Pennsylvania boasts world-class Class A fly-fishing streams that support wild trout habitat, as well as regulated streams that are stocked in the spring, summer, and fall. Exceptional fly fishing can be found in every county in the state. You can match your wits with wild trout in a small mountain stream or try to reel in a trophy fish from one of the state’s well-stocked streams and lakes.
What kind of trout can I fish in PA?
Pennsylvania has populations of coldwater trout species, including brook trout, brown, rainbow trout plus rainbow trout, and salmon in Lake Erie and its tributaries.
Do I need a fishing license?
In order to fly fish for trout in Pennsylvania, you will need an annual fishing license and trout stamp, available at many sporting goods stores that sell fishing licenses. A Lake Erie/Trout stamp will also allow you to fish for Steelhead on Lake Erie and its tributaries during the spring and fall.
How do the trout get there?
Pennsylvania has thirteen trout hatcheries and stocks 4.5 million trout each year. A volunteer workforce improves the stock with healthier trout because the faster the trout enter their new stream after leaving the hatchery, the less stressed they are. If you want a new kind of experience that involves trout fishing, consider becoming a volunteer to help stock the streams in the spring.
Where can I fish for wild trout?
The Pennsylvania Fish and Game Commission website has a fishing “hot spots” page for most types of fish species, including trout. Here is just a small sampling of some wild trout fishing hot spots in southwestern Pennsylvania.
Cambria County
- Bens Creek – Mix of Wild Brown and Brook Trout
- Little South Fork of the Conemaugh River –Wild Brook Trout
- Sandy Run – Wild Brook Trout
Fayette County
- Buck Run – Wild Brook Trout
- Rasler Run — Wild Rainbow Trout
Somerset County
- Beaverdam Run: Wild Rainbow Trout
- Enos Run – Wild Brook Trout
- Higgins Run — Wild Brown Trout
- Laurel Run – Wild Brook Trout
Westmoreland County
- Camp Run – Wild Brook Trout
- Furnace Run — Wild Rainbow Trout
- Laughlintown Run — Wild Rainbow Trout
- Tubmill Run – Wild Rainbow Trout
All of these streams can be located in DeLorme’s Pennsylvania Atlas and Gazetteer, available at your local sporting goods store. Pennsylvania has many more wild trout streams not listed here. Visit the Pennsylvania Fish and Game Commission website for additional details and links to maps.