Central Pennsylania Hatch Chart

Few areas in the trout fly fishing world offer the extent of insect activity that can equal Central Pennsylvania’s limestone streams. The following listing is a general description of the insects and hatch times which you can anticipate experiencing on our streams.
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Winter

November to March

FLY PATTERN & SIZE PENNS CREEK BIG FISHING CREEK ELK CREEK PINE CREEK SPRING CREEK
Tiny B.W.O. #20-24 Sporadic Common Sporadic Common Common
Little Black Stone #18 Feb. & March Feb. & March Sporadic Sporadic Feb. & March
White Midge #22-28 Sporadic All Winter Sporadic All Winter All Winter
Grey Midge 22-26 Sporadic All Winter Sporadic All Winter All Winter
Blue Quill 18 Nov. If 45 or better Anytime its 45 or better Anytime its 45 or better Nov. if 45 or better Sporadic

April

FLY PATTERN & SIZE PENNS CREEK BIG FISHING CREEK ELK CREEK PINE CREEK SPRING CREEK
Little B.W.O. Dun #20 Sporadic Afternoon Hatch Light Hatch, Afternoon Fair only w/low water Afternoon Hatch
Blue Quill #18 Morning & Afternoon Hatch Morning & Afternoon Hatch Morning & Afternoon Hatch Morning & Afternoon Hatch Morning & Afternoon Hatch
Quill Gordon #14 Lower Portion Only Afternoons – – –
Light Hendrickson #14 Lower Portion Only Afternoons – – –
Little Black Caddis #16 Mornings & Afternoons Mornings & Afternoons – Below Elk Creek Junction Only –
Grannom Caddis #12-14 Mornings & Afternoons Mornings & Afternoons – Below Elk Creek Junction Only –
Little Blue Dun #20 – Mornings & Afternoons Mornings & Afternoons Below Elk Creek Junction Only Mornings & Afternoons

May

FLY PATTERN & SIZE PENNS CREEK BIG FISHING CREEK ELK CREEK PINE CREEK SPRING CREEK
Little Blue Dun #20 – Mornings & Afternoons Mornings & Afternoons Below Elk Creek Junction Only Mornings & Afternoons
Blue Quill #18 Mornings & Afternoons Mornings & Afternoons Mornings & Afternoons Mornings & Afternoons, Lower Section Mornings & Afternoons
Pale Yellow Cranefly #18 Afternoons & Evenings Afternoons & Evenings Afternoons & Evenings, light Afternoons & Evenings, Lower Sections –
Chocolate Dun #16 Afternoons Sporadic Sporadic Afternoons Lower Section Only –
March Brown #10-12 From 10AM On, Randomly Sz. 10 From 10AM On, Randomly Sz. 12 From 10AM On, Random, But Mild From 10AM On, Random, But Mild –
Gray Fox #12-14 From 11AM thru to Evening From 11AM thru to Evening From 11AM thru to Evening 11AM thru to Evening, lower section 11AM thru to Evening, lower sections best
Yellow Hendrickson (Ephemerella Invaria & Rotunda) #14 Duns – 1PM to 6, Spinners follow Duns – 1PM to 6, Spinners follow Duns – 1PM to 6, Spinners follow Duns – 1PM to 6, Spinners follow –
Yellow Cranefly #16 Afternoons & Evenings – – Afternoons & Evenings, lower section only –
Sulphur Dun #16 4PM till dark. Starting Later as Hatch Continues 4PM till dark. Starting Later as Hatch Continues Evenings From Mid-May thru June Evenings From Mid-May Into Early July Evenings From Mid-May thru June

June

FLY PATTERN & SIZE PENNS CREEK BIG FISHING CREEK ELK CREEK PINE CREEK SPRING CREEK
Light Cahill #12-14 Evenings Evenings Evenings Evenings, Below Main Springs Evenings
Yellow Cahill #14 Evenings Evenings – Evenings, Below Main Springs –
Green Drake # 8 – 10 Evenings, Earliest Date – May 27th, Latest – June 14th Evenings, Generally after Penns’ Hatch Evenings Evenings, Below Elk Creek Junction Evenings, Lower Sections & Very Light
Green Caddis #14 Afternoon & Evening, Upstream of Pine/Elk Only #14-16 Afternoon & Evening #14-16 Afternoon & Evening #14-16 Afternoon & Evening, Lower Section #14-16 Morning & Afternoon, #16-18
Blue Wing Olive #16 Mornings, #16 Mornings, #16 Mornings, #16 Mornings, #16 Mornings, Upper Areas #14
Slate Drake #12-14 Sporadic Thru The Day Sporadic Thru The Day – Sporadic, Below Elk Creek Only –
Sulphur Dun #16 Near or At Dark Near or At Dark Near or At Dark Near or At Dark Near or At Dark
Tan Caddis #14 Evenings, Often Heavy Evenings, Often Heavy Evenings Evenings, Below Elk Creek, –
Tan Cranefly, #14-16 Afternoon & Evenings Afternoon & Evenings Afternoon & Evenings Afternoon & Evenings Afternoon & Evenings
Great Stonefly #8 Sporadic, Female Egglayers In Evening Sporadic, Female Egglayers In Evening Sporadic, Female Egglayers In Evening Sporadic, Female Egglayers In Evening Below Elk Crk. –

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July

FLY PATTERN & SIZE PENNS CREEK BIG FISHING CREEK ELK CREEK PINE CREEK SPRING CREEK
P. Mollis, Little Mahogany Dun, #16 Sporadic Hatch, Heavy Evening Spinner Fall – – Sporadic Hatch, Heavy Evening Spinner Fall –
Yellow Drake #12 Evenings, Lower Sections Heaviest Evenings – – –
Sulphur Dun #16 At Dark, Best Below Pine/Elk Junction At Dark At Dark At Dark, Downstream of Main Springs At Dark
Little B.W.O. Dun #20 Afternoon & Late Evening Afternoon & Late Evening Afternoon & Late Evening Afternoon & Late Evening –
Blue Quill #18 Mornings & Afternoons Mornings & Afternoons Mornings & Afternoons Mornings & Afternoons Mornings & Afternoons
Little Blue Dun #20 – Mornings & Afternoons Mornings & Afternoons Below Elk Creek Junction Only –
Tan Caddis #16 Evenings, Often Heavy Evenings, Often Heavy Evenings Evenings, Below Elk Creek, –
Amber Cranefly #16

Afternoon & Evenings Afternoon & Evenings Afternoon & Evenings Afternoon & Evenings Afternoon & Evenings
Tricos #20-24

Mornings, Best Downstream of Pine/Elk Junction – – Mornings, Below Main Springs down to Penns Mornings

August

FLY PATTERN & SIZE PENNS CREEK BIG FISHING CREEK ELK CREEK PINE CREEK SPRING CREEK
Little B.W.O. Dun #20 Afternoon & Late Evening Afternoon & Late Evening Afternoon & Late Evening Afternoon & Late Evening –
Blue Quill #18 Mornings & Afternoons Mornings & Afternoons Mornings & Afternoons Mornings & Afternoons Mornings & Afternoons
Slate Drake, #12 Sporadic Duns, Spinners at Nightfall Sporadic Duns, Spinners at Nightfall – Sporadic Duns, Spinners at Nightfall –
Tan Caddis #16 Evenings, Often Heavy Evenings, Often Heavy Evenings Evenings, Below Elk Creek, –
Tricos #20-24

Mornings, Best Downstream of Pine/Elk Junction – – Mornings, Below Main Springs down to Penns Mornings
Green Caddis #16 Mornings, Downstream of Pine/Elk Junction Mornings Mornings Mornings Mornings

September

FLY PATTERN & SIZE PENNS CREEK BIG FISHING CREEK ELK CREEK PINE CREEK SPRING CREEK
Tricos, #20-24 Mornings, Best Downstream of Pine/Elk Junction – – Mornings, Below Main Springs down to Penns Mornings
Slate Drake, #12 Sporadic Duns, Spinners at Nightfall Sporadic Duns, Spinners at Nightfall – Sporadic Duns, Spinners at Nightfall –
Blue Quill #18 Mornings & Afternoons Mornings & Afternoons Mornings & Afternoons Mornings & Afternoons Mornings & Afternoons
Little Blue Dun #20 Afternoon & Late Evening Afternoon & Late Evening Afternoon & Late Evening Afternoon & Late Evening –
Little B.W.O. #20-24 Afternoon & Late Evening Afternoon & Late Evening Afternoon & Late Evening Afternoon & Late Evening –
Brown Caddis, #14 Afternoons, Upstream from Poe Paddy to Pine/Elk Junction Afternoon – Afternoon, Downstream from Main Springs Afternoon
Tan Cranefly #16-18 Afternoon Afternoon Afternoon Afternoon Afternoon

October

FLY PATTERN & SIZE PENNS CREEK BIG FISHING CREEK ELK CREEK PINE CREEK SPRING CREEK
Slate Drake, #12 Sporadic Duns, Spinners at Nightfall, Oct. Sporadic Duns, Spinners at Nightfall, Oct. – Sporadic Duns, Spinners at Nightfall, Oct. –
Blue Quill #18 Mornings & Afternoons Mornings & Afternoons Mornings & Afternoons Mornings & Afternoons Mornings & Afternoons
Little Blue Dun #20 Afternoon & Late Evening Afternoon & Late Evening Afternoon & Late Evening Afternoon & Late Evening –
Little B.W.O. #20-24 Afternoon & Late Evening Afternoon & Late Evening Afternoon & Late Evening Afternoon & Late Evening –

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