Fishing Season: Year Round in C&R Area (Prime: April - mid-November, mid-Jan.-March)

Yellow Breeches Creek - PA

Fishing Outlook & Conditions

Water Temp:

54

Tom Baltz/Endorsed Guide's Tip of the Week

> There are trout actively spawning in various parts of the Yellow Breeches. If you encounter fish paired up and either "fighting" or actually working gravel, don't waste your time trying to get them to bite. You'll more likely foul hook them, which is not a sporting act. > Step around any redds you do encounter They appear as depressions in the gravel, with a pile of gravel just to the rear. > Stream conditions are very low and clear so staying back from your fishing spots is a good idea. Adjust tactics accordingly. > Anglers should look for midges, yellow craneflies, and later in the morning, possibly, tricos. Scattered cinnamon caddis and little BWO's may or may not show in modest numbers from mid-morning, through late afternoon. What you see will be highly dependent on just what stretch of stream you are on! > Terrestrial patterns are go-to flies for daytime fishing. Try ants and various sized beetles. A #20 black beetle like a Lady Bug (hint) are worth a try. > Be sure to carry a few streamers with you. This is transition time of the season and big trout are on the move. Best opportunities are very early or late in the day or days with heavy overcast and some rain. > 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 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

Map of Yellow Breeches Creek

Water Flow Data

Orvis-Endorsed guides nearby

Tom Baltz

5-Day Outlook as of 11/18/24

Great weekend at the International Fly Tying Symposium in Somerset, NJ last weekend! It's always fun talking flies, fly fishing, and seeing friends there! Of course, one of the major topics of conversation was the lack of rainfall and low to super low water situation in many of our trout streams. The Yellow Breeches is certainly affected by the dry conditions but is still in much better shape than many waterways. It remains very low and clear, its trout quite shy. Weather Guy says we might even get some rain over the second half of the week. Spawning activity seems full-on, with some fish already done and others just getting started. As you fish, keep an eye out for those depressions in the stream bottom where the gravel looks fresh and clean. You'll also notice a mound of fresh- looking gravel just behind said depressions; that is where the eggs are. Please don't step on those areas! In the event that you encounter fish actively working redds, please don't disturb them. They aren't likely to bite anyway and there is great danger of foul-hooking them, a most unsporting act. Should you decide to fish, working with dry flies isn't going to bother any spawning fish. In fact, midge fishing can be quite good now. Just keep 'em small. On nicer days it wouldn't be unusual to see late trico spinners around noon or even later. Might see little olives at any time. Nymphing some of the deeper runs is another possibility. The Breeches always has something for just about everybody! 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, 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 11/18/24

> Good conditions for dry fly fishing. > Watch for aquatic insect activity and if none is observed, go with assorted terrestrial or attractor dry fly patterns. > Nymphs are still taking trout too. Try your favorite techniques with respect for the low, clear stream conditions. > Midges are very important early in the day. About sz. 22/24. > Watch for tricos after the midges. They could appear anywhere from 11 a.m., on. Station up in a long flat pool for either. > Daytime dry fly technique at this time of the season would entail prospecting with terrestrial imitations. > Dry/dropper combos are worth a try. 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.

Local Species Available Year Round in C&R Area (Prime: April - mid-November, mid-Jan.-March)

  • Fish Icon

    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):
Indicator Spinner - Trico Trico #20, 22
I Can See It Midge Fly black, grey #18-22
Hard Body Ant Wet Black #12-16
Flashback Baetis Nymph N/A #18, 20
Baltz's ParaNymph natural #12-18
Baltz's I.C.S.I. Ant black #14-18
Elk Wing Caddis tan #12-16
Rosenbauer Parachute Beetle Black #14-18
Baltz's Iron X-Caddis N/A #14-16
Ed Shenk's White Minnow white #6-8

Indicator Spinner - Trico

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Item #11YK10

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Tom Baltz/Endorsed Guide's Recommended Gear

Description: About Yellow Breeches Creek

Yellow Breeches Creek is one of the famous limestone trout streams of the Cumberland Valley in south-central Pennsylvania. Winding its way through a mixture of woodlots, farmlands and old residential or summer cottage areas for some 50 miles, its brushy, narrow upper reaches near Huntsdale rapidly gain volume from many limestone spring and freestone brook tributaries. Below the village of Boiling Springs the Breeches becomes a medium to large sized stream coursing eastward, eventually joining the Susquehanna River at New Cumberland. A low gradient stream of gentle riffles and long flat pools, good water quality and varied habitat enables the Breeches to host a broad spectrum of hatches over a virtually year-round season. Notable hatches include early black stoneflies, Hendricksons, Grannom and other caddis, sulphurs, Grey fox, assorted blue winged olives and of course, the White Fly, in August. Other mayflies from tricos to Hexagenia create fishing opportunities in addition to excellent midge and terrestrial action. Heavily stocked almost year round throughout its length, there is an extremely popular “catch and release” fishery on the Breeches between Boiling Springs and Allenberry Resort. Fishing is very good up and downstream from this area too, some stretches holding fair to excellent populations of wild brown trout.

Nearest Airport:

Harrisburg International Airport - 45 minutes

Hatches:

You might see the following... > Midges, sz. 22/24. early morning. > Tricos, size 22-24. late morning, after midges. > Little yellow crane flies, sz. 16...sporadic... > For daytime fishing, terrestrials, ants and beetles, are the bugs of choice. > Assorted cinnamon, tan and dark colored small caddis flies, #14-20, sporadic, mornings and evenings... > Little blue wing olives (generically speaking), sz. 20/22, roughly...sporadic. One type (baetis sp. likely) are small dark flies that are quite difficult to see on the water. The lighter ones are not "small sulphurs"! Likely (what we used to call) Pseudocloeon sp. You may see them any time of the day from mid-morning, on... > Tan caddis, sz. 14/16, Hatch during morning hours and mating flights in the evening. Very spotty now. NOTE: Chasing hatches is like playing the lottery. Weather conditions are highly variable but very important to timing and intensity of aquatic insect activity. Only time on the water will allow the angler to be there when things get rolling. These reports are from observations/experiences up and down a thirty-mile stretch of stream and DO NOT necessarily apply to any given area. You may or may not see the same things as reported.

Best Time to Fish:

Pretty much all day.

Best Stretch:

There are hold over stocked trout scattered throughout the length of the Yellow Breeches and fair to very good numbers of wild brown trout in the reaches upstream of US Rt. 15 to the headwaters. There are areas holding wild trout downstream of there too. The mile long Special Regulations area beginning downstream of the big pool at the Ege Bridge at Boiling Springs is popular with fly fishers. > The Run parking area at the south end of Boiling Springs Lake is open and the best way to access the catch & release area. > Anglers have also been parking on the big gravel lot at the foot of the hill at Allenberry. Park against the hillside and stop up to Fairfield Hall once in a while to have a burger or a beer. Thank you Allenberry, for letting anglers park on your private properrty!!

Best Access:

There are access points scattered along the stream especially at or near bridges. Several are located in or at local parks. Please use common sense and respect land- owner's yards and property. We are losing access to the Yellow Breeches at a rapid rate! Don't be that guy! Access the Catch & Release area from the parking area on the south side of the stone bridge at the edge of Boiling Springs, or park in the redone lot at the south end of Boiling Springs Lake, near the iron furnace. Allenberry is OPEN for business. Their website is www.allenberry.com and phone # is (717) 258-3211. Anglers have been parking in the gravel lot at the bottom of the hill behind the Meadow Lodge. If you access the Yellow Breeches through the Allenberry property, you might consider checking out the restaurant for a sandwich and a beer afterwards.