Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - September/October 2014 - 25

Brodhead Creek, Monroe County

some places though, steep banks leading down from the dikes
can make access difficult," said Wnuk.
"Numerous deep holes and, in places, large boulders
provide habitat for big fish. Additionally, there is no
shortage of urban debris. Some of the biggest trout we've
caught while electrofishing have come out of shopping
carts. The substrate is a mixture of boulder, gravel, silt,
muck and coal fines," said Wnuk.
"The fishing experience is generally urban, but most of the
banks are lined with trees, and there are some stretches that can
make you forget you're in a city. It's a good place to fish because
it produces lots of wild Brown Trout that are challenging to
catch. It has good access for anglers, and it is a very big wild
trout water by Pennsylvania standards," said Wnuk.
As for the Lackawanna River negatives, Wnuk pointed them
out as well.
"Flow is controlled by the Stillwater Dam, an United States
Army Corps of Engineers flood control impoundment in
the headwaters, so it can be unpredictable. And, there are
numerous discharges from sewage treatment plants and other
industries," said Wnuk.
"Also, there are numerous combined sewer overflows.
Most of the sewage treatment plants in the valley are
combined with the storm sewers. As a result, the sewage
plants get overloaded and discharge raw sewage to the river
during high flow events," said Wnuk.
Anglers should know some other things about the
Lackawanna River as well.
"Wading can be treacherous. Rocks are often covered with
Sphaerotilus or other slippery organisms associated with
nutrient enrichment," said Wnuk.
Area 5 Fisheries Biologist Dave Arnold's favorite northeast
choice is the Brodhead Creek.
"The Brodhead Creek is wide open. It's very good for novice
and proficient fly anglers or for spinner anglers. However, it
offers anglers a challenge to read the water as to where the trout
may be located," said Arnold.
PFBC website: www.fishandboat.com

"Brodhead Creek is a great yearround water. Not only in the fall stocked
reach but also in Section 02 where we
have been stocking marked Rainbow
Trout fingerlings (adipose clip). We
will be surveying the stream to see how
well they did or did not do. We also
stocked marked fingerlings in 2014,
so there could be some large Rainbow
Trout holding over in the future from
this stocking as well," said Arnold.
Wild Brown Trout are also present,
and numbers increase as anglers move
further upstream. Anglers can now fish
along portions of the stream edge of the
former Penns Hills Golf Course, as it is
now owned by Stroud Township.
The Brodhead Creek met Arnold's
criteria on a number of fronts.
"Access is very good throughout," he wrote. "The fall
stocked area extends from the Stroudsburg Water Company
downstream to the confluence of McMichaels Creek. Section
02, which is not stocked in the fall, will offer good fishing
as well. This section runs from the Cherry Lane Bridge in
Analomink downstream to the Stroudsburg Water Company
property. This reach has park access on the western bank at
the lower end and fairly good upstream access."
"This wide creek has a small town atmosphere. The
stocked area flows through the diked section of the stream.
However, anglers should not feel rushed or encroached upon
by other anglers. Anglers can even watch bald eagles fly
overhead," said Arnold.
While the Brodhead Creek is not difficult to wade from a
water velocity standpoint, it can be tricky due to the round
cobble substrate, and Arnold recommends cleats or felt soles.
The stream only dirties under severe high flows.
Don Baylor, Brodhead Chapter of Trout Unlimited,
reported that 2013 was a good year for fall hatches. Slate
Drakes, Pink Ladies, caddis and caddis larvae patterns were
productive as well as Muskrat Nymphs and Pheasant Tails.

Caddis larvae patterns are productive on Brodhead Creek.
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater * September/October 2014

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Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - September/October 2014

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