Most anglers quickly learn that the easiest places to find trout are the runs immediately following a healthy riffle. These locations are the "bread and butter" of any creek, and they are widely known by every fisherman hitting your local water. However, real success doesn't come from running to these popular holes, but rather from seeking out the hidden treasures buried throughout the stream. Recognizing a creek's structure is the essential gold every angler needs when mining any stream.

A trout’s basic instincts revolve around two things: staying safe and finding easy food. Looking back, all of my most memorable fish can be traced to a specific piece of differentiating habitat that offered them that perfect blend of security and sustenance.

The Mechanics of a Run
The transition from riffles to pools creates the most obvious holding water in any stream. These deeper runs offer a perfect ****tail for trout: highly oxygenated water, a steady conveyor belt of bubbles, and protection from overhead predators with the turn of the water. Because aquatic insects often emerge in these transitional zones, they are at their most vulnerable here. Trout are quick to adapt to these larger structural areas, positioning themselves where the riffle’s energy begins to dissipate into the steady depth of the run.

A Forest of Rocks
Generally, finding a rock in a stream isn't hard—it’s like finding a tree in a forest. It’s the significant rocks that matter, usually the ones that stand out from the rest of the bottom. Trout utilize these breaks in the current to create food lanes while mitigating their energy consumption. As the current wraps around a rock, it consolidates the flow of debris and drift, creating a conveyor belt of food both on the surface and along the bottom. A...

Thirty years ago, Paflyfish began with the idea of providing fly fishing location maps for the Special Stream Regulations throughout the state. It was likely the first site on the internet to "spot burn"—even before the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission (PFBC) had a website. A lot has changed since 1995, and there are now plenty of ways to discover fly fishing stream locations and manage your personal favorites. My go-to tool for keeping track of fly fishing spots is Google My Maps. It’s an easy way to research, record, and retrieve my personal fly fishing hotspots.

Google My Maps

Google My Maps is part of the Google Drive suite of tools, alongside other programs like Sheets, Docs, Folders, and Drawings. I use My Maps to record my favorite stream locations, parking spots, and access notes for the fly fishing streams I frequent. Simple markers can be dropped onto the map, saved, customized, and accessed across desktops, tablets, and smartphones.

Along with Markers, I use the Layers feature to differentiate categories by regions or non-stream features. A non-stream layer might include breweries, Airbnbs, campgrounds, grocery stores, gas stations, restaurants, bars, fly shops, and points of interest. Markers and layers are the two core components that make up the functionality of My Maps.

Getting Started

Google My Maps is different from Google Maps and can be accessed via Google Drive for those with a Google account. Click Google Drive >New > More > Create to start a new map with a default view of the United States. It has the standard user interface of most mapping tools, allowing you to zoom in and out and pan around the map.

With nearly 18,000 miles of wild trout streams and almost 5,000 miles of stocked trout streams, Pennsylvania offers something for every angler. These waters are home to stocked, naturally reproducing, and native trout populations. The Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission (PFBC) establishes a variety of regulations based on the stream, season, and type of fishery.

Take some time to discover where you can enjoy fly fishing in the region. The maps below highlight many of the trout-managed streams across the state. You’ll uncover your own favorite locations through a bit of research and personal exploration.

The Paflyfish Forum features countless posts about fishing spots and is another excellent resource to consult before heading out on the water. There’s no “Easy Button” for finding the perfect fly fishing spot—but that’s part of the fun.

The PFBC provides and overall mapping site with layers of these different types of streams for some stream hunting fun.

Stocked Trout Waters​

These waters have significant portions that are open to public fishing and are stocked with trout by the Commission (PFBC). About streams and stocking schedules can be viewed on the PFBC Stocked Trout Waters page.

Special Regulation Areas​

Waters that have tackle, harvest or other restrictions. There are a number of different regulation categories. Many of these waters can be fished year-round. See the map below for more details.

Class A Wild Trout Streams​

Streams that support a population of wild (natural reproduction) trout of sufficient...

USGS stream gauges are a daily online essential during the fishing season, alongside weather and mapping apps. For me, the primary feature is monitoring water levels in a specific stream or region. Knowing the water levels and the direction of flow changes can make all the difference in angling plans.

The USGS has had this online system in place since before 2000 with very few changes over the years. Updates to the interface have been due for quite some time, and this year, there will be many changes.

The USGS is making the final push to update the interface we see when accessing stream surface data on their website. This is the data you use to check stream levels (CFS and gauge heights) and other metrics. Some smaller page updates have been occurring in "dribs and drab," and in some cases, they are running new and old pages in parallel. That will end over the coming weeks and months with the final cutover.

These changes have been a long time coming. Over the years, I have attended several webinars and monitored emails and blog posts, paying close attention to announcements as they have been released. I have wanted to write this post for years, but changes to rollout schedules stalled so often that it was difficult to create a cohesive message about what was actually happening.

Why is this being done?
The USGS is modernizing its web-based offerings for the public and partners. I am not sure how old the previous code was, but I am certain that for technical reasons, they had to make serious changes to the databases. This gave them an opportunity to update the 1990s-style web interface we currently use to access stream gauges.


So, what is changing for anglers?
The main USGS web interface is changing across all...

By Dave Weaver
All flies and artwork by Dave

We are focused on fly fishing in Pennsylvania here on PAFF, but we all enjoy travel. The Florida Keys often come up as a popular destination or as a bucket list for the future. I’m going to cover some planning and fly tying suggestions for a newbie Keys fly fisher, especially if you hope to DIY. Feel free to join the conversation or ask questions in the comment section below, or send me a PM.

The first thing a new Keys angler should do is disabuse themselves of the images of a wading angler on a shallow sand flat chasing hooked bonefish. These images and videos are typically from the Bahamas or elsewhere in the Caribbean. While a first time Keys visitor will be stunned at the beautiful green flats everywhere in view when driving RT 1 when the sun is high, unfortunately, most Keys flats are too soft to wade and access is spotty. This is mainly a boat fishery. Tone down your expectations of a tropical paradise. There are certainly some well known public access sites where the bottom is firm enough to wade and I have visited some of these for many years. A good example is Bahia Honda State Park, especially if you get out early in the morning before the crowds are out at this popular location. These locations get pounded by anglers and the fish are challenging, much like the destination special regulation waters here in Pennsylvania. If you have a kayak in which you can stand up, many more fishing opportunities will open up for you. Many of the Keys bridges have public access and although these bridges are mostly too high for a fly rod (I highly recommend fishing them with spin gear, you can have a blast), sometimes you can get down to the water and drift a fly around the pilings. Wear sturdy footwear around Keys bridges as much of it is coral cement over rip-rap and edges are sharp.

Fishing in the Keys is...

by Brian McGeehan

Planning a fly fishing trip should be an enjoyable experience. Whether you are looking at going on a fishing trip to Montana or wanting to fish a global fly fishing travel destination, it is important to carefully plan your trip. The success of catching fish on a fly fishing trip depends on many factors that you can, and cannot, control. When planning a fly fishing trip to Montana or beyond, there are several things to consider. Here are Seven Tips to Planning a Montana Fly Fishing Trip.

What Type of Fishing to Expect?




Montana is home to a massive variety of waters to fish. Montana also has one of the longest seasons of trout fishing destinations on the planet, so evaluating the type of fishing that is desired is an important step in planning the best possible fly fishing trip. If fishing dry flies to rising trout is more important than catching a lot of fish, then consider a spring or summer trip and plan to fish waters known for prolific hatches like the Paradise Valley Spring Creeks or the Missouri River. If you care more about bringing fish to the net regardless of using dry flies, streamers, or tandem nymph rigs, then consider late spring, early summer, and fall and target a consistent tailwater fishery like the Madison River. Are streamers your passion? Then come in late spring or fall and expect less fish in the net, but possibly some of the biggest trout of the year, especially on a large freestone like the Yellowstone River.

What Type of Water and Mode of Fishing Do You Like?

Thirty years ago, during the week of December 2, 1995, I turned an old Macintosh computer in my office into a web server. With zero experience and a lot of curiosity, I fumbled through some basic HTML and managed to serve up around 200 page views that first month. I had maybe twenty pages created —barely enough for search engines to sniff at, let alone anyone to read. At the time, it was just me tinkering. But wow, what a long, strange trip that little experiment has turned out to be.

If you want to feel old, just say: "I’ve been on the Internet for 30 years." That puts you back to a time when companies like Amazon, Yahoo, GeoCities, and eBay were just getting started. The browser of choice? Netscape Navigator. Cable internet wasn’t even a thing yet—AOL dial-up was king.

Back then, I was working at Apple and had a front-row seat to the dawn of the web. Apple’s new HTTP web servers were game-changing: anyone, anywhere, could publish digital content. As a lifelong tech geek, I saw the writing on the wall—the web was going to change everything.

The site itself was inspired by the Pennsylvania fly fishing authors I’d been reading for years. Friends Ron, Greg, and I would hit the road with books by Meck, Sanji, Wolf, and Landis in tow as we explored streams across the state.


As a Geography major, my next move was pretty obvious: maps. I drew up 67 county maps with all the major fly fishing and trout streams and published them. Simple diagrams, nothing fancy, but now I had 87 pages! Crushing it, right?

Next came PFBC regulations, stocking reports, fly shop info, tips, and stream reports that people would email to me. This was before the PFBC even had a website. The game-changer came in 1997: I added a database so I could publish stream reports and create a message board...

When it comes to winter fly fishing, I can’t recall ever saying, “I really overdid it with warm clothes today.” More often, I’m kicking myself for not dressing smarter. One trip still haunts me: a chilly day on Muddy Creek with Maurice, part of one of our legendary Lewis and Clark-style all-day adventures. The morning was sunny and mild, but by afternoon, it turned cloudy and cold—and I had forgotten thick wool socks. After a few hours standing in icy water, my feet were frozen solid. The worst part? I knew better.

Gearing up for cold weather fly fishing is more than just throwing on a jacket. With temperatures, wind, and water conditions constantly changing, dressing properly is half the battle. Even on a 55-degree day, standing in 45-degree water for hours can drain your energy and end your trip early. That’s why the key to comfort (and longer fishing days) is layering—smart, intentional layering.

Best Cold Weather Headwear for Fly Fishing​

I usually start with a ball cap—the visor helps cut the glare on the water. But I always keep a wool beanie in my pack. One of the fastest ways to lose or gain body heat is through your head, and having the right headwear can make or break a winter trip. I recently picked up a billed cap with fold-down ear flaps. It’s not exactly runway fashion—more Elmer Fudd chic—but it gets the job done. When you’re deciding what to wear fly fishing in winter, don’t overlook your noggin.

How to Keep Your Feet Warm While Fly Fishing​

Let’s be clear: cotton socks are your enemy. The best approach is a two-layer sock system. Start with a thin polyester wicking sock, then add a ragg merino wool sock over it. Not too thick—you still need your boots to fit comfortably. If your boots feel like a vise, your circulation will tank, and cold feet won’t be far behind...

Some books immediately reveal the care behind them, and Brook by Brook is one of those — a patient work that reflects the author’s reverence for brook trout and his determination to understand them. Noah Donten approaches the sport with the humility of a beginner but the work ethic of someone determined to master a challenging part of fly fishing. His book doesn’t just show you where to fish or what to tie on; it captures what it feels like to chase Pennsylvania’s state fish with fresh eyes and the enthusiasm that defines those first few years of fly fishing.

The book begins with Noah’s early days chasing brook trout, where every mistake becomes part of the learning curve. He goes deep into sharing details about brook trout themselves, building a foundation for why they matter. From there, he moves into scouting, showing how to use guidebooks, maps, and apps to find small wild streams. He’s careful not to “spot burn” by naming waters, instead teaching readers how to do their own research.

Next, Noah focuses on gear — rods, reels, lines, and flies — with a mix of practical advice and personal touch. He even includes original fly patterns, like his “Noah’s A.R.C.” caddis. As he explains, “The buggy profile of a caddis pattern is suggestive of many other bugs. This is often my go-to prospecting pattern.”

Later chapters widen the scope to conservation challenges such as habitat loss, competition from non-native trout, and the effects of angling pressure. The book closes with personal tales from the stream, where his lessons come alive in stories of friendship, close calls, and unforgettable fish.

What I admired most was Noah’s perspective. He doesn’t write as a veteran, but as someone still close to those first humbling and exciting days of taking it all in...

The Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission (PFBC) will soon vote on a proposal to resume stocking hatchery-raised trout over naturally reproducing wild trout in a section of Freeman Run in Potter County. This proposal is unnecessary and undermines decades of conservation efforts. Read the details below and take action today to make your voice heard by the commissioners.

What’s at Stake

Freeman Run is a 12-mile tributary of the First Fork Sinnemahoning Creek in Potter County. It’s a small mountain stream divided into four management sections:

• Sections 01 and 02: Managed as wild-only, which support predominantly wild brook trout.
• Sections 03 and 04: Historically stocked but redesignated in 2021 as Class A wild brown trout waters, after surveys confirmed the presence of a strong, naturally reproducing trout population.

What’s Being Proposed?

The PFBC proposes reinstating stocking of rainbow trout in Freeman Run Section 04 (a designated Class A wild trout stream) beginning in 2026—at prior stocking levels, including cooperative nursery stockings.

The agency plans to monitor Section 04 through 2030 for biological and social impacts. Stocking will be halted early if wild trout populations decline significantly or if angler usage does not justify the program. Otherwise, the commission will decide whether to continue or discontinue stocking after the evaluation period.

Why This Matters

Because Class A streams typically receive High Quality protection and are not stocked (with very few exceptions), this project would proceed as a policy exception to test whether protective regulations can coexist with stocking efforts...

I was lucky enough to spend the week before Labor Day visiting some buddies in Colorado and fishing for a week straight. Thought some on here might enjoy a recap. Photo credits go to my friends Andrew and Keir, who lugged their digital cameras around to capture some great moments for us.

Day 1: Front Range Side Quest
The primary goal of this trip was to check off a new subspecies, the Rio Grande cutthroat. Before driving south to that drainage, we were spending a couple days near Denver to visit friends and allow those of us who live at sea level a chance to acclimate to the altitude.

When deciding where to fish our first day, I did some quick research online and was intrigued to discover that we may be able to capture some bona fide Greenback Cutthroat trout nearby. The recent history of this species really fascinated me - seems like the wrong strain was stocked for several years, then at the brink of extinction, a genetically pure population was discovered outside of the native range, which was used to support subsequent reintroductions. Some of these reintroduced populations are now naturally reproducing in the native range.

We drove to a trailhead and began working up the very small stream, slowly navigating the steep gradient. Ultimately, four small cutthroat were landed - success! After a couple hours, we headed closer to Breckenridge to get some food and fish another local stream. This water supplied ample Colorado cutthroat and brookies. The fish were small but willing to rise to any small dry fly pattern. Storms chased us off the stream in the late afternoon.





Day 2: Off to Boulder
This was to be a short fishing day, to allow us time to pack and plan for our journey south the following day. We drove over to Boulder and fished a roadside stream for a few hours...