How to use this guide
Rules on Penns Creek change from one section to the next. Everything here was checked against the 2026 Pennsylvania Fishing Summary from the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission (PFBC) and the other sources listed at the back in October 2026. Always confirm current rules at fishandboat.com before you fish. Posted signs on site take precedence.
The Creek at a Glance
Penns Creek is a limestone-fed tributary of the Susquehanna River in central Pennsylvania, about 67 miles long. A large spring in Penn's Cave near Spring Mills is one of its sources, and it meets the Susquehanna below Selinsgrove. It is best known among anglers for its wild brown trout and its late-May Green Drake hatch. Most fly anglers focus on the water from Coburn (where Elk Creek joins) downstream past Poe Paddy State Park and Cherry Run. Long stretches here have no road; an old railroad grade runs beside the creek and is the main way in on foot.
| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Length | About 67 miles |
| Source | Springs including Penn's Cave, Centre County |
| Mouth | Susquehanna River, below Selinsgrove |
| Counties along the trout water | Centre, Mifflin, Union (then Snyder downstream) |
| Special rules | Brown trout catch-and-release (Spring Mills–Coburn), slot limit (Coburn–Swift Run), catch-and-release lures only (below Swift Run, 7.48 mi) |
| USGS gauge | 01555000, Penns Creek at Penns Creek, PA |
PFBC Rules by Section
Source: 2026 Pennsylvania Fishing Summary (PFBC) — Miscellaneous Special Regulations, Special Regulation Areas and the regional lists. Summarized; read the summary book for exact wording. Sections are listed upstream to downstream.
| Section (PFBC description) | Program | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Centre: from the SR 45 bridge in Spring Mills downstream to the confluence with Elk Creek | Miscellaneous special regulation | All tackle allowed. Brown trout: catch and release only, at any time. Other trout: 7-inch minimum, 5 per day combined from 8 a.m. on opening day to midnight on Labor Day; no harvest from the day after Labor Day to the third Sunday in February. |
| Centre: 6.98 miles from the confluence with Elk Creek downstream to the catch-and-release area 600 meters below Swift Run | All Tackle Trout Slot Limit | Open year-round, 24 hours. No tackle restrictions. Opening day (8 a.m.) through Labor Day: 2 trout per day, combined species, at least 7 and under 12 inches. Day after Labor Day to opening day: no trout may be kept. |
| Mifflin/Union: 7.48 miles from about 600 meters below Swift Run downstream to the downstream end of the island near the end of Jolly Grove Lane | Catch and Release Artificial Lures Only | Open year-round, 24 hours. No trout may be kept. Artificial lures (metal, plastic, rubber, wood) or flies and streamers only, on spinning or fly gear. Taking baitfish or fishbait is prohibited. |
| Below the Jolly Grove Lane island | Statewide / stocked-water rules by location | Check the PFBC summary and stocking lists for the stretch you plan to fish. |
Licenses
- Anglers 16 and older need a Pennsylvania fishing license.
- A trout permit is also required to fish for trout, to fish any water under special trout regulations, and to fish Class A wild trout waters — which covers all of the special sections above.
- Prices and options: fishandboat.com (licenses are sold online and by issuing agents).
Note: Older guides and websites describe a single long catch-and-release or "trophy trout" section from Coburn to Cherry Run. That is out of date. The 2026 rules split the water into the slot-limit section and the catch-and-release lures-only section shown above.
Flows & Gauge
Penns Creek has one long-running U.S. Geological Survey gauge, downstream of the main fly water. It is still the best quick check on whether the creek is up, dropping or low.
| Gauge | Details |
|---|---|
| USGS 01555000 — Penns Creek at Penns Creek, PA | Snyder County. Drainage area 301 square miles. Live discharge (cfs) and gauge height at waterdata.usgs.gov/monitoring-location/01555000. |
How to read it
- Compare today's reading with the median for the date shown on the USGS page. Well above the median usually means higher, faster, cloudier water.
- A sharp rise after rain means the upstream fly water is likely rising too. Wait for the graph to level off and start dropping.
- Because the gauge is downstream of the trout water, treat it as a trend indicator rather than an exact measure of the Coburn–Cherry Run reach.
Water temperature
Penns Creek warms in summer, especially far from its springs. Many anglers carry a thermometer and stop fishing for trout when water reaches the upper 60s °F, because caught fish recover poorly in warm water. In midsummer, fish early in the morning or choose colder water.
Access
Named places below are listed upstream to downstream. Much of the middle of this reach is reached on foot along the old railroad grade; the PFBC describes the middle portion of the section as accessible mainly by that grade and a state access at Ingleby.
| Place | Section | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Spring Mills to Coburn | Brown trout catch-and-release | Upper creek through Penns Valley; much of the land along it is private. Fish only where access is clearly public or permitted. |
| Coburn (Elk Creek confluence) | Top of slot-limit section | A common starting point for the wild-trout water. |
| Ingleby | Slot-limit section | State (DCNR) access area named by the PFBC. |
| Poe Paddy State Park | Near Swift Run boundary | DCNR state park with camping. Busy during the Green Drake. |
| Swift Run | Boundary area | Catch-and-release lures-only section starts about 600 m below Swift Run. |
| Cherry Run | Catch-and-release lures only | Cherry Run is a tributary within the lower special section. |
| Jolly Grove Lane island | Bottom of special section | Below here, statewide or stocked-water rules apply by location. |
Access etiquette
- Park only in designated areas and don't block gates or lanes.
- Respect posted private property. Public access along Penns Creek is not continuous.
- Check DCNR (Poe Paddy State Park and Bald Eagle State Forest) for current road, camping and parking information before you go.
Approximate Hatch Chart & the Green Drake
Windows below are approximate. They summarize commonly reported patterns for central Pennsylvania limestone-influenced streams and shift with weather and water temperature. No agency publishes an official hatch chart for Penns Creek.
| Insect | Approx. window | Time of day | Typical sizes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Blue-winged olives | Spring and fall | Afternoon | #16–20 |
| Hendrickson | Mid-April to early May | Afternoon | #12–14 |
| Grannom caddis | April | Afternoon | #14–16 |
| March brown | Mid to late May | Day | #10–12 |
| Sulphur | May to June | Evening | #14–18 |
| Green Drake | Late May to early June | Evening into dark | #8–10 |
| Light Cahill | Late May to June | Evening | #12–14 |
| Slate drake (Isonychia) | Summer to fall | Evening | #10–12 |
| Trico | Summer | Morning | #22–24 |
| Terrestrials | Summer | Day | #12–18 |
The Green Drake
The Green Drake (Ephemera guttulata) is a large mayfly whose hatch on Penns Creek, usually in late May, draws anglers from across the region. Expect crowded parking and campgrounds during the hatch. Duns typically appear toward evening, and the spinner fall (anglers call the spent spinner the "Coffin Fly") often happens close to dark — bring a headlamp and know your way back to the trail.
Fall spawning: Brown trout spawn in fall. Avoid wading through clean, light-colored gravel patches (redds) and leave spawning fish alone.
The Fly Box & Rigging
A starter box for Penns Creek. Remember that the lower special section allows artificial lures and flies only.
| Fly | Imitates | Sizes | How to fish it |
|---|---|---|---|
| Green Drake dun / Coffin Fly spinner | Green Drake | #8–10 | Evenings during the hatch. |
| Sulphur dun & spinner | Sulphur mayfly | #14–18 | Evening rises in May and June. |
| Parachute Adams / BWO | Small mayflies | #16–20 | Calm water during a hatch. |
| Pheasant Tail | Mayfly nymph | #14–18 | General-purpose nymph. |
| Elk Hair Caddis | Adult caddis | #14–16 | Riffles; a twitch can draw strikes. |
| Woolly Bugger | Baitfish, sculpin | #6–10 | Higher or off-color water. |
| Ant / beetle / hopper | Terrestrials | #12–18 | Along banks in summer. |
Suggested rigging
- Rod: a 9-foot 4- or 5-weight covers most of the creek.
- Leader: 9 feet tapered to 5X for most dries; heavier (3X–4X) for Green Drakes; 6X–7X for tiny flies in low, clear water.
- Wading boots with good grip and a wading staff help on slick, uneven bottom. Pennsylvania does not ban felt soles, but clean and dry all gear between waters.
Catch-and-release tips. Use a rubber net, wet your hands, keep fish in the water as much as possible, and revive them facing into the current. Pinching barbs makes releases quicker.
Live Conditions & Resources
Scan or tap before you drive.
| USGS 01555000 | PFBC regulations | Live conditions |
|---|
| Resource | Link |
|---|---|
| USGS 01555000 (Penns Creek at Penns Creek) | https://waterdata.usgs.gov/monitoring-location/01555000/ |
| PFBC fishing regulations | https://www.pa.gov/agencies/fishandboat/fishing/regulations |
| 2026 PA Fishing Summary (PDF) | https://www.pa.gov/content/dam/copapwp-pagov/en/fishandboat/documents /fishing/regulations/summarybook.pdf |
| Buy a PA fishing license | https://www.fishandboat.com |
| Poe Paddy State Park (DCNR) | https://www.pa.gov/agencies/dcnr |
| Live conditions | https://learningtoflyfish.com/conditions/penns-creek |
| More free guides | https://learningtoflyfish.com/field-guides |
Safety
Fly fishing involves real risks. These are general precautions, not a guarantee of safety.
- Rising water. Rain can raise Penns Creek quickly. Check the gauge, watch the water, and leave at the first sign of rising flow.
- Wading. The bottom is uneven and slick. Never wade deeper or faster water than you are confident in; use a wading belt and consider a staff.
- Remote water. Much of the best water is a long walk from the nearest road, and phone coverage can be poor. Carry water, a light and a basic first-aid kit.
- Fishing after dark. During the Green Drake many anglers fish into darkness. Learn the trail in daylight and carry a headlamp.
- Weather. Leave the water if a thunderstorm approaches — a graphite fly rod conducts electricity.
- Emergencies. Tell someone your plan and expected return time. In an emergency, call 911.
Sources & Disclaimer
- Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission: 2026 Pennsylvania Fishing Summary — Penns Creek miscellaneous special regulation (Spring Mills to Elk Creek); All Tackle Trout Slot Limit and Catch and Release Artificial Lures Only program rules and section descriptions; license and trout permit requirements.
- Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission: Penns Creek biologist report (access via the railroad grade and DCNR access at Ingleby).
- U.S. Geological Survey: site record and live data for 01555000, Penns Creek at Penns Creek, PA.
- Centre County Encyclopedia of History & Culture: Penns Creek length and watershed.
- Hatch and fly information reflects commonly reported patterns and is presented as approximate guidance, not data.
Disclaimer
This guide is provided for general information. It was checked against the sources above in October 2026, and we work to keep it accurate, but errors can occur, and regulations, access, fees and stream conditions change without notice. Always confirm current rules with the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission, respect private property and obey posted signs. Fly fishing and wading involve inherent risks — check flows before you go, never wade beyond your ability, and leave the water when storms approach; your safety is your own responsibility. LearningToFlyFish.com is not affiliated with any agency named in this guide. Full disclaimer: learningtoflyfish.com/disclaimer.
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