SOUTH CENTRAL PA STREAM TYPES

Memorial Day has past and that means it is the “unofficial” start of summer. Here where I live, for the rest of summer, someone will be by the fire pit and grilling every weekend, and that most likely will be me.

Most anglers, this time of year focus on the warm water and catfish game. Anglers who are unfamiliar with the South Central PA streams don’t realize that we have amazing year round angling. So, let me get you up to speed. In a nutshell, the Cumberland Valley has what I categorize as three distinct streams:

1st We have freestone streams here which originate from our mountain valleys. These streams can become too warm for trout, if the area does not receive rain. Hot air temperatures prevent them from cooling off during the night. So far, the 2024 season is something that I have not seen in the last thirteen years. Right now, the freestone streams are flowing great and have only been warming to 61 degrees in the afternoon. Depending on where you are fishing, you can be catching native brook trout, wild browns and holdover stocked trout.

2nd We have the heavy spring creek influenced freestone steams. These streams are true freestones, however the influence of the spring creek keeps them just cool enough to safely trout fish. One example is our Antietam Creek water. It is a freestone stream but is well fed from the cold water from Red Run. It can rise to 68 degrees but with the Red Run mixes in, the water drops back to 65 degrees. There are several more of these types of streams in the area.

3rd We have flowing in the grassy farm meadows some of the most famous limestone spring creeks in the United States. They do not rely on rainfall and are not affected by air temperatures. The water source comes from deep beneath the Earth’s surface. They boil out at 52 degrees and rarely warm above 63 degrees.

Yes, most of the hatches are over come June but he fly angler will still see tan caddis. Several streams will see the July – October tricos but remember one thing, it was the Cumberland Valley that gave birth to terrestrial fly fishing. Our area trout eagerly looking for ants, beetles and hoppers.

So, think about a summer trout adventure to the South Central PA, Cumberland Valley area. I still have plenty of dates available in July and August.