Fishing Outlook & Conditions
Water Temp:
68
Tom Baltz/Endorsed Guide's Tip of the Week
> Watch water temperatures!! It is summertime! Stream temps are hitting lethal stages for trout. Carry and use a stream thermometer! If it reads 68 degrees or more, trout will be under a lot of stress and not very active. In the event one is hooked, it's chances of survival are slim. > It's very sad but so far this year has been a dry fly bust. Hatches have been scattered and fishing conditions not real conducive to good surface fishing. Life ain't fair! Good news though; nymph fishing has been excellent! > You will have to figure out how to get your nymphs down in the water column. There are several ways to do that. Pure weight will work to some extent, but a better way is to use somewhat finer leader/tippet set-ups and concentrate on a dead-drift presentation. Any drag will inhibit the sink rate of your nymph(s). That pretty much goes for both indicator and Euro nymphing techniques. > Try nymph patterns that suggest the observed or expected insect activity. If you are not familiar with the general aquatic insect variety/ecology, generic patterns like hare's ear nymphs and soft-hackle wet flies are worth a try. Very simple jig-nymphs like Walt's Worms (hare's ear/silver bead) and pheasant tails have been some of my most effective flies this year. > Vary nymph presentations and try to read the trout's reactions to get the most effective presentation for that day, or even that moment. Sometimes a deep presentation will be best, while at other times, especially when flies are emerging, flies fished higher in the water column might work better. > Use off-stream time to increase your knowledge of trout stream insects. That information will be invaluable in the long run. > Don't overlook dry fly possibilities. There are bugs hatching...be observant. Also, look to slower or backwater areas for sippers. Terrestrial imitations are worth a try. > ALLENBERRY is OPEN! Anglers have been parking in the gravel lot at the bottom of the hill behind the Meadow Lodge. PLEASE DO NOT PARK ON THE GRASS! WE DON'T WANT THIS AREA TO BE CLOSED!! 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 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 7/29/25
The area is facing its highest temperatures of the season over the next few days. Water temps in the lower c&r area are hitting at least 68 degrees early in the morning, rapidly rising to near the near lethal range by mid-day. Weather Guy is predicting a showery day on Thursday and I'm hoping they're COOL showers. That and predicted moderate day and nighttime temperatures offer hope of some fishing on the Breeches by the weekend. Use that thermometer! When fishing along the Yellow Breeches, Please! DON'T LITTER! You might even consider policing the area when you are done fishing and pick up any trash left by others; the last guy in the lot gets the blame. Littering and illegal parking are the two biggest causes of landowners' posting their properties! So, 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, 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 7/29/25
> Finally, fishing on the surface has decent prospects. Best bets are going to be with terrestrials like ants, beetles, and some of the odd but attractive creations like small Chubbies. > If you choose to fish nymphs, consider the New Zealand system (also see dry/dropper techniques) Try to fish it mostly upstream, rather than across stream. Foam floats are better for cross-current presentations as they still float even with less than precise handling. > Learn to tightline the indicator. Presentations are more precise and strikes more easily detected. > Use nymphs that suggest the various flies that are about to hatch. I must add here that stuff like Walt's Worms and pheasant tail jigs have been my most effective nymphs so far this season. > Dry/dropper combos. Trail a small wet fly, caddis pupa, mayfly type nymph, or ant pattern 12 to 20 inches behind your favorite searching dry fly pattern. ParaNymphs and caddis patterns work well for this tactic... > It's always smart to carry a few streamers in the fly boxes. A basic selection will include a Muddler Minnow, something white like Ed Shenk's great white minnow pattern, and a dark Woolly Bugger. Fish them with an appropriately sized split shot clinched onto the leader directly above the hook eye. This is the way these flies were intended to be fished by their inventors and is a more versatile way of weighting them than a bead or conehead. Fish them like tightline nymphs.
Local Species Available Year Round in C&R Area (Prime: April - mid-November, mid-Jan.-March)
-
Wild brown trout
-
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): |
---|---|---|
I Can See It Midge Fly | grey, olive, black | #20, 22 |
Sulphur Parachute | N/A | #14-18 |
Tunghead Hot Spot Pheasant Tail Jig | N/A | #12-18 |
Bead Head Caddis Pupa | tan | #14,16 |
Baltz's ParaNymph | natural | #12-20 |
Baltz's I.C.S.I. parachute ant | black | #14-16 |
Tunghead Hare's Ear Flashback | N/A | #12-18 |
Woolly Bugger | olive | #6,8 |
Baltz's Iron X-Caddis | N/A | #14-16 |
Ed Shenk's White Minnow | white | #6-8 |
I Can See It Midge Fly
These midge flies are just what the optician ordered when it matters most.
2.99
Item #02RP
Tom Baltz/Endorsed Guide's Recommended Gear
-
Best Leader:
Super Strong Plus Leaders
-
Best Tippet:
SuperStrong Plus Tippet in 30- and 100-meter spools
-
Best Fly Fishing Rod:
4-Weight 8' 6" Fly Rod
-
Best Floating Fly Line:
WF Trout Fly Line