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Penns Creek, located in the Northern part of Central
Pennsylvania, is a creek well known for its large Green
Drake hatch in late May and early June. Running through
three counties in Pennsylvania (Centre, Mifflin and Union),
this stream has attracted fly rodders from all over.
Penns Creek begins a couple of miles north of Spring
Mills where it emerges from the mouth of Penns Cave.
At its source, it is a small, cool, limestone creek
running from 15- to 30-feet wide. This area is heavily
posted and very inaccessible for fishing. South of
SR 45, from Spring Mills to the town of Coburn (about
seven miles), Penns Creek doubles its volume and size
from a few cold springs, widening up to 40 feet. Flowing
gently through farms and meadows, you'll find a decent
number of wild browns here. |
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CLICK FOR MAP
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Keep in mind that this area is posted in spots, so it's
a good idea to obey the landowners' wishes. By the time
mid-June arrives, the absence of a large number of trees,
that would provide shade to this area, allows the water
to warm up to an unfavorable fishing temperature all
the way down to the town of Coburn, where Elk Creek flows
in. With the shot of cold water from Elk Creek, Penns
Creek resumes its characteristics as a great, wild brown
trout stream. |
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The seven-mile area from the confluence of Elk Creek
to the catch-and-release area near Poe Paddy Campgrounds
is designated as an All
Tackle Trophy Trout Project Area. Near Poe Paddy,
Swift Run enters and from approximately 650 yds downstream
from there 3.9 miles to just about 550 yds below Cherry
run, you'll come upon an area designated for Catch-and-Release fishing.
Although they don't stock fish in this area, you'll find
a good population of browns, some up to 14 inches, with
an occasional 16-inch or larger fish. Casting can be
challenging in parts of this area, as larger browns feed
against the banks outside of casting range.
Throughout the catch-and-release area, there are
prolific hatches, deep pools, and very scenic surroundings.
Below the catch-and-release section, trout are stocked,
but you may only want to fish as far downstream as
Weikert, because below there, cold water sources are
lacking and the stream is inaccessible.
If you're heading to Penns Creek just for the Green
Drake hatch, it's likely that you'll be leaving
frustrated. Since there's such an enormous amount
of food on the water, it's awfully difficult to entice
trout to take your fly. You may fare better by trying
earlier in the day, before the Spinner Fall is in
full swing. Penns Creek offers a full variety of
insects (as early as mid-March, depending on water
runoff), and is best from mid-April through mid-October.
Be wary when fishing in midsummer because water temperatures
often can rise as high as 80 degrees on the lower
portion of the stream, so it may not be worth the
trip. Penns Creek is accessible off SR 45 and a few
other smaller roads. Visit a local shop for a more
detailed map of the area.
If you're seeking a challenging place to fish for
wild browns, give Penns Creek a try. |
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