Pennsylvania is home to world-class fly-fishing and trophy-sized trout. The Fish and Boat Commission is always hard at work to provide the very best in fishing atmosphere and trout populations. Pennsylvania has 85,000 miles of rivers and streams and 4,000 ponds and inland lakes that cover 160,000 acres, all providing prolific homes for trout fly fishing.
Season
Pennsylvania has a strict catch and release program to ensure the health of its fisheries. That also allows the state to keep the fly fishing season open year-round. The mild climate keeps waterways liquid in the winter and cool enough in the summer to support large populations of trout. Although there are no seasonal closures, most of the area waters have fishing times of one hour before and one hour after sunset.
Licenses
Anyone 16 years and older must have a fishing license when fishing in Pennsylvania water. The license must be signed, in ink, and attached to an outer garment or hat at all times while engaged in the sport of fishing. Each angler must have a primary license, either a one-day pass for visitors, a resident's license for year-round fishing, or a non-resident year-round license. Some additional categories exist for war veterans, national guard and armed forces or POW personnel, or senior citizens and disabled persons. Anglers who are fishing for trout must also have a trout stamp for fly fishing.
Locations
The best locations for successful fly fishing, as noted by the "Bleacher Report," are Wiconisco Creek in central Pennsylvania with a large population of all trout varieties, slate run; considered by some as the best trout stream in PA, located in North Central Pennsylvania. A few others from the same report are the Youghiogheny River with all common Pennsylvania species, Penns creek, the Ohio River, the Monogahela River, Kinzua Dam, Lake Raystown, Susquehanna River and Lake Erie. Wading is allowed in most areas unless otherwise posted.
Varieties
Pennsylvania is home to all varieties of trout, including rainbow and brook, but the brown trout is common in most of the area's waters.
Gear
Pennsylvania regulates the type of bait and equipment used to fly fish for trout. Anglers must use artificial flies and other lures made with either synthetic or natural material. They must use only one hook with the fly or streamer wound on or around the hook. Fly fishing anglers can only use fly rods, reels, and lines with a total of 18 feet of leader or monofilament line. No casting rods, spinning or spincast rods and reels are allowed. Anglers may not use any natural bait, live or processed, nor can they use any foodstuff as bait. Fishing for bait fish is strictly prohibited.
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