New Member from Michigan

[kjw1992]

Hello friends!

I have spent the past couple months using my seemingly non-existent spare time planning a week long vacation to your beautiful state to stand in a river waving a stick as much as possible. Now here I am, with nothing but one very long stressful work day standing between me and the 525 mile trip with wife, toddler, and camper from southwest Michigan to north-central Pennsylvania. We'll be touring the state, staying two nights each in north-central, north-eastern, south-central, and central PA.

I decided this trip was going to happen some time late last winter. Since that time, I bought a new truck and an lightly used ALiner camper (on the same day!). We've spent only one night in the camper, it did not go well (toddler.) so who knows how this will go.

Because I'm a glutton for punishment, I also picked up a new rod/reel and have it set up to fish a mono rig. I've fished it a couple times here in Michigan but honestly barely know what I'm doing, so.... wish me luck.

Anyway. I've gotten a good bit of useful insight from this forum already and realized I never made any post or comment so here I am. I look forward to spending some time enjoying your home state and I'll be sure to wave if I see you on the stream.

Tight lines.

 

[jifigz]

Hello friends!

I have spent the past couple months using my seemingly non-existent spare time planning a week long vacation to your beautiful state to stand in a river waving a stick as much as possible. Now here I am, with nothing but one very long stressful work day standing between me and the 525 mile trip with wife, toddler, and camper from southwest Michigan to north-central Pennsylvania. We'll be touring the state, staying two nights each in north-central, north-eastern, south-central, and central PA.

I decided this trip was going to happen some time late last winter. Since that time, I bought a new truck and an lightly used ALiner camper (on the same day!). We've spent only one night in the camper, it did not go well (toddler.) so who knows how this will go.

Because I'm a glutton for punishment, I also picked up a new rod/reel and have it set up to fish a mono rig. I've fished it a couple times here in Michigan but honestly barely know what I'm doing, so.... wish me luck.

Anyway. I've gotten a good bit of useful insight from this forum already and realized I never made any post or comment so here I am. I look forward to spending some time enjoying your home state and I'll be sure to wave if I see you on the stream.

Tight lines.

For you to experience what PA has to truly offer for trout fishing, we could use a little rain, but..... There is plenty of good fishing if you know where to look.

Welcome to PAFF. What streams/areas are you exploring in each section of PA? Where are you staying in NC PA and Central PA?

 

[TimMurphy]

Welcome aboard. I'm not trying to solicit business, but if you will be staying in Central PA around State College, I'm not afraid to recommend the campground where we have our annual Jamboree. It's clean and well-kept and it is within 45 minutes, or less, of many trout streams.

7 Mountains | 7 Mountains Campground

HIKE, FISH, HUNT, CAMP. YOUR HOME BASE IN THE HEART OF THE SEVEN MOUNTAINS SPRING MILLS, PA Set in the scenic Seven Mountains region near Spring Mills, PA, ...

sevenmountainscampground.com

If you are looking for fishing other than trout, we have some pretty decent smallmouth fisheries in the lower Central part of PA. The Juniata and Susquehanna Rivers being the primary streams but there are many others.

Have fun!

Regards,

Tim Murphy 🙂

 

[kjw1992]

Bouncing around to state park campgrounds and trying to fish nearby. Ole Bull, Hickory Run, Pine Grove Furnace, and Poe Paddy. Looking at Little Kettle Creek, Cross Fork Creek, and/or Slate Run as a starting point Sunday/Monday. hickory run, Mud Run, Lehigh R, and Black Creek as options Monday to Wed, Yellow Breeches, Mountain Creek, Toms run wed to fri, and Penns Creek Saturday.

I am going into it assuming the plan will fall apart in numerous ways so I have a Nat Geo map, DeLorme atlas, and a copy of Keystone Fly Fishing.

One thing I've been curious about is the green Drake hatch, which I learned of after I scheduled the trip. Am I going to miss it? I'm coming prepared more for the sulphurs and I'm hoping to miss the supposed crowds I've been reading about.

 

[TimMurphy]

Dear kjw1992,

As a local to SC PA, we need some rain. We may get some over the weekend, but it looks like it will be localized for the most part. Toms Run is a rhododendron choked trickle If that is your game, have at it. The Yellow Breeches is a larger stream but may be a little low. From Pine Grove Furnace State Park, you'd be OK fishing Mountain Creek between the lakes.

As someone with extensive experience in and around Hickory Run State Park the Lehigh River will probably be your best bet. They are having a whitewater rafting weekend this weekend, but they shut the dam gates down early on Sunday so the lump of water should be well downstream come Monday.

The NC PA streams in Potter, Clinton and Lycoming Counties should be in good shape when you arrive pending any downpours. People fished them last weekend and reported that the water flows were good and the water temps were also good. This weekend will be a hot one, but nothing will get that warm in 3 or 4 days.

Regards,

Tim Murphy 🙂

 

[mikephl]

Knoebel's Amusement Park, Elysburg PA. In central PA, north of State College. An old-timey amusement park, free admission, with wooden roller coasters. Lots of other rides suitable for a 2 year old. Plus funnel cakes. They have a campground too.

Knoebels Amusement Resort – America's Largest Free-Admission Amusement Park

knoebels.com

 

[PatchezMDM]

Welcome from SCPA.

 

[nymphingmaniac]

Knoebel's Amusement Park, Elysburg PA. In central PA, north of State College. An old-timey amusement park, free admission, with wooden roller coasters. Lots of other rides suitable for a 2 year old. Plus funnel cakes. They have a campground too.

Knoebels Amusement Resort – America's Largest Free-Admission Amusement Park

knoebels.com

or a smaller park maybe better for small kids you might pass near is Delgrosso's in Tipton. That also happens to right next to the Little J- although I recommend fishing downstream of the quarry due to the potential for iffy temps.

 

[CinnamonJoe]

or a smaller park maybe better for small kids you might pass near is Delgrosso's in Tipton. That also happens to right next to the Little J- although I recommend fishing downstream of the quarry due to the potential for iffy temps.

If you've landed in that 'hood for a spell, and want to mix in some smaller-stream, high elevation rhododendron fun, look just west to the streams coming off the Allegheny Front. Most are accessible on public lands. The headwaters of the streams supplying most water supply reservoirs around there, for example. (Altoona, Tipton, area) Dunno how they are running right now since I am in Iowa, but unless its a bad dry spell, I usually do ok in July when I'm home visiting family in the area most years. They're all marked on the PAFB trout GIS. Some guys like 9' or longer rods in the laurel, I am not one of them. This is sub 8' territory for me, 5 wt or less, a leader no longer 6-7' (at most, the length of the rod).

Your child might be old enough to enjoy Idlewild park, in Ligonier (east of Pittsburgh, off US-30); especially the story book forest, train ride, and kiddie pool part of their soak zone:

https://www.idlewild.com/

There are less viable trout streams over that way, but there are some:

Laurel Highlands Trout Trail

A partnership between five Pennsylvania Trout Unlimited chapters in or near the Laurel Highlands — Chestnut Ridge TU, Forbes Trail TU, Ken Sink TU, Mountain Laurel TU and Penn’s Woods West TU.

www.laurelhighlandstrouttrail.org

Lastly, at risk of eye rolls and good natured groans from some of the guys, if you are fishing Penns, Fishing, or Spring Creek, this tourist trap is a mandatory right of passage-we've all been there:

Explore Penn's Cave & Wildlife Park | All-Water Cavern

Explore Penn's Cave, America's only all-water cavern. Boat tours, gemstone panning & more. Buy tickets online. Centre Hall, PA.

www.pennscave.com

Joe

 

[kjw1992]

Lastly, at risk of eye rolls and good natured groans from some of the guys, if you are fishing Penns, Fishing, or Spring Creek, this tourist trap is a mandatory right of passage-we've all been there:

Explore Penn's Cave & Wildlife Park | All-Water Cavern

Explore Penn's Cave, America's only all-water cavern. Boat tours, gemstone panning & more. Buy tickets online. Centre Hall, PA.

www.pennscave.com

Joe

Lol, our loose itinerary is very heavily in favor of me fishing, so I set aside time for the train ride in Jim Thorpe, visiting Gettysburg, and.... a Penns Cave tour.

 

[Trapshooter]

Welcome aboard.

 

[derkoberko]

Welcome from the Lehigh Valley.

 

[nymphingmaniac]

Lol, our loose itinerary is very heavily in favor of me fishing, so I set aside time for the train ride in Jim Thorpe, visiting Gettysburg, and.... a Penns Cave tour.

Penns Cave was impressive, I must admit. Also, along your travels, Clyde Peelings Reptiland near Williamsport is worth a visit. Their collection is much more impressive than even the well-regarded San Diego Zoo.