Yellow Breeches, located in the Southern part of Central
Pennsylvania, probably is the most popular stream in
the state. On any given day, you'll find many anglers
fishing throughout the stream, where there is never a
shortage of trout. Having a successful day on Yellow
Breeches is commonplace. A huge stocking program supports
this river, with fish stocked almost its entire length.
Dry-fly fishing is exceptional here, which is "music
to the ears" of anglers at all skill levels. On
any given day throughout the spring, you can easily find
trout feeding on top. There are a number of Mayflies
that hatch here, with the White Fly the most famous.
Anglers flock to Yellow Breeches for this prolific hatch,
which provides great dry-fly fishing from mid to late
August.
The upper end of Yellow Breeches, around the Route 223
Bridge, is small, approximately 20-feet wide in most
spots. As the river flows east, it gains in size with
the help of several springs. The upper portion can be
accessed by the secondary roads that lead off Route 174.
This section of river, down to the Route 34 Bridge, stays
the coolest most of the year, except for the area where
the "Run" dumps into Yellow Breeches at the
beginning of the regulations area. At Boiling Springs,
the "Run" dumps into Yellow Breeches, giving
it a shot of cold water from Boiling Springs Lake. |
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The "Run" is classified as a top-notch fishery,
a place where many anglers fish along its banks. This
short, narrow stretch of stream is important to Yellow
Breeches because it keeps it in shape. The "Run" adds
a good amount of flow and cold water that benefit the
trout found throughout the regulations area of Yellow
Breeches. The regulations area begins at the mouth of
the "Run," and is governed under Catch
and Release guidelines. This one-mile stretch of
water, which ends in the vacinity Allenberry, provides
quality fishing year round (the water flows dictate the "quality") |
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The cool water and abundant numbers of bugs make this
the most popular and productive stretch on Yellow Breeches;
however, it's crowded most of the time. So, if solitude
is what you're looking for, you'll enjoy fishing below
the regulations area.
From Allenberry down, Yellow Breeches offers some
beautiful water that is overlooked by many people.
Several miles of productive water still can be found
all the way down to the spot Yellow Breeches dumps
into the Susquehanna. It's a good idea to try the areas
around Brandtsville and Williams Grove, just a few
miles below the regulations area. Around these areas
you'll find less people and a few less fish too. However,
the fishing here is still very good, and provides anglers
with a little more solitude.
Hatches on Yellow Breeches are very prolific, making
for dry-fly fishing at its finest in Pennsylvania.
Certainly, the fish here are not as difficult to catch
as those in Big Spring Creek or the Letort, but Yellow
Breeches' fish are still wary and selective. Here,
just be sure to lengthen your leaders and lighten up
your tippet as the water drops and clears going into
summer. Hendricksons, Blue
Quills, Sulphurs, and are a few of the many dependable hatches
on the river. Every year, starting in mid-August, the White
Fly hatch is a big attraction. You also should
carry along a selection of Terrestrials and Midges
for the summer months, when trout start refusing other
offerings. During periods of high water, use streamer
patterns and large nymphs. A sink-tip line will help
to keep your streamers in the "zone." Look
for feeding lanes and seams created by boulders, which
are spots where trout lie and ambush passing food.
Yellow Breeches has a lot of diverse water, bug life,
and most importantly, an abundance of trout. This is
a great place for anglers of all skill levels, and
make it a "must see" on your list of streams
to fish. |
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