● TCO Fly Shop · Stream Report
Penns Creek
Great summer flows
Good
Filed by TCO Staff of TCO State College on Aug 31
USGS gauge
Reading from Aug 31, 6:00 PM
Flow
178cfs
Gage height
1.95ft
Penns Creek at Penns Creek, PA USGS data
Flow rating
Skinny
Clarity
Clear
What's Hatching
Penns Creek has dropped back to levels good for fishing. Some storms passing through this week may bump the flows again so keep an eye on the gauge. Look for BWOs, tan caddis, and some ISO here and there. Terrestrials like ants and beetles are great searching patterns during the day in the riffles and tail outs. Nymphing has been good, with the best surface action towards sunset - but watch those temps around midday and focus near cooler tributaries.
Look for rising fish here and there and throw those nymphs in likely holding lanes or try dropping a big stimulator or small chubby into those slicks around fast water.
Hatches
BWO (18-22)
Summer Quill (18-20)
ISO (10-12)
Tan Caddis (16-18)
Midges (20-24)
Look for rising fish here and there and throw those nymphs in likely holding lanes or try dropping a big stimulator or small chubby into those slicks around fast water.
Hatches
BWO (18-22)
Summer Quill (18-20)
ISO (10-12)
Tan Caddis (16-18)
Midges (20-24)
What they're eating
Hot flies
Flow
TCO's own calibration of the creek's fishable window. The needle is where it sits right now.
178 cfs · Skinny
0
200
500
900
1400
Skinny0–200
Prime200–500
Pushy500–900
Blown900+
Low and technical. Long leaders, light tippet.
Water temp
32°
48°
56°
64°
68°
80°
56–
64
F
Staff-estimated range across the day.
Cold<48°
Cool48–56°
Prime56–64°
Caution64–68°
Not safe for trout68°+
Prime temps. Trout are active.
Range estimated by TCO staff
General Information
Summertime water temperatures on Penn's Creek can reach fatal levels for trout, especially below Cherry Run, where mid-day water temps can exceed 70 degrees. Regardless of where you fish on Penn's, carry a thermometer and consider calling it a day when water temperatures exceed 66 degrees, the fish will thank you later.
Flow bands and temperature bands are TCO's own calibration from years on this water, not a USGS product. The 68° line is a conservation threshold, not our opinion. Gauge data courtesy of the U.S. Geological Survey.