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

Yellow Breeches Creek - PA

Fishing Outlook & Conditions

Water Temp:

58

Tom Baltz/Endorsed Guide's Tip of the Week

> This is the only tip you need to read this week. The Breeches is high and muddy again... > 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! > When the Breeches comes down and clears up a bit there will still be big flows. 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. > I also have not tried any streamers, but the water will be 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

Map of Yellow Breeches Creek

Water Flow Data

Orvis-Endorsed guides nearby

Tom Baltz

5-Day Outlook as of 6/16/25

Just as the Breeches was looking fishable again, we got more rain. It rained pretty steadily over Sunday night into early Monday morning. At 3 p.m. I checked the Barnitz area and ran into a friend of mine there who said he had caught a few fish. It's high and I think, still rising and muddy. Forget any stretches downstream of where Mountain Creek comes into the Breeches. Weather Guy is predicting rain Tuesday and showers all week and then a couple of hot days/nights. The weekend? Who knows at this point. All of the rain has pretty much trashed dry fly fishing since early May but nymphing has been good. Look for the soft water and get your bugs down. See the TIPS and TECHNIQUES sections for more info. My most effective stuff has not been "hatch-Matcher' type bugs, but simple jigs like Walt's Worms, PT's and assorted no-name bugs. in mostly sz, 16/18 with 3/32" through 1/8" tungsten heads and some kind of suspension devices. I've been using single bugs and New Zealand indicators a lot. Good luck! 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 6/16/25

> Nymph fishing has been 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. Foam floats are better for cross-current presentations as they still float even with less than precise handling. > 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. > Our wettest May on record has not been kind to the dry fly angler. Still, that water has been MOST welcome and there ARE still mayfly and caddis fly hatches happening now. Caddis and midge hatches may show at any time. Early and late in the day are best times. Try small "F" flies, I.C.S.I. Midges, No Name midges, and similar bugs. Sulphurs are most likely in the evening around dusk. Caddis flies are around then too. > 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)

  • 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):
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
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

Buy Now

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... > Terrestrial imitations will really begin to increase in importance now. Ants and beetles, basically... > Light Cahills, #14-16, Best opportunities are in the evening, near dusk. Try dry flies, the ParaNymph, or various other subsurface patterns. > Midges, #20-24, black, have been steady fairly early in the morning. Perhaps not the best bet, given current stream conditions. > Tiny bwo's, #22-24, sporadic on the C&R area at Allenberry. I'm sure they are emerging elsewhere on the Breeches too. > Tan caddis, #14/20. morning or evening. Sporadic. With cool weather, I've observed them off and on all day. Otherwise, early and late. Carry both pupal and adult imitations. > Tan/yellow craneflies, #16. Try a tan or pale-yellow Adams varient, "sulphur/pale evening dun" pattern, or a sparsely dressed ParaNymph. 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:

Morning to lunch time and evening

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 Rt. 15 too. The mile long Special Regulations area beginning just 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.