Best Flies for Penns Creek (Pennsylvania)

What's hatching now

Month, insect, size, and pattern from the Penns Creek hatch chart. August is highlighted when that month exists in the chart. We do not invent a hatch that is not on the chart.

Nymphs

Subsurface patterns matched to this river's chart and catalog. Fish them at the size the chart lists, not the size that looks good in the bin.

Emerger

RS2

The RS2 (Rim's Semblance 2) is a devastatingly simple emerger pattern that hangs in the surface film imitating

Size #18

Nymph

Micro Mayfly

A tiny, sparse nymph tied on a barbless jig hook that imitates the smallest mayfly nymphs in the drift. Effect

Sizes #18–#24

Nymph

Tungsten Soft Hackle Hare's Ear

Old Dominion Trout Bum's tungsten-bead jig take on the soft hackle hare's ear — a euro-style emerger with a CD

Sizes #14–#18

Dries

Dries and terrestrials for the Penns Creek. If the chart says a size 18 PMD, do not start with a 12.

BWO Sparkle Dun

Craig Mathews design. Z-lon shuck, deer hair wing. Size 18-20 for spring BWOs.

Size #14

Dry

Dry

Green Drake

The Green Drake is the biggest mayfly hatch of the year in many western rivers. This large, heavily hackled pa

Size #10

Dry

Trico Spinner

The Trico Spinner imitates the spent Tricorythodes spinner fall — one of the most technical and rewarding dry

Size #20

Dry

Sulphur Dun

The Sulphur Dun imitates Ephemerella dorothea and E. invaria, the signature evening hatch on eastern and midwe

Size #14

Dry

Sparkle Dun

Craig Mathews' Sparkle Dun combines a deer hair fan wing with a Z-lon trailing shuck, bridging the gap between

Size #14

Terrestrial

Flying Ant

The Flying Ant pattern includes CDC or hackle-tip wings that distinguish it from standard ant patterns. During

Size #14

Terrestrial

Foam Ant

The Foam Ant creates the distinct two-hump silhouette of a real ant using closed-cell foam segments. Ant falls

Size #14

Terrestrial

Foam Beetle

The Foam Beetle is a simple but devastatingly effective terrestrial pattern. A piece of black foam folded over

Size #12

Terrestrial

Dave's Hopper

Dave Whitlock's Hopper is the original modern grasshopper imitation, featuring a spun deer hair head, knotted

Size #6

Dry

BWO Parachute

The BWO Parachute is a specific-color Adams variant tied to match the ubiquitous Blue-Winged Olive mayfly hatc

Size #16

Dry

Blue Dun

One of the oldest and most storied dry fly patterns in the history of fly fishing, dating back centuries in Br

Size #14

Dry

CDC Blue-Winged Olive

A CDC-winged BWO that rides perfectly in the surface film with no floatant needed. The natural oils in CDC fea

Size #18

Egan's Bionic Ant 2.0

An oversized foam ant with a Trigger Point white wing, Uni Flex legs, and a Coachman-brown hackle. Buoyant eno

Size #10

Terrestrial

Dry

Blue-Winged Olive Comparadun

The Comparadun's deer hair fan wing sits flush in the film, presenting a realistic mayfly silhouette that tail

Size #16

Streamers

Streamers and wets for stained water, banks, and low light. This is not a claim that streamers are "on" today.

Wet

Partridge and Green

The green silk-bodied companion to the Partridge and Orange, this soft hackle wet fly imitates emerging caddis

Size #12

Setup

4X and 5X cover most nymphing. 4X on dries until the fish get picky, then 5X. A 3.0–3.8mm tungsten on the point and a lighter dropper is a default until you see the water. Tight-line the near bank and the heads of pockets. Use an indicator only when you need to search water you cannot euro.

FAQ

What flies work on the Penns Creek?

Start with BWO Sparkle Dun and Green Drake, then match size to the hatch chart for the month you are standing in. The Penns Creek does not need a 40-pattern box. It needs the right size on the insect that is actually in the drift.

When is the best time to fly fish the Penns Creek?

The editorial window we list is May, June, July, August, September, October. That is a planning month range, not a guarantee. Shoulder months can fish well if flows and water temperature cooperate.

Do I need a guide on the Penns Creek?

Pennsylvania has walk-up wade water and, on some sections, float water. A guide is worth it for a first float or a technical tailwater. A hatch chart and a gauge are enough for a first wade if you already nymph. We list local guides and shops on this page when we have them.

Where can I see live flow for the Penns Creek?

Open the Penns Creek river page for the USGS gauge, access notes, and the same hatch chart this fly list is built from. We do not publish other people's spots or fish counts.

Is this a report of what's working now on the Penns Creek?

No. Executive Angler does not publish other anglers' catches, GPS, or a crowdsourced hot fly. This page is hatch-chart patterns plus catalog flies. Presence on the river page is gauge and weather only.

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