Pennsylvania
Fishing

Pennsylvania has one of the most historically significant fly fishing heritages in North America. The limestone spring creeks of the Cumberland Valley — the Yellow Breeches, the LeTort Spring Run, the Big Spring, Falling Spring — are where American dry-fly fishing developed in the late 19th century. These spring creeks run clear and cold year-round, holding wild and sophisticated brown trout that have educated generations of anglers.

The Susquehanna River from Harrisburg north is one of the finest smallmouth bass rivers in the eastern United States — 100-mile floats through the canyon section produce extraordinary smallmouth numbers. Lake Erie on the northwest corner provides access to steelhead in fall and spring.

Resident licenses cost $23. Pennsylvania fishing benefits from exceptional public land access — the state forest and game lands provide access to thousands of miles of streams that private land states cannot match. If you move to Central Pennsylvania, you are on the doorstep of some of the most historically important dry-fly water in the world.

Pennsylvania's Cumberland County limestone spring creeks are considered the birthplace of American dry-fly fishing. These streams — Yellow Breeches, LeTort, Falling Spring — maintain constant cold temperatures year-round and produce hatches unmatched in the East. The Susquehanna River is the largest tributary to the Chesapeake Bay and a world-class smallmouth bass river.

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