Any good places in the Lancaster/lebanon/dauphin county areas? Feel free to suggest other areas too if you’d like.

[Thatnewguy999999999]

Haven’t really found any good spots yet so I figure I’ll ask you guys. I’m also willing to drive about two hours from my house if needed cause I know there isn’t exactly great fishing down here like there is farther north in the state. For reference I live in the northwest part of Lancaster county.

 

[TimMurphy]

Dear Thatnewguy,

What do you want to fish for? If you are seeking trout, you may need to drive depending on exactly what you are looking to find. There is trout fishing in the SC part of the state. but it is generally better further north. You may want to check out the Cumerland Valley region in Cumberland County. There are several well-regarded trout streams over there about 45 minutes to an hour away.

There are plenty of warmwater streams and lakes to fish here though. Once the Susquehanna settles down a bit you can fish there for smallmouth. Pinchot State Park has good summertime bass and pan fishing, as do Memorial Lake State Park and Sweet Arrow Lake near Pine Grove. All of them are within an hour of NW Lancaster County. Closer to home you might want to check out Speedwell Forge Lake.

I'll suggest you check out the county guides that are available on the PA Fish and Boat Commission website. It takes a bit of fiddling around to figure the maps out, but you can find out a lot using them especially if you aren't familiar with the area. You can select trout streams, trout lakes, special regulations, unstocked wild trout streams, etc. etc. all by using the checklist on the maps.

Here is the map, play around with it to see what you can find. https://pfbc.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=3292981a1fcf415e9ce4a4a7a3ce98e2

Feel free to ask more questions.

Regards,

Tim Murphy 🙂

 

[Swattie87]

You’ll find that most of our membership is pretty tight lipped about specific spots. Especially with newer members. So don’t take the lack of specific responses personally.

In 2 hours from where you are you could be on a nearly endless list of options of good Trout streams. Generally speaking, head west, or north, or somewhere in between. You’re looking for streams flowing down off of mountains, or in between them, or areas where limestone is present…some basic Googling will help with finding those areas. (Assuming you’re talking about wild Trout fishing.) If you’re looking to fish for Stockies, or warm water species, you’re in a pretty good spot for both already, with many good options under an hour’s drive.

 

[Thatnewguy999999999]

Dear Thatnewguy,

What do you want to fish for? If you are seeking trout, you may need to drive depending on exactly what you are looking to find. There is trout fishing in the SC part of the state. but it is generally better further north. You may want to check out the Cumerland Valley region in Cumberland County. There are several well-regarded trout streams over there about 45 minutes to an hour away.

There are plenty of warmwater streams and lakes to fish here though. Once the Susquehanna settles down a bit you can fish there for smallmouth. Pinchot State Park has good summertime bass and pan fishing, as do Memorial Lake State Park and Sweet Arrow Lake near Pine Grove. All of them are within an hour of NW Lancaster County. Closer to home you might want to check out Speedwell Forge Lake.

I'll suggest you check out the county guides that are available on the PA Fish ad Boat Commission website. It takes a bit of fiddling around to figure the maps out, but you can find out a lot using them especially if you aren't familiar with the area. You can select trout streams, trout lakes, special regulations, unstocked wild trout streams, etc. etc. all by using the checklist on the maps.

Here is the map, play around with it to see what you can find. https://pfbc.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=3292981a1fcf415e9ce4a4a7a3ce98e2

Feel free to ask more questions.

Regards,

Tim Murphy

I guess what I’m going for is kind of a little of everything.I do want to go for trout but I also want to try and get bass as well as some panfish. The other problem I have is that all the spots I currently know of would be pretty bad to use a 8.5’ rod in because of all the trees that would catch the line. I also don’t have a kayak so that limits me a bit. Thank you for the response, sounds like I’ll be going for a drive soon. 😁

 

[TimMurphy]

I guess what I’m going for is kind of a little of everything.I do want to go for trout but I also want to try and get bass as well as some panfish. The other problem I have is that all the spots I currently know of would be pretty bad to use a 8.5’ rod in because of all the trees that would catch the line. I also don’t have a kayak so that limits me a bit. Thank you for the response, sounds like I’ll be going for a drive soon. 😁

Dear Thatnewguy,

None of the places I suggested are anywhere close to being difficult to fish with an 8'6" or even 9-foot rod. That includes the Cumerland Valley trout streams.

To give you an idea my brother and I spent the past week fishing mostly lakes for bass and panfish. We didn't wade at all and just fished from the banks because he can't wade right now. We had no trouble finding fish, and didn't have to worry about trees either. You just need to position yourself where there is room to cast. Most of the fish in lakes and ponds are still very close to the banks.

Regards,

Tim Murphy 🙂

 

[mt_flyfisher]

Haven’t really found any good spots yet so I figure I’ll ask you guys. I’m also willing to drive about two hours from my house if needed cause I know there isn’t exactly great fishing down here like there is farther north in the state. For reference I live in the northwest part of Lancaster county.

As far as trout fishing reasonably close to you, I’d probably look to the Tulpehocken Creek in the Reading area, or even closer perhaps the Lititz or Donegal Springs.

 

[ROVERT]

It depends where exactly you are but I, too, am in NW Lancaster county. I can get to some of the CV streams in the same or less time than the Tully. Most of the central PA streams are within two hours. The same is true of a number of the northeast waters, though I haven't really fished in that direction.

There are wild trout closer to home but a little drive will get you into better fishing.

Check out the PFBC's interactive map. It provides a lot of information.

I don't WW fish as much as I should but there is plenty of that nearby.

 

[HoboWithAFlyRod]

Quittapahilla creek is probably a short drive for you. It’s just a stocked stream- I don’t think there’s a wild population, but people say there are some good hold overs. It’s part of the keystone select stocking program so pfbc puts in some larger fish. I haven’t had a chance to really fish it yet. I did get a big rainbow on once while I was walking my kids on the path and drifting a pheasant tail nymph here and there, but I lost it.

 

[jifigz]

I guess what I’m going for is kind of a little of everything.I do want to go for trout but I also want to try and get bass as well as some panfish. The other problem I have is that all the spots I currently know of would be pretty bad to use a 8.5’ rod in because of all the trees that would catch the line. I also don’t have a kayak so that limits me a bit. Thank you for the response, sounds like I’ll be going for a drive soon. 😁

In my opinion, an 8'6" rod is a gem for small streams and tight quarters. If you are worried about it hooking trees and bushes too much, I think you just need to work at it and fish those places. Your skills in how you manipulate that rod will develop quickly, and you will progress as an angler. Regarding the kayak, I have a kayak, and I basically never use mine for fly fishing. I am primarily a wade and fish angler. In PA, I think wading and fishing effectively works on nearly all waters during the majority of times and flows. Maybe for the Susky you would prefer a boat, but there are other small WW streams that you can fish nearby for bass and panfish.

 

[sixfootfenwick]

I'll give you the suggestion of the Susquehanna River for Smallmouth if it ever stops raining.
If wade fishing, Falmouth and near Columbia at RT30 are good spots.

It can be spotty on the catching but it can also be on fire.

 

[sixfootfenwick]

Also, since you are in the NW part of Lancaster, Elizabethtown?, try the Swatara for smallmouth near Middletown. By the bridge of 441 is a road that parallels it for a bit, I'm sure you can find a spot to gain access.

The Swatara is pretty decent for Bass a long ways up from there. Get a map, drive around and find some good areas for yourself.

 

[pcray1231]

I live in Lebanon County. There are lots of stocked streams around, and just a couple wild trout streams, but they tend to be either real small or else not a super high population.

Better wild trout fishing is to be had north to the Poconos or NW to central PA, both within reasonable day trip range.

For smallmouth, well, Jesus, lol. The Susquehanna is maybe the best smallmouth river in the world, and at low water is wadable in places, but a yak will certainly help there, just to get you to the better spots. And lots of other solid options too. Juniata, Schuylkill, Swatara, among others, which are all more wade accessible.