Fishing Season: All Year

Penn's Creek - PA

Fishing Outlook & Conditions

Water Temp:

68

TCO Fly Shop's Tip of the Week

Penns is back down at fishable flows with some good color. Recent thunderstorms may bump the flows so please check the gauge before fishing. Temps are going to be in the mid to high 80's this week so please temp the water in the afternoons, don't fish over 68 degrees.

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Map of Penn's Creek

Water Flow Data

5-Day Outlook as of 7/25/23

Please call for the most current weather and water levels. 814-689-3654

Techniques & Tips as of 7/25/23

Fishing on Penns has been good with nymphs in the day and dry fly action picking up in the evenings. Nymphing and terrestrial fishing will be good throughout the day. As summer temps ramp up, be sure to carry a thermometer. Stick with nymphs and streamers unless you see fish actively feeding on top. Smaller streamers tend to have a higher hookup rate. Stay late, best dry-fly action will be just before dark. Don't ignore the skinny water during hatches, fish will often stack there to feed heavily.

Local Species Available All Year

  • Fish Icon

    Brown Trout with occassional rainbows and brooks

TCO Fly Shop's Recommended Fly Patterns

"Must-have" fly fishing patterns in descending order of importance:

Name: Colors: Size(s):
Indicator Spinner - Trico N/A 18-24
Adam's Purple Parachute N/A 10-12
Quasimodo Pheasant Tail N/A 12-18
Tunghead Zug Bug N/A 10-14
Slump Busters N/A 6-10
Walt's Worm N/A 10-16
Bead Head Prince N/A 8-12
Chuck and Duck Sculpin N/A 6-10

Indicator Spinner - Trico

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Item #11YK10

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TCO Fly Shop's Recommended Gear

Description: About Penn's Creek

With 35 miles of trout water, Penn’s Creek is Pennsylvania’s longest limestone trout stream. Many people associate Penns Creek with Penns Cave--Pennsylvania’s only water cavern, where tourists glide through the dripping darkness in long, metal, motor-powered boats. The stream exiting the cave, called “Upper” Penns Creek, is small--averaging 15 to 30 feet wide. This is the coldest section of Penns Creek. And though the state stocks this section with rainbow trout, very good numbers of wild brown trout are also present. Upper Penns flows for approximately 13 miles from Penns Cave to the town of Coburn, where it is met by two pure limestone streams, Elk and Pine Creeks--fine wild brown trout fisheries in their own rights—which widen Penns from 75 to 100 feet across. Another important addition at Coburn is the maze of rocks, boulders, and gravel that fill the stream bed from this point downstream, providing excellent habitat for trout and aquatic insects. Nearly every species of caddis, stonefly, and mayfly that exist in the eastern U.S., live in Penn’s Creek, creating a hatch-matching paradise. This 11 mile section, downstream to Weikert, is rated Class A wild trout water--Pennsylvania’s highest designation--and it is not stocked. Trout average 12-13 inches but 14-16 inch fish are common and larger fish are a real possibility. Much of Penns below Coburn is rimmed by Bald Eagle State Forest’s 195,624 acres. This vast tract of wild, public land provides beautiful scenery and a wealth of wildlife.

Nearest Airport:

State College

Hatches:

Tan Caddis (14-16) Cahill (14) Trico (18-24) Black Caddis (16-18) BWO (18-22) Golden Stone (6-10) Midges (20-26)

Best Time to Fish:

evening

Best Stretch:

From Coburn to Weikart

Best Access:

Tunnel Road below Coburn, Poe Paddy State Park