Top Spring Creeks in Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania spring creeks are noted through the world and in fly fishing history. These are limestone spring creeks and many are very similar to English Chalk Streams. Unfortunately, the state DEP and Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission have failed to protect these streams over the years and they have suffered environmental degradation. In the case of Big Spring near Newville, Pennsylvania the stream was actually polluted by the Pennsylvania's Fish and Boat Commission's Hatchery until the study by Dr. Jack Black and Gene Macri exposed the damaged. The hatchery was closed and now the stream is returning to its once great prominence.

The first list is composed of true limestone spring creeks:

True Pennsylvania Limestone Spring Creeks

• Big Spring Creek near Newville, PA. Of all limestone spring creeks in the state. This stream is in the best shape and has one of the largest wild brook trout populations per acre in the nation.  However, these are some of the most sophisticated trout in the world and are also some of the hardest to catch.
• Letort Spring Run near Carlisle, PA. This legendary limestone stream along with Big Spring, Falling Spring Run, Green Spring and Silver Creek were some of the streams where the history of fly fishing in the United States began.  The Letort is a shadow of its once famous heritage. The stream has been hit hard by development, and pesticides from the water cress farm in its headwaters over the years. It still has a decent wild brown trout population but nothing like the days when Charlie Fox, Vince Marinaro, Eddie Shenk and Ross Trimmer roamed it's banks.  The fish are almost as tough as the ones on Big Spring and require the utmost in stealth and presentation.
• Falling Spring Run near Chambersburg, PA. This one time jewel of a stream has never fully recovered from a sewer line that transversed in the early 80's.  Add the pesticides from the farms, as well as sedimentation and now development and the stream that once had perhaps the best trico hatch in the country is just a memory.  The stream still has decent population of wild fish but they are extremely wary. The hatches have diminished greatly in recent years.
• Green Spring outside of Newville, PA. This stream is also a shadow of what it once was. However, it's not usually fished heavy although the stream is poached quite a bit.  On any given day it can be a delight for fly anglers. It contains both wild and stocked trout.
• Spring Creek Center County, PA. This limestone spring creek famous for its brown trout. The stream contains wild browns as well as stocked fish.  The most famous area is near Bellfonte, aptly called Fisherman's Paradise. The stream has suffered from pollution over the years and is suffering from storm water drainage and other perturbations. There are many private areas along its route.
• Spruce Creek is a long limestone spring creek that runs through the town of Spruce Creek and empties into the Little Juniata River. Most of the stream is private including the famous place where Presidents and the Rich and Famous fish..Wayne Harpster.  The one section that is open is the Penn State/George Harvey section. Spruce Creek is very similar to some areas of the Test River in England with it's carriers. The stream has a fairly diverse benthic community for a spring creek.