Fishing Outlook & Conditions
Water Temp:
58
Tom Baltz/Endorsed Guide's Tip of the Week
> There have been modest to good aquatic insect hatches...I have not been out evenings though so if you fish late, you might see fishable sulphurs or spinners. > If you see bugs during the day and no, or not many, fish are rising, try the underwater versions (nymphs/pupae) of what appear to be the most numerous ones. > The Breeches is pushing a lot of water right now so 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). > 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. > 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. > I also have not tried any streamers, but the water looks prime for that method. Hook up a size 8 or 6 Woolly Bugger with an appropriate-sized split shot tight to the hook eye, and slow roll it with a swing at the end. > 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. > 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 5/20/25
The Yellow Breeches is in super good shape for fishing right now. That is, if you're not afraid of some serious water! Current flows are not for the faint of heart or the bold wader. Be careful out there! We had a really good day on the stream today (Monday) using a variety of nymph patterns below a small foam indicator. Lot of anglers up in the Barnitz area though and it was really packed in a favorite downstream spot (well below Boiling Springs). Allenberry only had a couple of anglers when we looked around this morning. Weather is still a crap shoot. Predictions are for another inch of rain, plus or minus, over Wednesday and Thursday. If we get a gentle half inch each day, we might slide by, but one good T-storm would, I think, blow us out again. Control what you can control...we're fishing! Good luck to those who decide to fish. Ya can't catch any trout if ya don't! Try to consider the "other guy" in wading, and fishing in general. There have been quite a few anglers on the stream... 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 5/20/25
> Nymph fishing is odds on favorite method of most anglers. Precise presentations of tightline nymphing are favored to detect the light strikes you'll likely get but, be versatile and don't hesitate to try other techniques. Be certain to cover the water efficiently and very thoroughly. Trout aren't likely to move too far for a less than precise presentation. > If you choose to fish nymphs, consider the New Zealand system. Try to fish it mostly upstream, rather than across stream. Hard floats are better for cross-current presentations. > Use nymphs that suggest the various flies that are about to hatch. > Don't overlook possibilities of a bit of dry fly fishing. Mayfly and caddis fly hatches are happening now. Midge hatches may show at any time, but early morning is a good bet. Try small "F" flies, I.C.S.I. Midges, No Name midges, and similar bugs. > Dry/dropper combos. Trail a small wet fly, caddis pupa, or mayfly type nymph 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)
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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): |
---|---|---|
I Can See It Midge Fly | grey, olive, black | #20, 22 |
Sulphur Parachute | N/A | #14-16 |
Tunghead Hot Spot Pheasant Tail Jig | N/A | #12-18 |
Bead Head Caddis Pupa | tan | #14,16 |
Baltz's ParaNymph | natural | #12-20 |
soft hackle wet flies | tan, olive, green | #12-16 |
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
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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