Fishing Outlook & Conditions
Water Temp:
63
Tom Baltz/Endorsed Guide's Tip of the Week
> Weather this week is predicted to be warm...I think we've skipped May! Get out early, carry and use a stream thermometer. > Water is very low...try to wade with caution and stay back from your targeted fishing areas. Trout are spooky! > There have been modest to good aquatic insect hatches...If you see bugs and no, or not many, fish are rising, try the underwater versions (nymphs/pupae) of what appear to be the most numerous ones. > It seems more anglers are fishing nymphs than anything else. Try 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. > Use some off-stream time to research common stream insects. That knowledge will be invaluable in the long run. > Vary nymph presentations and try to read trouts' 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. > Fishing pressure is still heavy. Try to target parts of the stream that most anglers overlook. > 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 4/29/25
We may have skipped May and gone straight into June! Daytime temps don't look too bad, but nights are predicted to be at the threshold for cooling off the stream. Get out in the morning! If you're not catching fish, use a stream thermometer. When water temps rise above 65 degrees or so, Trout activity will fall off. Fishing success has been up and down, but the last few days have been some of the best. Still not a lot of surface activity but at least nymph fishing has picked up. Some anglers are utilizing Euro tactics, but most anglers are floating indicators of some sort. The gentle presentation of the New Zealand system has been productive for my guests. The Breeches is still a busy place but there are signs of the early season crowds easing off a little. 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 4/29/25
> 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. Trout are getting spooked by all of the hard floats getting slapped on their heads! > 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 |
Prince Nymph | N/A | #14-16 |
Tunghead Hot Spot Pheasant Tail Jig | N/A | #12-18 |
Flashback Baetis Nymph | N/A | #18, 22 |
Baltz's ParaNymph | natural | #12-20 |
soft hackle wet flies | tan, olive, green | #12-16 |
Tunghead Pheasant Tail Jig | 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