 13,000 miles of fishable trout water, including the famous Spring Creek, the Penns Creek, the Little Juniata, the Yellow Breeches, the Letort Spring Run, and dozens more. The most famous trout river is Spring Creek, a spring creek in central Pennsylvania that produces wild browns and rainbows averaging 14 inches. The state's trout program is administered through the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission, and the agency stocks the put-and-take rivers and lakes in the spring and fall while managing the wild trout water through a combination of slot limits and special regulations. A regular Pennsylvania fishing license is required, and the cost is $23 for residents and $53 for non-residents, and the daily limit is 5 trout combined in most waters with special regulations on the wild trout water.