Description: About Yellow Breeches Creek
Yellow Breeches Creek is one of the famous limestone trout streams of the Cumberland Valley in south-central Pennsylvania. Winding its way through a mixture of woodlots, farmlands and old residential or summer cottage areas for some 50 miles, its brushy, narrow upper reaches near Huntsdale rapidly gain volume from many limestone spring and freestone brook tributaries. Below the village of Boiling Springs the Breeches becomes a medium to large sized stream coursing eastward, eventually joining the Susquehanna River at New Cumberland.
A low gradient stream of gentle riffles and long flat pools, good water quality and varied habitat enables the Breeches to host a broad spectrum of hatches over a virtually year-round season. Notable hatches include early black stoneflies, Hendricksons, Grannom and other caddis, sulphurs, Grey fox, assorted blue winged olives and of course, the White Fly, in August. Other mayflies from tricos to Hexagenia create fishing opportunities in addition to excellent midge and terrestrial action.
Heavily stocked almost year round throughout its length, there is an extremely popular “catch and release” fishery on the Breeches between Boiling Springs and Allenberry Resort. Fishing is very good up and downstream from this area too, some stretches holding fair to excellent populations of wild brown trout.
Nearest Airport:
Harrisburg International Airport - 45 minutes
Hatches:
You might see the following...
> Assorted tan/dun caddis, sizes, 16 to 20 Spotty...morning and evening.
> Little yellow crane flies, sz. 16. morning and evening.
> Little black caddis, sz. 20.morning and evening.
> Sulphurs are on! The blue-winged sulphurs, (E. Invaria) are about size 14. On warm, sunny days look for the flies right at dusk. Cool overcast days, they may trickle off all afternoon. Don't forget evening spinner falls.
> Little blue wing olives (generically speaking), sz. 20/22, roughly...sporadic. One type (baetis sp. likely) are small dark flies that are quite difficult to see on the water. The lighter ones are not "small sulphurs"! Likely Pseudocloeon
sp.
> Slate drakes, #10,12...Spotty but they are big bugs, and you can bet trout are aware of them.
NOTE: Chasing hatches is like playing the lottery. Weather conditions are highly variable but very important to timing and intensity of aquatic insect activity. Only time on the water will allow the angler to be there when things get rolling. These reports are from observations/experiences up and down a thirty-mile stretch of stream and DO NOT necessarily apply to any given area. You may or may not see the same things as reported.
Best Time to Fish:
morning and again around dusk
Best Stretch:
There are hold over stocked trout scattered throughout the length of the Yellow Breeches and fair to very good numbers of wild brown trout in the reaches upstream of US Rt. 15 to the headwaters. There are areas holding wild trout downstream of there too. The mile long Special Regulations area beginning downstream of the big pool at the Ege Bridge at Boiling Springs is popular with fly fishers.
> The Run parking area at the south end of Boiling Springs Lake is open and the best way to access the catch & release area.
> Anglers have also been parking on the big gravel lot at the foot of the hill at Allenberry. Park against the hillside and stop up to Fairfield Hall once in a while to have a burger or a beer. Thank you Allenberry, for letting anglers park on your private properrty!!
Best Access:
There are access points scattered along the stream especially at or near bridges. Several are located in or at local parks. Please use common sense and respect land- owner's yards and property. We are losing access to the Yellow Breeches at a rapid rate! Don't be that guy! Access the Catch & Release area from the parking area on the south side of the stone bridge at the edge of Boiling Springs, or park in the redone lot at the south end of Boiling Springs Lake, near the iron furnace.
Allenberry is OPEN for business. Their website is www.allenberry.com and phone # is (717) 258-3211. Anglers have been parking in the gravel lot at the bottom of the hill behind the Meadow Lodge. If you access the Yellow Breeches through the Allenberry property, you might consider checking out the restaurant for a sandwich and a beer afterwards.
