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River guide · Pennsylvania

Fly Fishing the Penns Creek

Penns Creek springs directly from a limestone cavern at Penns Cave and hosts one of the greatest Green Drake hatches in the eastern United States, drawing pilgrims every late May to watch huge Ephemera guttulata duns blanket the water at dusk.

  • 8 shops nearby
  • spring creek
  • April–October
  • Pennsylvania
  • 6 key hatches
See fly shops ↓

The best time to fly fish the Penns Creek is April–October. Key hatches include Hendrickson, Grannom Caddis, Green Drake / Shad Fly, Sulphur & Light Cahill. 8 fly shops near the Penns Creek can outfit your trip.

Fly shops near the Penns Creek

Shops and guides that fish the Penns Creek. See all 41 Pennsylvania shops →

The Feathered HookPenn's Creek Angler Fly ShopInnovative AnglingAmerican Fly Fishing CompanyFlyfisher's Paradise - Precision Fly & TacklePrecision Fly and Tackle - Mount Holly SpringsPrecision Fly and Tackle - LancasterPrecision Fly and Tackle at Evening Hatch Fly Shop
8 fly shops shown

Species on this water

BassBonefishCarpMuskyPanfishPikeSalmonSaltwaterSteelheadTrout

Nearby towns

Penn TownshipHartley TownshipBellefonte

Rivers nearby

Delaware RiverWillowemoc CreekSalmon RiverFarmington River
Hatches & seasons

When & what to fish on the Penns Creek

River typespring creek
Best seasonApril–October; peak late May for Green Drake
AccessThe upper section from Spring Mills downstream 6 miles to Coburn has road access; the remote Coburn-to-Weikert canyon corridor is reached via Poe Paddy State Park from the south or an old railroad tunnel from the north. Cherry Run Road parallels water downstream toward Weikert.
Key hatches
  • Hendrickson (mid-April)
  • Grannom Caddis (late April)
  • Green Drake / Shad Fly (late May–early June)
  • Sulphur & Light Cahill (late May–June)
  • Blue-winged Olive (late June; also fall)
  • Slate Drake (September)
From The Fly Bench

Tie the flies that work on the Penns Creek

Step-by-step tying recipes & videos for these patterns.

Browse all 880+ patterns at The Fly Bench
Gear up

Gear up on the Penns Creek

Everything you need before the next trip — rods, lines, leaders, and fly-tying materials.

Shop the gear Flies that work

The flies that work on the Penns Creek

Find the most effective patterns for where you're fishing — and learn to tie them yourself, step by step.

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Updated June 2026