Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - March/April 2020 - 19

several state forest roads,
there is an established
hiking trail that leads in
and out of it. To access the
trail and stream, park at
the bridge on Couch Road.
My close second
favorite stream to hike and
fish is Rock Run, Ralston.
A trail is accessible off
Rock Run Road within
the Loyalsock State Forest.
There are three access
points: the lower falls,
A wild Brown Trout from Rock Run, Lycoming County.
middle falls, and upper
falls. All three of these
If you are looking to explore and discover new streams,
access areas are within the McIntyre Wild Area. You may
certain portions of Pennsylvania are better than others.
hike the entire section of the stream from the lower falls to
Centre, Clinton, and Potter counties contain a large quantity
the upper falls and fish along the way. The hiking is worth
of Class A Wild Trout Streams and naturally reproducing
it as Rock Run contains wild Brown Trout, native Brook
wild trout streams. The majority of these streams are located
Trout, stocked Rainbow Trout that occasionally immigrate
within public land, so hiking to access these streams is a
from nearby stocked trout streams, and stunning waterfalls
legal and an ideal method for fishing. Another portion of
accompanied by crystal clear water. This stream produces
the state to consider is northwestern Pennsylvania in Warren
well for fly anglers in the summer when trout are feeding
and Forest counties.
heavily on terrestrial insects such as grasshoppers.
Within Warren and Forest counties is the Allegheny
My third favorite stream, or streams in this case, to hike
into is a series of tributaries to Slate Run, Lycoming County. National Forest. The Allegheny National Forest is full of
hiking trails and trout streams.
While Slate Run itself is easily accessed from Slate Run
I am an advocate of hiking to streams to fish. It is great
Road, the headwaters of Slate Run are made up of several
exercise and a ton of fun when others tag along for the
smaller tributary streams that require hiking to access. The
adventure. The scenery is stunning, such as the falls on Rock
Cushman Branch, Francis Branch and Apple Tree Hollow
Run, and the fishing tends to be worth the effort. Make sure
flow into Slate Run. All three hold plenty of wild trout
to always inform others of what trails you will be hiking and
consisting of mainly native Brook Trout, but Brown Trout
what stretches of stream you plan to fish before heading out.
are present as well. Because hiking to fish these tributaries
Pick a stream, find a trail, wet a line, catch a trout, and enjoy
is required, fishing pressure is light, and the trout are often
what Pennsylvania is all about.
persuaded to bite.

Hiking through the Appalachian Mountains offers stunning scenery and productive trout streams.
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Pennsylvania Angler & Boater * March/April 2020

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Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - March/April 2020

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