The hefty population of wild brown trout in Spring Creek has been well documented. This 22-mile limestone stream has more trout per mile than any other stream in the state, which has made it a popular destination. Almost any day of the year, you can find anglers plying its waters, but many of them find the trout to be tough customers. Indeed, they are difficult fish, but not impossible. To consistently catch trout here, scale down your presentation and focus on getting the most natural drift possible. Also, fish the stream “from bank to bank” because many trout like to feed in the shallows right up against the edges.

Spring Creek rises near Boalsburg in Centre County and flows northeast through State College and Bellefonte before joining Bald Eagle Creek in Milesburg. Unfortunately, this area of the state has experienced rapid growth and development over the past 20 years, which always poses the potential to damage the fishery.

Spring Creek’s place in fly fishing history is legendary. For many decades, and even today, anglers come from far away to ply the waters of Fisherman’s Paradise, the oldest catch and release section in the United States. Although Spring Creek has a high trout density, a trout over 18 inches is a rarity. In fact, a wild brown over 18 inches on Spring Creek just might be considered a once in a lifetime fish.