10 Longest Wild Trout Streams in PA

[Broodstock]

Here is a fun piece of trivia:

What are the top 10 wild trout streams as listed on the natural repo list by length? I am curious if anyone can guess them all, and in order for bonus points. Here is the list, wrapped in an inline spoiler. You click on it to reveal the list. Take your guesses and then check.

Spoiler: List

Bald Eagle Creek 52.56
Fishing Creek 42.86
Frankstown Branch Juniata River 41.82
Lehigh River 40.72
Lackawanna River 38.17
Penns Creek 36.92
Yellow Breeches Creek 35.67
Kettle Creek 32.32
Clark Creek 31.5
Little Juniata River 31.12

​

 

[TerrellBFly]

What a cool bit of information. Thanks!

 

[Broodstock]

What a cool bit of information. Thanks!

I thought it was interesting. On the other end, the shortest ones are 0.03 miles (158ft!)

 

[nd1001]

Interesting stuff. Are the miles of water listed only the sections marked as supporting natural reproduction?

The Schuylkill River is many miles long, but only a small portion of the headwater mileage supports consistent reproduction of trout.

 

[Broodstock]

Interesting stuff. Are the miles of water listed only the sections marked as supporting natural reproduction?

The Schuylkill River is many miles long, but only a small portion of the headwater mileage supports consistent reproduction of trout.

Typically on the lists, they describe the rivers as sections, ie from the headwaters to the mouth, or from one place to another. The rivers on this list to top 10 continue down below those points, except for three of them that are listed as headwaters to mouth.

 

[dryflyguy]

Big Fishing Creek would be my guess as one of the longest class A streams
But for just natural repo, I'd bet they're a lot more that are longer.
Little J?

 

[jifigz]

Without looking at the list, the West Branch Susky is probably one of the top contenders.

 

[rustbeltwilds]

Thx i will stick to those i know lol

 

[Swattie87]

Clarks was the one that surprised me. But makes sense after thinking about it. It drains a narrow, but very long valley. Why it doesn’t get all that big, that watershed is only a mile or two wide the whole way.

And the bottom release dam about midway (fairly unique in PA for a small stream, most are just top spillways) keeps the bottom half colder than it otherwise would be.

 

[Mike]

Interesting stuff. Are the miles of water listed only the sections marked as supporting natural reproduction?

The Schuylkill River is many miles long, but only a small portion of the headwater mileage supports consistent reproduction of trout.

Given the sordid history, the upper Schuylkill, its branches, and their network of wild trout tribs is impressive. Furthermore, the recovery isn’t over. In some cases wild trout density has continued to increase and presence likely has expanded longitudinally.

 

[wgmiller]

Given the sordid history, the upper Schuylkill, its branches, and their network of wild trout tribs is impressive. Furthermore, the recovery isn’t over. In some cases wild trout density has continued to increase and presence likely has expanded longitudinally.

Amen. Such a success story in the middle of land ravaged by coal mining. Da Skook has become one of my favorite destinations!

 

[Broodstock]

Without looking at the list, the West Branch Susky is probably one of the top contenders.

not in the top 10, but it is in the top 20. There are 167 direct tribs to that river which are on the list.

 

[Broodstock]

Thx i will stick to those i know lol

there are plenty of ones, long ones too, that are not on the list.