Fishing Outlook & Conditions
Water Temp:
62
Tom Baltz/Endorsed Guide's Tip of the Week
> With cooler weather, look for tricos to show later in the morning, after 10 a.m... > Tricos, scattered caddis flies in the 16-20 range, little bwo's (#20-22) and terrestrials have rounded out morning activity. > Try finesse techniques with small dry flies and nymphs on the smallest indicators. New Zealand Indicator and dry dropper fishing are also worth trying. > Remember, all of the nymphs of the expected hatches are in the stream. Imitate those during non-hatch periods. > Following recent rains, the stream has a tannic (brownish) stain to it. Try nymphs with touches of hot color in them. Try pink and orange beads, and hot colors for tags and collars on nymphs and wet-flies. > WATCH WHERE YOU PARK along the Breeches! Landowners are very touchy lately with the heavy pressure and a number of parking spots have been posted in the last year or so. > ALLENBERRY is OPEN! Anglers have been parking in the gravel lot at the bottom of the hill behind the Meadow Lodge. Check them out at www.allenberry.com or call (717) 258-3211 to see what the status of dining in and lodging are. Might also consider dropping a buck or two on a sandwich or beverage at some point to thank them for parking and access. > Parking access at the traditional spot, The Run, just downstream of Boiling Springs Lake is now OPEN! If you go there, watch for the new traffic patterns. There is very limited parking off of Criswell Drive. Do not get creative with parking down there! There is room for maybe, three cars. Same goes for the rest of the Breeches. Almost all of the Breeches is private property and every year we are losing access to spots that have been open for many years. Fishing is allowed by the grace of the landowners.
Directions open in app
Water Flow Data
Orvis-Endorsed guides nearby
Tom Baltz5-Day Outlook as of 9/26/23
South-central Pennsylvania FINALLY received a meaningful amount of precipitation! And none too soon; area streams were very low. The Breeches looks great right now. Water flows are up to a reasonable level and with cooler fall-like weather, fishing prospects are as good as they have been since spring. Weather Guy says that we should see some drier air move into the area by Wednesday, but expect more rather than less overcast conditions and daytime temps in the high 60's. It looks like the beginning of some of the nicest dry fly fishing of the season! Time is short though. There's about five weeks or so of fishing left before resident trout begin their annual reproductive rituals. Contact me for open dates for late season guide trips! Fishing pressure is still steady so if several cars are parked in the area you are hoping to fish, perhaps further exploration is in order. Anglers are asked to not be creative with parking along the Breeches! Almost all of the Breeches is private property, so all access is courtesy of the landowners. Contrary to what some anglers believe, the Yellow Breeches has not been adjudicated as being navigable. That means that any areas posted against trespass will mean "NO FISHING" by wading or otherwise, unless you want to be the test case. So, don't be that guy...If there is not obvious parking available perhaps looking for a different spot to fish is a good idea. While there are wild trout throughout the Yellow Breeches, some sections benefit greatly from supplemental stockings. For many years the Yellow Breeches Anglers have done an excellent job of stocking the C&R and other parts of the creek. If you fish the Breeches, you have likely caught some of their fish. Give something back and support them by joining the Club. Memberships are only $20 annually and are good for the calendar year. Send check to YBAC, Box 1, Boiling Springs, PA 17007-0001. Contributions to feed the fish are always welcome too. If you see anyone fishing bait or attempting to snag fish in the C&R area or elsewhere for that matter, take a pic and call Southcentral Region office at (717) 486-7087. For nefarious activity of a non-fishing nature call the Pennsylvania State Police at 717-243-4121. Enjoy the fishing and please be courteous to other anglers. And if you get into some fish show us a picture but please don't put the location on Facebook!! You don't wanna be a spot burner! General information is good! It always feels best when you earn it.
Techniques & Tips as of 9/26/23
> With cooler weather expect dry fly fishing to start a little later in the morning. After ten o'clock is a good time to switch tactics. Before that stay with nymphs or small streamers. By ten o'clock watch for "bugs". That could be aquatic insects like tricos, midges, caddis flies, tiny to small sized blue wing olives. If none are observed, try terrestrial patterns suggesting ants, beetles, and other land-based insects. A good breeze helps with the terrestrial fishing, dislodging the six-legged critters from their bank-side perches and depositing them into the stream. > Tightline nymphing techniques are effective in the right locations. Some of the best water for that is fast and deep. > Standard indicator nymphing is effective but make casts as gently as possible; surviving trout may will be most sensitive to a float plunking down on top of them. > This is a great time to try the New Zealand Indicator system with a single, small pheasant tail nymph or something similar. It enables the angler to stay back from the targeted fishing area a bit.
Local Species Available Year Round in C&R Area (Prime: April - mid-November, mid-Jan.-March)
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Wild brown trout
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stocked rainbows and browns
Tom Baltz/Endorsed Guide's Recommended Fly Patterns
"Must-have" fly fishing patterns in descending order of importance:
Name: | Colors: | Size(s): |
---|---|---|
Light Cahill | N/A | #8-16 |
Sulphur Parachute | N/A | #12-18 |
Indicator Spinner - Trico | trico | #22-24 |
Elk Wing Caddis | tan/dun | #14-18 |
Baltz's ParaNymph | natural | #16-20 |
grey hackle peacock | N/A | #22-24 |
Bead Head American Pheasant Tail | N/A | #12-18 |
I Can See It Midge Fly | black, gray, olive | #18-24 |
Baltz's Iron X-Caddis | N/A | #14-16 |
I.C.S.I. Parachute Ant | black | #14-16 |
Tom Baltz/Endorsed Guide's Recommended Gear
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Best Leader:
Super Strong Plus Leaders
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Best Tippet:
SuperStrong Plus Tippet in 30- and 100-meter spools
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Best Fly Fishing Rod:
4-Weight 8' 6" Fly Rod
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Best Floating Fly Line:
WF Trout Fly Line