Spring Creek is one of the most famous limestone streams in Pennsylvania. It's history has been much like a rollercoaster ride with many ups and downs. It is said that one of the first dry flies ever casted in Pennsylvania, or even the United States for that matter, was casted to a Spring Creek trout. Early on the stream was noted for it's impressive Brook Trout population. Later when the Brown Trout was introduced, the stream gained national recognition for the size they attained. Many famous flyfishers have casted a line into Spring Creek including Theodore Gordon, Edward Hewitt, Charles Wetzel and George Harvey to name a few.
In the 1950's the stream became heavily polluted by sewage effluent and the trout suffered. The stream became a stocked stream with little or no natural reproduction. It wasn't until 1981 that cleanup efforts went into place, stream improvements were done and all stocking ceased. The trout responded to the efforts and according to stream studies, native brown trout populations exist along the whole length of the stream. There are still water quality problems and because of this Spring Creek is a no kill stream.
Probably the most popular stretch of the stream is the Fisherman's Paradise section. This is a one mile stretch that is the oldest Fly Fishing only regulated area in the nation. This stretch is under Heritage Trout Angling regulations.. There is easy access to the stream here and much of the paradise is open for easy casting. There are picnic tables there to enjoy a streamside lunch and also you can tour the trout hatchery located right on the stream. |
