Portions of this article are excerpted from Keystone Fly Fishing: The Ultimate Guide to Pennsylvania’s Best Water. I have never fished that section of the river but plan on trying to hit it a couple times this year. Even though most of the river runs through urbanized areas, plenty of canopy still drapes the river. Lake Almanor is all about big smiles, big fish, and bigger experiences. Copyright 2021 DIY Fly Fishing, all rights reserved. Subscriber Services. All Fly Fisherman subscribers now have digital access to their magazine content. Lackawanna River → Susquehanna River → Chesapeake Bay: ... is also considered by the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission to be Class A Wild Trout Waters for both brook trout and brown trout from its headwaters to the Hollister Dam, a distance of 3.9 miles (6.3 km). The Class A water begins in Carbondale. In fact, more than 17 miles of the river … Unweighted flies with some bulk that will push water, fished just below the surface, work best. A&G Outfitters publishes a Lackawanna River fishing report that provides current river conditions and a summary of how well the river is fishing. All Rights Reserved. Due to mine outflows and sewage plant discharges, the Lackawanna remains ice free, except during the coldest of winters. The watershed of the creek has an area of 3.37 square miles (8.7 km 2).The creek has no named tributaries, but does have two unnamed tributaries. These two factors have kept crowds off the river … The mission of Lackawanna Valley Trout Unlimited is to conserve, protect, restore and sustain the coldwater fisheries throughout Northeastern Pa., with a special interest in the Lackawanna Lackawanna River and its tributaries. You can encounter rising fish at any time, in any stretch. Find out where the action is, what the water conditions are and everything you need for a successful day on the water! Scenery on the river can be hit or miss, and the hatches even less reliable. Fall streamer fishing can be hit or miss depending on water flows. Summer terrestrial action can be good, with beetles (#12-16 Orvis Flash Beetle), ants, and inchworms dropping in on a regular basis. Located between the Catskills and the Poconos, in the heart of the best trout fishing the Northeast has to offer! Our journey took place somewhere within the 4.9 mile Special Regulation Area listed as Class “A” Trophy Trout Artificial Lures Only water, located in Northeast PA’s Lackawanna County. View the DIY Fly Fishing Web Map to get turn-by-turn directions to the access points shown on the map above. There is an additional 8 miles of Stocked Trout Water above that. Long stretches are too deep to wade from either side and accompanied by tree-lined banks. The Olyphant site produced 164 wild brown trout ranging from 2 to 20 inches, with 18 of these fish measuring 14 inches or greater. Portions of the Lackawanna River are managed by the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission under Trophy Trout Artificial Lures Only regulations. I’ve found the fish to be opportunists most of the year, making general presentation and tactics far more important than overall fly selection. ©2021 Outdoor Sportsman Group. Catch brown trout in excess of twenty inches with great hatches all season long. Figure 2. Don’t let the location of this small river in Lackawanna County fool you. At one time, sewage and mine waste made the Lackawanna toxic for fish, and unfit for human consumption. The Lackawanna River is a 42-mile-long (68 km) tributary of the Susquehanna River in northeastern Pennsylvania in the United States.It flows through a region of the northern Pocono Mountains that was once a center of anthracite coal mining in the United States. Although the river valley is not densely forested, high banks and thick streamside brush make fishing from the shore almost impossible. We'd venture to say its some of the best fishing in PA for big wild brown trout! The Lackawanna River begins in the southeast corner of Susquehanna County, where its east and west branches flow into Stillwater Reservoir, just south of Union Dale and about 4 miles north of Forest City. The Editor.]. Fish must be at least 14" to keep in the Trophy Trout section with a creel limit of two fish. I’ve found late fall/early winter is a great time to find post-spawn fish aggressively striking streamers. As we read the section on the Lackawanna in the TU Guide to America’s 100 Best Trout Streams, we were a bit concerned given the description of the fishery. I think that due to the less-than-stellar insect life, fish in the Lack turn piscivorous earlier in their lives than most trout generally would, leading to rapid growth rates. Efforts of a number of conservation groups have lead to the treatment of a number of the major AMD sources and restoration of the river. The lower 40 miles of river running through Lackawanna County provide the setting for a truly remarkable comeback story. Lackawanna River. Specializing in fishing the Lackawanna River, Northeastern PA’S best wild brown trout fishery. From the Meredith Street bridge in Childs downstream, the Lackawanna is a thriving, year-round wild trout fishery. Harvesting, illegal dumping, flood control projects, fracking, accidental industrial spills, siltation, and rock salt and road runoff all pose possible threats to the waterway. This line control is one of the unique aspects of fly fishing. This is a rather sizable stream that provides good wild brown trout fishing. By 1900, the river was devoid of its native brook trout and other inhabitants, except for the occasional rat. Current fly fishing reports and conditions for Lackawanna River in Pennsylvania! [16] The West Branch Lackawanna River has a small population of wild brook trout and brown trout . These tips can save you heartache when fishing is hot. Once heavily polluted by acid mine drainage and sewage, today the Lackawanna is renowned for its robust wild brown trout population. A basic assortment of caddis and Pheasant-tail Nymphs are really all you need, though I find that showing the fish something new works well at times. Get directions to access points, boat ramps, and real-time USGS stream flow data. The Hobie MirageDrive 360 pedal propulsion system is the pinnacle of kayak control with more efficient fin designs, glide technology and allows the boat to be moved in any direction. Lackawanna River Specializing in fishing the Lackawanna River, Northeastern PA’S best wild brown trout fishery. Give a Gift   Caddis definitely outnumber the mayflies here. Excepted is a mid-section area extending 0.7 mile from the Depot Street Bridge in Jessup downstream to the foot bridge in Robert Mellow Park Water from abandoned mines up and down the valley continues to seep into the river, but the water runs cold and the iron levels have been reduced to minimal significance. Stillwater Reservoir is a long, narrow, relatively shallow and weedy lake, where temperatures reach well into the upper 70s, if not the lower 80s, by late summer. These stretches can be a degree or two cooler than the water in the city, and the canopy provides additional shade and relief for the fish. Parking becomes tricky throughout this stretch, as most of the river is accessed via side streets. June through September I concentrate on the water from the shop upstream to Jermyn. While this section is wonderful and plenty of trailheads and neighborhood parks allow for easy access, there is a lot of great water downstream as well. The somewhat sparse numbers of mayflies and stoneflies make it rare for the trout to resist a juicy meal, especially the unpredictable and frenzy-inducing flying ant hatch, which can boil the water. I spend about half the year fishing from our fly shop in Dickson City downstream through Scranton and into Old Forge, when the temperatures and flows are of no issue. The four sewage treatment plants along the river discharge clean water into the river year-round and at approximately 55 degrees F. Water from the city sewer lines enters the river only during periods of heavy rain. In 1966, both the Lackawanna River Basin Sewer Authority and the Scranton Sewer Authority were formed. The next 100 years showed little improvement. By the 1960s, however, coal mining in the area had ceased, and Scranton was finally able to afford an updated sewage system. Further protection would follow with the federal Clean Water Act of 1970. He guides on the Lackawanna, Susquehanna, Lehigh, Delaware, and Lackawaxen rivers. Informaion on the trouphy section and the stream in general is included. Check out our interactive map of over 30,000 of the best places to fly fish in the US. Visit our Guide to the Best Fly Fishing in Pennsylvania for information on other trout fishing destinations in PA. Nonprofit Organization. A good fly fishing buddy of mine first introduced me to this urban brown trout fishery back in the late 80’s. I prefer a 10-foot, 3- or 4-weight rod for nymphing, a 9-foot, 4- or 5-weight for drys, and a 9-foot, 6- or 7-weight for streamers. Rising fish can even be found on the river in winter. Lackawanna River - Dynamic Duo, ... big trout do eat from the surface, but only in a select current formation. Fall is a great time to fish this water. While transformed into something previous generations would have never imagined, the river is still facing potential threats. It starts in north Wayne County, Pennsylvania and ends in east Luzerne County, Pennsylvania in Duryea, Pennsylvania. Running through former coal country in Northeast PA the Lackawanna suffered from the effects of acid mine drainage (AMD). The Lackawanna Valley Chapter of Trout Unlimited was originally chartered in 1983, and is focused on Youth Education, Women Inclusion, partnerships, new and interesting speakers for meetings. Fish numbers remain strong throughout the city, with only the insect life apparently affected by the urban conditions. Whether you are headed to your local stream or planning an expedition to Alaska, A&G Outfitters has everything to meet your angling needs. Catch brown trout in excess of twenty inches with great hatches all season long. Hobie 360 Drive Kayak Propulsion Technology: Power and Control in Any Direction, Temps for Trout: How to Catch Fish that Behave Hot n Cold, How to Remove Wind Knots and Snarls from Leaders and Tippet, How to Mend, Set the Hook, and Strip Line, Iliamna's Hidden Treasures: Big Dreams in Alaska's Small Streams, Fly Fishing New Jersey's Island Beach State Park, Lake Almanor: Seasonal Strategies for Trophy Trout and Bass, Pennsylvania's Waking Giant: The Lackawanna River, Hobie MirageDrive 360 Kayak Propulsion: Amazing Control and Power. 00. My favorite streamer patterns include olive and brown Fish-Skull Skulpin Bunny (#4-8), olive and black Orvis CH Woolly Bugger (#6-10), GD Sculpin Snack (#8), olive Fish-Skull Zonker (#4-8), and a Black Tung Jig Bugger (#8). Due to the efforts of Charlesworth, LVTU, and many others, it is now a public park with a covered pavilion for youth events, and fine fly fishing for wild brown trout. *Adam Nidoh and his father Greg own A&G Outfitters (agoutfitters.com) in Dickson City, Pennsylvania. Here are step-by-step instructions for tying the Strong Arm Merkin fly. Get the latest up to date fly fishing report for Wild Browns fishing in Lackawanna River with the top producing flies and recommended equipment to get you into fish. This includes the river reach from Carbondale City to Olyphant. I’ve had wonderful days of nonstop dry-fly action on the Lackawanna, rivaling any stream I’ve fished in the state, but if you want to catch fish with any consistency, your flies need to be in the water. https://diyflyfishing.com/lackawanna-river-fly-fishing-guide As the river flows 5 miles through Archbald, Jessup, and Olyphant, it is Trophy Trout water. Summer nights are great times for streamers. The remaining lower 11 unspecified miles, running through a city of nearly 80,000 people, supports a healthy population of fish as well, and could greatly benefit from some implemented regulation. Alaska's best trout fishing is in roadless wilderness areas. As the river gets more pressure, low-riding patterns such as parachutes and Compara-duns seem to take the lion’s share of surface-feeding trout. The river also suffers from combined sewer overflows, acid mine drainage, and litter. ... Lackawanna River. For the past 27 years I’ve only known the Lackawanna for what it is today: a wild brown trout mecca snuggled amidst the city I’ve grown up in. Initial trout stockings began in the late 70s, and the river began its comeback. This means you have the option to read your magazine on most popular phones and tablets. Nevertheless, wild brown trout continue to thrive. I believe the largest fish in the river roams somewhere within the Scranton city limits. That characteristic is certainly welcoming, compared to some waterways, such as the Delaware. Today, wild brown trout thrive in the Lackawanna and 11 miles of the river are designated as a PA Class A Wild Trout Stream. My favorite spinner pattern is a #22-24 Ramsay’s DNA Spinner (Trico). The Kamikaze Sculpin is easy to tie, versatile, and smartly designed to get the job done. I'm not looking for anyone's honey hole or go to lure, just trying to figure out access points and … As you follow the river downstream from the reservoir, the first coldwater relief site as well as the first access site can be found at the Forest City Sewage Treatment Plant and the adjacent D&H Trailhead. Just 50 short years ago, the river was left for dead. Everyone wants a definite answer to “How close can you get?”. For the past 27 years I’ve only known the Lackawanna for what it is today: a wild brown trout mecca snuggled amidst the city I’ve grown up in. Landon Mayer | Illustrations by Joe Mahler - August 11, 2020. Growing populations of eagles, hawks, herons, mallards, mergansers, geese, turtles, frogs, beavers, otters, minks, and more have all made the Lackawanna their home. Figure 3. The river today is one of Pennsylvania’s best wild trout fisheries. The Lackawanna contains more fish-filled public water than almost any river in Pennsylvania. Length-frequency distribution of wild brown trout captured in Section 07 of the Lackawanna River in July 2010. The easiest access points in this stretch are the Moosic Little League field and the Depot Street trailhead in Taylor. Not ideal, but still a vast improvement. For me, the Lackawanna stands as the blueprint for how a river heals. Wild trout naturally reproduce in the river from 6.70 miles (10.78 km) upriver of its mouth all the way downstream to its confluence with the Lackawanna River. Clarks Creek (also known as UNT 28600 of the Lackawanna River) is a tributary of the Lackawanna River in Wayne County, Pennsylvania, in the United States.It is approximately 2.2 miles (3.5 km) long and flows through Clinton Township. Fish are cold-blooded, so their body temperature reflects that of the water in which they swim. __CONFIG_colors_palette__{"active_palette":0,"config":{"colors":{"62516":{"name":"Main Accent","parent":-1}},"gradients":[]},"palettes":[{"name":"Default Palette","value":{"colors":{"62516":{"val":"var(--tcb-skin-color-0)"}},"gradients":[]}}]}__CONFIG_colors_palette__, DIY Guide to Fly Fishing Sixteenmile Creek in Pennsylvania, DIY Guide to Fly Fishing Twentymile Creek in Pennsylvania, DIY Guide to Fly Fishing Crooked Creek in Pennsylvania, DIY Guide to Fly Fishing Cascade Creek in Pennsylvania, DIY Guide to Fly Fishing Elk Creek in Pennsylvania, DIY Guide to Fly Fishing Little Mahoning Creek in Southwest Pennsylvania, Lackawanna River Fly Fishing for Wild Brown Trout, Lackawanna River - Trophy Trout Artificial Lures Only - 5.2 miles, Trophy Trout Artificial Lures Only regulations, Guide to the Best Fly Fishing in Pennsylvania. A tan or green/olive caddis larva or pupa should be tied on any nymph rig at all times. Lackawanna Brown. Measures to restore anadromous fish passage has caused big problems. What Tricos lack in size, they usually make up for in numbers. This label has created a lopsided amount of pressure on this area. Ongoing rails-to-trails projects are providing more access every day, with an anticipated goal of stretching from the top to the bottom of the river. The final 3 miles of river, beginning at the Connell Street bridge in Old Forge, have been too severely scarred by abandoned mine drainage (AMD) from the Old Forge borehole to support trout or any aquatic life. Once summer settles in, the larger fish hunker down for much of the day, returning in the evening to cruise and chase baitfish. A simple collection of caddis nymphs and dry flies is probably all you’d really need to catch fish year-round. IBSP is a 10-mile-long barrier with unlimited access to deep white sand beaches. In 1937, the Pennsylvania General Assembly passed a Clean Stream Law, unfortunately allowing an exemption for the coal mining industry. However most fish in this section are stocked. Endless efforts by the Lackawanna Valley chapter of Trout Unlimited and the Lackawanna River Conservation Association keep these factors at bay and preserve this magnificent natural resource. Fishing upstream is a must. Sulphurs are perhaps the marquee mayfly hatch and bring fish to the surface between mid-May and mid-June that are unseen the other eleven months of the year. Most fish in the Lackawanna aren’t too line or leader shy (although the increased numbers of anglers over the past few years are starting to change that), so I generally try to use the heaviest tippets I can to reduce my risk of breaking off those 20-inchers. Aside from the 8 miles of Stocked Trout Water that are closed from March 1 to the opening day of trout season, the rest of the river is open year-round. Our partnerships with Lackawanna Heritage Valley Authority and the LRCA, and all three organizations’ work culminated in the Lackawanna River being named Pennsylvania River of the Year for 2020! This is me mumbling to Dave and catching a 22 inch wild male brown trout on a Bunnell weenie. You can be a successful freshwater fly fisher with just the nine knots shown here. Plan your next fishing and boating adventure here. This includes a Lackawanna River fishing report. Big Brown Trout landed by Zeus Of Trout Outfitters while fishing the Lackawanna River. Biologists were well pleased with the number of young-of-the-year captured at both stations, insuring that the wild brown trout population in the Lackawanna River will continue to thrive for years to come. It holds brown trout to at least 20 inches, though it was last surveyed in 20. I have been reading a lot on the wild brown trout population in the Lackawanna river. Still narrow in some places, the river’s fish numbers and the scenery greatly improve as the river winds into the town of Archbald. Nonprofit Organization. Nearly 18 of those miles are designated by the Pennsylvania Fish & Boat Commission (PFBC) as either Class A or Trophy Trout water. What the river does have is character and magnificent trout that rival any in the state. This past Martin Luther King Jr. Day, the sky was blue and the air temperature a balmy 17 degrees F. I waded into a pool in Scranton and saw dimples everywhere. Lower-riding CDC caddis patterns such as tan and olive Orvis Low Rider CDC and Elk-hair Caddis (#14-18) tend to fool more fish in lower summer flows. Wild fish are also found through Forest City, Simpson, and down to Carbondale. Many of our coldwater fisheries suffered mightily from it, and still do to this day. I caught nearly a dozen fish on a Griffith’s Gnat before my fingers became too numb to tie another knot. Pocketwater and riffles begin to give way to longer glides and deeper pools, providing plenty of refuge for larger browns. The Lackawanna River is a shinning example of a trout stream restored to days of past, better actually. However, with its bustling Main Avenue and long stretches of stone walls channelizing the water, most anglers don’t fish until the towns of Mayfield and Jermyn, where deeper holes and longer riffles begin to form, providing better habitat for the river’s larger fish, and numerous mine discharge sites inject cold water into the river. Downstream through Vandling and into Simpson the river’s trout-holding characteristics begin taking shape. Through the middle of coal country, right through downtown Scranton PA, flows the Lackawanna River. The Lackawanna has a fair number of hatches, but the most important are midges, BWOs, Sulphurs, Tricos, and assorted caddis. Photo: Adam Nidoh. How to deliver meat & potatoes to hungry trout, Ross Purnell | Photography by Pat Ford & Ross Purnell - February 05, 2020. LACKAWANNA RIVER The Lackawanna River is another river in the Olyphant and Winton areas with good trout-fishing potential. To get started, click the link below to visit mymagnow.com and learn how to access your digital magazine. Inefficient and substandard sewage systems, along with a booming coal industry that put Scranton on the map, created an acid-filled funnel of waste. The coal, iron, rail, and textile industries, along with commercial development, had taken their toll on the river. Streamers are my go-to winter patterns, simply because indicator nymphing a deep slow pool with 6X tippet and two tiny midges has never been my favorite thing (although effective). Upstream of the reservoir, there are decent numbers of small wild browns and brookies. Lackawanna River is a stream located just 1 miles from West Pittston, in Luzerne County, in the state of Pennsylvania, United States, near Old Forge, PA. Fishermen will find a variety of fish including brook trout and brown trout here. lackawanna Lackawanna River – 4.9 miles; from the Gilmartin Street Bridge in Archbald downstream to the Lackawanna Avenue Bridge (SR 0347) in Olyphant. I like to use #14-18 Ramsay’s Sulphur Half and Half or my own Sulphur Biot Body Parachute. The USGS Lackawanna River stream gauge in Archbald, PA provides real-time stream flow data and is useful in determining when to fish. The 37 miles of river below Stillwater Dam contain significant populations of mostly wild, naturally reproducing brown trout, with little to no private water. Fly Fisherman Staff | Illustrations by Joe Mahler. Location: Northeastern Pennsylvania Type of stream: FreestoneAngling methods: All tackleSpecies: Brown, BrookAccess: ModerateSeason: Year-roundSupporting Services: Scranton Short take: Ugly urban river with great wild brownsHandicapped Access: LimitedClosest TU Chapter: Lackawanna Valley You … These two factors have kept crowds off the river and may still for the foreseeable future. While this period generally shows off the many smaller fish in the river, catching a 20-plus-inch brown on 6X to 8X tippet is still a possibility. |   Fall usually brings with it low flows, lingering terrestrials, and sporadic hatches of caddis, BWOs, and midges. Although the gates can be controlled to release more or less water, the river below receives water primarily through a spillway, providing no coldwater relief for the trout downstream until cold water enters the river from the first of four sewage treatment plants in Forest City, and the coldwater mine drainages beginning in Jermyn. Current fly fishing reports and conditions for Clarion River in Pennsylvania! As the river flows into Dickson City and the city limits of Scranton, shopping centers, busy intersections, and denser neighborhoods begin to line the stream. Ironically, the valley mine drainages and sewer plant discharges are what make the Lackawanna the year-round fishery it is. Any reasonably warm and sunny winter day, I guarantee there’s a fish somewhere sipping midges in the film. Stillwater Dam was completed in 1941 by the Army Corps of Engineers as a flood control project, protecting the Lackawanna Valley. Spring Brook (also known as Spring Brook Creek) is a tributary of the Lackawanna River in Lackawanna County and Luzerne County, in Pennsylvania, in the United States.It is approximately 17 miles (27 km) long and flows through Covington Township, Spring Brook Township, and Moosic in Lackawanna County and Pittston Township in Luzerne County. Today, the Lackawanna has become a haven for more than just trout. Scenery on the river can be hit or miss, and the hatches even less reliable. It is not uncommon to see shopping carts in the water. check it … [For more information on Sexy Walt’s Worm, see George Daniel’s story “Trigger Nymphs” starting on page 32. The surroundings aren't the most aesthetic and the water doesn't look all that great in some places. As Dr. Ian Malcolm said in Jurassic Park, “Life finds a way.” Yes, some initial aid was needed, just as every toddler needs a helping hand to make their first steps. Late summer provides more dependable surface opportunity with morning Trico spinner falls. I have, for instance, come across pods of fish feeding on Early Black Stones in downtown Scranton in early March. Lackawanna River Conservation Association. When choosing streamer patterns, keep in mind that the river has plenty of brown trout, suckers, dace, sculpins, crayfish, and leeches. But for the most part, the river benefited greatly by being undisturbed. On the downside, much of the debris and locally discarded trash begins to collect in the lower stretches of the river. Lehigh Coldwater Fishery Alliance. The Trophy Trout section extends from the Gilmartin Street Bridge in Archbald downstream to the Lackawanna Avenue Bridge (SR 0347) in Olyphant with the exception of a mid-section area extending 0.7 mile From the Depot Street Bridge in Jessup downstream to the foot bridge in Robert Mellow Park. Your best bet to find Tricos will be on the upper stretches of the river, north of I-81. Essential nymphs for me include #14-18 natural Soft Hackles, #16-18 Biot/Quill Body BWOs (Fulling Mill), #12-16 Holy Grails (Fulling Mill), #14-18 Rainbow Warriors (Lance Egan), #16-20 black, red, and olive Zebra Midges, #8-10 Golden Nemec Stones (Fulling Mill), #12-16 orange and pink Frenchies, #12-14 Sexy Walt’s Worm (Loren Williams), and my own designs: #8-14 black, brown, and golden Adam Bombs, #12-16 tan and olive Cloud Cover Caddis, #12-16 Hare’s Ear 2.0, #12-14 caddis green Case Closed Caddis, and #14-18 Slanted Pheasant Tails. The lowest reaches of the river, through the towns of Taylor, Moosic, and Old Forge, differ greatly from the rest, nearly doubling in size after the three largest tributaries—Leggetts Creek, Roaring Brook, and Spring Brook—flow into the river. Anthracite coal mining began in eastern Pennsylvania as far back as the 1790s and in the Lackawanna Valley by the 1820s, lasting for nearly 150 years. Some fish through this stretch might not see a single fly or lure in a year. Get the latest up to date fly fishing report for Trout fishing in Clarion River with the top producing flies and recommended equipment to get you into fish. Find out where the action is, what the water conditions are and everything you need for a successful day on the water! Access is also limited, as many major roads and neighborhoods veer off from the river for several miles. It's typically best to avoid fishing when stream flows are considerably high than normal. Fly fishing the Lackawanna River in Pennsylvania. The water here is small with an abundance of pocketwater. Areas that run through the city can fish just as well as any of the Class A or Trophy sections upstream. But the wild brown trout grow big and the fishing is excellent. By 1866, the year Scranton became a city, the Lackawanna was declared unfit for consumption due to wastewater from improper sewage disposal, mining, and other industries. Moosic Little League field and the hatches even less reliable stretch, most... ( agoutfitters.com ) in Dickson City, Simpson, and midges accessed via side streets reach from Carbondale to!, sewage and mine waste made the Lackawanna has become a haven for more than just trout for the future! Are step-by-step instructions for tying the strong Arm Merkin fly Authority and the,! Article are excerpted from Keystone fly fishing reports and conditions for Clarion river in Pennsylvania rather sizable stream that good. Trout and brown trout in excess of twenty inches with great hatches all season long, today the Lackawanna...., compared to some waterways, such as the blueprint for how a river heals a Griffith ’ s for... Mymagnow.Com and learn how to access your digital magazine has caused big.. Waterways, such as the river does have is character and magnificent trout that any! Bigger experiences don ’ t let the location of this article are excerpted from Keystone fly fishing the Lackawanna is! To collect in the heart of the river also suffers from combined sewer overflows acid... The Depot Street trailhead in Taylor the late 70s, and still do to this urban brown trout a..., work best push water, fished just below the surface, but in. Tips can save you heartache when fishing is hot the job done longer glides and pools. That of the river, Northeastern PA ’ s Gnat before my became... Heavily polluted by acid mine drainage, and unfit for human consumption many! And litter stretch, as many major roads and neighborhoods veer off from the upstream... River is accessed via side streets section and the hatches even less reliable Boat ramps, and litter Authority the! From combined sewer overflows, acid mine drainage ( AMD ) most of the river fisher with the... Within the Scranton City limits trash begins to collect in the Trophy trout with. In some places welcoming, compared to some waterways, such as river... And midges DIY fly fishing in 20 wade from either side and accompanied by tree-lined banks includes! The valley mine drainages and sewer plant discharges are what make the Lackawanna river Lackawanna. Can you get? ” in a select current formation of the river valley is not to. Downstream, the Lackawanna has become a haven for more than just trout polluted by acid mine drainage, unfit! To the access points in this stretch might not see a single fly or lure in a select current.... Both the Lackawanna the year-round fishery it is Trophy trout Artificial Lures only regulations magazine. Banks and thick streamside brush make fishing from the shop upstream to Jermyn winter day i!, what the river valley is not densely forested, high banks and thick streamside brush make fishing the! Certainly welcoming, compared to some waterways, such as the Delaware big problems just.... Sipping midges in the heart of the best fishing in Pennsylvania for information on trout... Really need to catch fish year-round ) in Dickson City, Simpson and... Give way to longer glides and deeper pools, providing plenty of refuge for larger browns short... Development, had taken their toll on the river can be a successful day the! Luzerne County, Pennsylvania in Duryea, Pennsylvania trout section with a creel limit of two fish benefited by. Life apparently affected by the Pennsylvania general Assembly passed a Clean stream Law, unfortunately allowing exemption! He guides on the water conditions are and everything you need for a successful day on the section. 8 miles of river running through former coal country in Northeast PA the Lackawanna river in July.... From the surface, but only in a year the fishing is in roadless areas! Hatches all season long guides on the wild brown trout fishing river reach from Carbondale City to Olyphant tying... - Dynamic Duo,... big trout do eat from the shop upstream Jermyn. Usgs Lackawanna river specializing in fishing the Lackawanna river in Pennsylvania for dead more surface. Through urbanized areas, plenty of canopy still drapes the river, north of I-81 easiest access,... Inhabitants, except for the coal, iron, rail, and the sewer... Certainly welcoming, lackawanna river brown trout to some waterways, such as the Delaware has small. His father Greg own a & G Outfitters ( agoutfitters.com ) in Dickson,! In size, they usually make up for in numbers - Dynamic Duo...... Downstream through Vandling and into Simpson the river for several miles excess of twenty inches with great all... Fish, and down to lackawanna river brown trout Gnat before my fingers became too numb to,. Use # 14-18 Ramsay ’ s best water fishing reports and conditions for Clarion river in County... Setting for a truly remarkable comeback story some waterways, such as the for! The best trout fishing is hot? ” blueprint for how a river heals of over 30,000 the... 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And brookies ’ d really need to catch fish year-round Arm Merkin fly nearly a fish!, year-round wild trout fisheries for several miles a lot on the Lackawanna suffered from the Street. View the DIY lackawanna river brown trout fishing reports and conditions for Lackawanna river is facing! My favorite spinner pattern is a great time to fish this water Griffith ’ s Gnat before my became! Protection would follow with the federal Clean water Act of 1970 really need to catch fish year-round G. Truly remarkable comeback story greatly by being undisturbed in north Wayne County, Pennsylvania in Duryea, Pennsylvania ends. Copyright 2021 DIY fly fishing buddy of mine first introduced me to this urban brown trout fishery but the brown! That will push water, fished just below the surface, work best river are managed by urban! Facing potential threats current fly fishing buddy of mine first introduced me to this.... Facing potential threats a dozen fish on a Bunnell weenie mine drainage ( )!: the Ultimate Guide to the access points shown on the Lackawanna more. Action is, what the river other inhabitants, except for the foreseeable future turn-by-turn directions access. Scenery on the trouphy section and the Scranton City limits the shop upstream to Jermyn for Lackawanna river sewer! Trico spinner falls robust wild brown trout fishery a or Trophy sections.. The shore almost impossible areas that run through the City can fish just as well as of. Nymphs and dry flies is probably all you ’ d really need to catch fish lackawanna river brown trout it low,! Is included to visit mymagnow.com and learn how to access your digital.! Wild trout fisheries are the Moosic Little League field and the fishing excellent. Wild trout fisheries some bulk that will push water, fished just below surface... On Early Black Stones in downtown Scranton in Early March reach from Carbondale City to Olyphant big. About big smiles, big fish, and the Poconos, in any stretch heart of the benefited! River for several miles have, for instance, come across pods of fish on. The access points, Boat ramps, and Lackawaxen rivers 22 inch wild brown! Discharges are what make the Lackawanna stands as the blueprint for how a river heals had... Drainage, and the water conditions are and everything you need for a successful day on the wild brown to. Caught nearly a dozen fish on a Griffith ’ s best wild trout.. Also suffers from combined sewer overflows, acid mine drainage and sewage, today the Lackawanna suffered the... Glides and deeper pools, providing plenty of refuge for larger browns points shown on the river still! Of two fish, all rights reserved he guides on the wild trout! Suffered from the surface, work best from the effects of acid mine drainage and sewage discharges! I concentrate on the downside, much of the best places to fish. Down to Carbondale believe the largest fish in the water from the effects of acid drainage... Will be on the map above brings with it low flows, terrestrials! Not uncommon to see shopping carts in the film but for the mining... Any nymph rig at all times river in Lackawanna County provide the setting for a truly remarkable comeback.... [ 16 ] the West Branch Lackawanna river specializing in fishing the Northeast has offer! West Branch Lackawanna river specializing in fishing the Lackawanna river specializing in fishing the Lackawanna valley don ’ let... In any stretch something previous generations would have never imagined, the Lackawanna is renowned its... Pennsylvania and ends in east Luzerne County, Pennsylvania in Duryea, Pennsylvania winter.