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Fly-fishing tips, information for novices at latest meeting

By MIKE REUTHER 5 min read

With its many streams traversing the woodlands and hills of Central Pennsylvania, the region offers countless opportunities for fly-fishing, especially for the pursuit of trout.

Susquehanna Chapter of Trout Unlimited members Walt Nicholson, Jim Latini and Rick Kintzer should know.

They've been hitting the local waters for many seasons and recently talked about some of the best places to go while offering expertise and information to fly-fishing novices or those considering taking up the sport.

"We are very fortunate in this part of Pennsylvania," Nicholson, a former Susquehanna TU president, said.

Pine Creek, Penn's Creek, Loyalsock, Lycoming and Muncy Creeks are just a few of the area's streams holding plenty of trout, thanks to the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission's stocking program.

The PFBC this year is planting 3.2 million trout in 684 streams and 130 lakes across the state.

But there exist many smaller and perhaps overlooked streams not stocked by the state that provide anglers with opportunities for pursuing wild or native trout. The official opening day of trout season is Saturday, April 4.

For anglers who can't wait for that first day, there are opportunities for year-round fishing in special regulation areas of streams such as the Delayed Harvest/Artificial Lures and Flies Only sections of Loyalsock, Muncy and Lycoming Creeks.

On Pine Creek, a 2.8-mile section known as "the stretch" -- designated as an all-tackle, catch-and-release area -- is open 12 months of the year. The Brown Trout Club stocks this section between the mouth of Slate Run to Bonnell Run with trophy-sized trout.

Bigger streams such as The Loyalsock and Pine Creek, are fed by various tributaries with their share of wild brown and brook trout.

One of the region's best streams, with a world-renowned reputation for large wild brown trout and plenty of insect hatches is Penns Creek, a limestone stream running through Centre and Union Counties.

Nicholson referred to Penns Creek's prolific Green Drake Hatch appearing from late May to early June as "a biological wonder."

"It's just a phenomenal stream," he said.

Dave Rothrock of Jersey Shore, a longtime fly-fishing guide and casting instructor, called Penns Creek "the best large trout stream in Pennsylvania."

Added Latini, who serves as Susquehanna TU vice president: "Great hatches and beautiful fish."

Rothrock noted that Penns Creek poses difficult wading challenges with many slick rocks.

Avoiding some of the hazards one can encounter while on the water is an important but often overlooked aspect of fly-fishing.

Kintzer, an avid angler and fly-tying instructor, offered up various safe tips to follow.

Glasses, he said, are the single most important item an angler should have out on the stream.

"I would recommend nobody go fishing without glasses," he said.

Glasses can protect eyes from not only hooks during back casts, but also from brush along streams.

Anglers should always have a first-aid kit with them, according to Kintzer.

"You never know what may happen," he said.

Other items for anglers to have on hand, he said, include a plastic bag to carry a change of clothes, sunscreen, and a bottle of water. Necessary fly-fishing equipment includes a fly rod and reel, boots and waders.

For Pennsylvania trout streams, Kintzer recommended a five-weight rod of maybe nine feet.

"Do you need a $600 fly rod? Absolutely not," he said.

A decent fly rod will cost no more than $89, according to Kintzer, while noting, "You don't need to make long casts in northcentral Pennsylvania."

Wading boots should have felt bottoms to provide better footing while wading streams.

And, Kintzer said, "have a good wading staff" for helping maintain balance in the water and to prevent falls.

Bear spray is a good item to possess when fishing streams out West where the ferocious grizzlies are known to prowl but not necessary to ward off the more docile black bears of Pennsylvania.

Nicholson advised being mindful of private land along streams posted in many areas and off limits to fishing.

Much of the land bordering the Loyalsock, for example, is private property lined with cabins and cottages. A popular fly-fishing spot on the Loyalsock is the delayed harvest section at Sandy Bottom south of Forksville.

Fortunately, many area streams do offer miles of open water. Lycoming Creek, following Route 15 south to the Susquehanna River at Williamsport, is a popular fishery with plenty of trout and a delayed harvest area.

The PFBC along with the Lycoming Creek Anglers, a cooperative trout nursery, annually plants the stream with fish.

Among some of the other more noteworthy streams in the region include Spring Creek in Centre County and Fishing Creek in Clinton County.

Both are limestone creeks with plenty of streambred trout and offer cool water conducive for trout throughout the summer when many freestone streams become too warm.

Nicholson noted that Spring Creek is probably the most "heavily fished creek" over the course of a year.

With so many streams to fish, where should someone new to fly fishing go?

"Get to learn your home water, then branch out," Latini said.

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