LOCATION
Central Pennsylvania
SEASON
Year-Round
CAPACITY
Groups of all sizes can be accommodated.
SPECIES
Brown, Brook, and Rainbow trout
GENERAL INFORMATION
TCO State College is located in the center of Pennsylvania, surrounded by five of the east’s most revered limestone trout fisheries. Diversity is perhaps their finest attribute. Spring Creek is within sight of TCO’s fly shop. Big Fishing, Penns, and Spruce Creeks, as well as the Little Juniata River, are all within a brief, scenic half hour drive. Countless free-stone trout streams and the Juniata River’s phenomenal smallmouth fishery are also within easy reach.
THE FISHING
Central Pennsylvania is home to some of the world’s great limestone wild trout fisheries. Limestone creeks are blessed with fairly constant flows and temperatures, and as the water bubbles from the ground into the creeks, it leaches some of the limestone rock, giving streams fertility unmatched in free-stone environments. These historic streams are dominated by wild brown trout that will challenge your skills and awe you with their beauty.
SPRING CREEK
Totally confined within Pennsylvania’s Centre County, Spring Creek begins life at the base of Tussey Mountain, near the village of Boalsburg. Spring Creek is Pennsylvania’s premier brown trout fishery with more wild fish per mile than any other stream in the state. Limestone feeder creeks--Cedar Run, Slab Cabin Run, Logan Branch, and Buffalo Run (wonderful wild trout streams in their own rights)--supplement cold, fertile, limestone water to Spring Creek’s already trout-friendly flows. Spring’s most productive water flows north, for 20 miles, to its confluence with Bald Eagle Creek at the town of Milesburg. But populations of both wild and stocked trout thrive far below this point. Trout average 10-12 inches, but do not let these smaller fish fool you. Spring maintains a good trout population from 13-20 inches and larger! The entire stream, from its source to its mouth, is catch and release, ensuring that these fish will stay in the stream, ready to challenge your skills. Legendary anglers George Harvey, Joe Humphreys, and Charlie Meck have called this water home. Come armed with your best nymphs, dry flies, and streamers and see if your skills can match those of the Pennsylvania masters.
BIG FISHING CREEK
Fishing Creek originates above the town of Tylersville and flows north east into Bald Eagle Creek at Mill Hall. But the section referred to as the “Narrows,” near the town of Lamar, is by far the most popular with anglers. A large spring at the Tylersville’s state hatchery adds a healthy dose of cold, limestone water and the necessary nutrients to produce one of the state’s finest wild brown trout fisheries. Anglers from all over the world come to fish this stream and its abundant hatches. Wildlife encounters are common within Big Fishing Creek’s beautiful, untamed, heavily shaded valley. White tail deer, black bears, turkeys, coyotes, and rattle snakes are a possibility anytime an angler decides to fish the “Narrows.” Fishing Creek’s dynamic geology enables anglers to fish varieties of water types more commonly found in freestone streams--from fast flowing riffles, to runs, and slow, glassy pools. Wild Brown trout up to 16 inches and native brook trout up to 12 inches are often caught in this section. But fishing during the famed green drake hatch, or high-water streamer conditions, can produce the occasional leviathan brown trout--this is where Joe Humphreys caught his state record brown trout while night fishing. Fishing Creek is often the most productive Central Pennsylvania trout fishery during periods of extreme summer heat and low water.
PENNS CREEK
Penns Creek’s 35 miles of trout water make it Pennsylvania’s longest limestone trout stream. Many people associate Penns Creek with Penns Cave--Pennsylvania’s only water cavern, where tourists glide through the dripping darkness in long, metal, motor-powered boats. The stream exiting the cave, called “Upper” Penns Creek, is small--averaging 15 to 30 feet wide. This is the coldest section of Penns Creek, and though the state stocks this section with rainbow trout, very good numbers of wild brown trout are also present. Upper Penns flows for approximately 13 miles from Penns Cave to the town of Coburn, where it is met by two pure limestone streams, Elk and Pine Creeks--fine wild brown trout fisheries in their own rights—which widen Penns from 75 to 100 feet across. Another important addition at Coburn is the maze of rocks, boulders, and gravel that fill the stream bed from this point downstream, providing excellent habitat for trout and aquatic insects. Nearly every species of caddis, stonefly, and mayfly that exist in the eastern U.S. lives in Penn’s Creek, creating a hatch-matching paradise. This 11 mile section, downstream to Weikert, is rated Class A wild trout water--Pennsylvania’s highest designation--and it is not stocked. Trout average 12-13 inches but 14-16 inch fish are common and larger fish are a real possibility. Much of Penns below Coburn is rimmed by Bald Eagle State Forest’s 195,624 acres. This vast tract of wild, public land provides beautiful scenery and a wealth of wildlife.
LITTLE JUNIATA RIVER
The Little Juniata River, a 35 mile tributary of Juniata River, begins humbly in Altoona when several small streams merge. Known locally as the “Little J” or simply the “J,” the river flows northeast from Altoona through the Logan Valley. This part of the river is a freestone fishery for predominantly stocked trout, but that changes quickly when the Little J bends sharply southeast at the town of Tyrone. Below Tyrone, the Little Juniata flows against high limestone cliffs and receives in-flows from dozens of large limestone springs which cool the river and add nutrients. The river’s deep, chalky-green pools and numerous riffles create the perfect environments to grow truly large trout. The J is a beautiful river, dotted with hand-cut stone railroad arches. But it becomes particularly scenic below Spruce Creek’s convergence, as it flows through the roadless “gorge” section within Rothrock State Forest. 13.5 miles of the Little Juniata River, from the bridge at Ironville to its confluence with the Frankstown Branch near Petersburg, is regulated as All Tackle Catch and Release. This special protection ensures that the river’s wild brown trout are able to thrive and attain proportions that are uncommon in the Northeastern U.S. In addition to the wild trout, Pennsylvania stocks 30,000 brown trout fingerlings into the river each year. But these fish quickly adapt to their surroundings and by the time they reach 10 to 12 inches (average size), it’s impossible to differentiate between the truly wild trout and the newly “wild” stocked fish.
SPRUCE CREEK
Spruce Creek is known as the trout stream of Presidents. Many have come to fish its chalky limestone water which teems with huge brown and rainbow trout. But perhaps the most well-know is Jimmy Carter who continues to make pilgrimages to Spruce Creek each year. Spruce Creek is the Little Juniata River’s largest tributary, but unlike the “J,” nearly all of Spruce is privately owned. Penn State University maintains a small half mile stretch that is open to the public, but that’s where the open water ends. TCO is fortunate to offer access to a private section of Spruce Creek that holds some of the largest trout in the Eastern United States. But availability is very limited, so call quickly to assure your spot on some of the most exclusive and productive trout water in the country.
RATES & DETAILS
2009
Wade Fishing Guided Trips
Full day, one person = $250.00
Full day, two people = $300.00
Half day, one person = $200.00
Half day, two people = $250.00
WHAT’S INCLUDED
Full day wading guide service includes an eight hour fishing day, lunch, snacks, and beverages.
Half day wading guide service includes a four hour fishing day, snacks, and beverages.
Rods, reels, waders are included free of charge when booking a guide trip.
WHAT’S NOT INCLUDED
Appropriate Pennsylvania fishing licenses: license and trout stamps are available for purchase at TCO Fly Shop or online before your trip: http://www.fish.state.pa.us/license.htm.
Flies, leaders, tippet, and other necessary items—these are available for purchase from the shop.
Gratuities for guides.
DEPOSIT INFORMATION
A 50% deposit (per angler) of the total package cost for each trip is due to us within 10 days of booking to secure the reservation. Guides and dates cannot be held or reserved without a deposit. YDFA reserves the right to charge a handling fee of $100 per person for date changes after the initial reservation has been made. Full payment is due 90 days prior to departure.
HOW TO GET THERE
The closest airport is West Yellowstone, Montana, about 50 miles from the lodge. Next and most popular is Idaho Falls Regional Airport, located 75 miles away in Idaho Falls. Both airports usually require a connection in Salt Lake City. A shuttle service is available, but many visitors prefer to rent a car allowing them to experience a sight seeing trip in Yellowstone or a non-fishing visit to Harriman Ranch or Mesa Falls.
DOCUMENTS REQUIRED
Appropriate Pennsylvania fishing licenses: license and trout stamps are available for purchase at TCO Fly Shop or online before your trip: http://www.fish.state.pa.us/license.htm.
NON-ANGLING ACTIVITIES
The State College area is blessed with non-angling activities. Sports fans will enjoy our many golf courses or games by two local Pittsburgh Pirate minor league teams: State College Spikes and Altoona Curve. And our close proximity to Penn State University allows you to witness the roar of a Penn State home football game after a morning’s fishing. Shopping is endless near State College. Options range from large malls and chain-stores on the outskirts of town, to quaint specialty shops downtown, and large and small antique stores. Perhaps you’ll want to spend time on the many hiking and mountain biking trails through our state forests and state game lands or visit one of the several lakes in the area. Penns, Indian, and Lincoln caves also offer guided tours deep into the earth. These natural wonders were formed by the same elements—limestone and spring water—that make our trout streams so special. Or maybe you simply want to dine in our many restaurants, sample beer from our local breweries, or savor genuine Amish baked goods from local stands.
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