It’s a fishing day

Penns Creek fishing conditions · Pennsylvania

Now until Monday 4 amRainbow trout

The bite peaks at 68.

Log a trip here
Right now: 68 for rainbow trout, marginal · inside the best windowTap or drag along the water to move through the next 36 hours

Rainbow trout, hour by hour

Each float is an hour. The deeper it rides, the better the bite. The strip underneath runs daylight, dusk and dark; the red rule marks the best window. Click any hour to read it.

  1. 684 pm
  2. 68
  3. 68
  4. 687 pm
  5. 68
  6. 68
  7. 6810 pm
  8. 68
  9. 68Sun
  10. 681 am
  11. 68
  12. 68
  13. 684 am
  14. 68
  15. 68
  16. 687 am
  17. 68
  18. 68
  19. 6810 am
  20. 68
  21. 68
  22. 681 pm
  23. 68
  24. 68
  25. 684 pm
  26. 68
  27. 68
  28. 687 pm
  29. 68
  30. 68
  31. 6810 pm
  32. 68
  33. 68Mon
  34. 681 am
  35. 68
  36. 68
Go, 85+Worth the trip, 70+Marginal, 55+Sit it out

Right now · best window

Water
No reading

Rainbow trout range 45–68°

Wind
9 mph

From the west

Light
Daylight

Sunset 4:59 pm

Sky
Slight Chance Light Rain

23% chance of rain

Air
49°F

NWS hourly forecast

Barometer
Steady

Measured, last 3 hours

Moon
5% lit

Waning crescent

What’s biting

Each species is scored against its own water-temperature range and tide preference, then wind, weather and warnings. The rules are Pennsylvania regulations for these waters.

Rainbow Trout

Rainbow trout

Oncorhynchus mykiss

68MarginalNow until Monday 4 am

Water

No water reading here right now. Rainbow trout bite in 45–68° water, best near 55°.

Why

Light breeze — ruffles the surface so fish spook less, and casting is easy. Holds 3–20 ft down.

Keep

7" minimum · 12" maximum · 2 a day

Catch and release only today. Elk Creek downstream 6.98 miles to the catch-and-release area below Swift Run: from 8 a.m. on opening day through Labor Day, 2 trout a day at least 7" but under 12"; no trout may be kept from the day after Labor Day to the next opener. Below Swift Run, 7.48 miles are catch and release, artificial lures only.

Verified Oct 23, 2026 · Penns Creek all-tackle trout slot limit

Last checked 15 days ago. Rules may have changed.

Season here: Apr–May, Oct–Nov, estimated from local air temperature, 2023–2025; there is no water gauge here. More on rainbow trout

Brown Trout

Brown trout

Salmo trutta

68MarginalNow until Monday 4 am

Water

No water reading here right now. Brown trout bite in 45–68° water, best near 55°.

Why

Light breeze — ruffles the surface so fish spook less, and casting is easy. Holds 3–25 ft down.

Keep

7" minimum · 12" maximum · 2 a day

Catch and release only today. Elk Creek downstream 6.98 miles to the catch-and-release area below Swift Run: from 8 a.m. on opening day through Labor Day, 2 trout a day at least 7" but under 12"; no trout may be kept from the day after Labor Day to the next opener. Below Swift Run, 7.48 miles are catch and release, artificial lures only.

Verified Oct 23, 2026 · Penns Creek all-tackle trout slot limit

Last checked 15 days ago. Rules may have changed.

Season here: Apr–Jun, Sep–Nov, estimated from local air temperature, 2023–2025; there is no water gauge here. More on brown trout

Common Carp

Common carp

Cyprinus carpio

33Sit it outNo window clears the bar

Water

No water reading here right now. Common carp bite in 52–86° water, best near 72°.

Why

Light breeze — ruffles the surface so fish spook less, and casting is easy. Common carp is here May–Sep. Holds 1–15 ft down.

Keep

50 a day

Open. Keep fish within the limits. Pennsylvania inland waters: no minimum, open year-round, 50 a day in the combined panfish group. Stocked-trout-water rules still apply.

Verified Oct 18, 2026 · Pennsylvania

Last checked 20 days ago. Rules may have changed.

Season here: May–Sep, estimated from local air temperature, 2023–2025; there is no water gauge here. More on common carp

The water

  • Water temperatureNo reading
  • Barometer29.92 inHg, steady

Sun, moon & solunar

  • Sunset today4:59 pm
  • Sunrise tomorrow6:48 am
  • MoonWaning crescent, 5% lit
  • Minor solunarToday 3:30 pm–4:30 pm
  • Major solunarTonight 10:00 pm–12:00 am
  • Minor solunarTomorrow 6:00 am–7:00 am

Solunar tables are a popular heuristic. A peer-reviewed test found they don’t predict catch on their own, so here they only nudge the score when the tide or moon already agree. How the score works

Fishing report

No current report covers these waters.

We only show reports an agency has published, with their date. PA Fish & Boat Commission has the state’s fishing pages.

Licenses and rules: state fishery agencies · fish-consumption advisory

About this spot

Pennsylvania's largest limestone-influenced freestone — central-PA water famous for its wild brown trout and the spectacular green drake hatch each spring. A big, brawling creek with catch-and-release fly water and miles of public access.

Pennsylvania: at Poe Paddy the creek is an all-tackle slot-limit reach, 2 trout a day from 7" to under 12" from opening day through Labor Day and no harvest after. From 600 meters below Swift Run the next 7.48 miles are catch and release, artificial lures only.

Nearby

Public spots within 40 miles, with the same 36 hours of floats.

Spring Creek (State College)21 mi · PennsylvaniaBest now until Monday 4 am
68Marginal

Questions people ask

Do I need a fishing license to fish at Penns Creek?

Yes (anglers age 16 and older). To fish at Penns Creek you need the appropriate state fishing license. See the agency's current rules: the state agency website

What fish are commonly targeted at Penns Creek?

Penns Creek is listed on this site for 3 commonly-targeted species: Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout, Common Carp. Which species is currently in season and which is scoring highest today is shown in the per-species ranking on this page.

When is the best time to fish at Penns Creek?

It depends more on the species and the day's conditions than on a fixed "best hour." Water temperature, weather, and — at tidal locations — the stage of the tide drive activity most. The per-species ranking on this page scores every target species at Penns Creek against today's live conditions, so the fish near the top are your best bets right now; check back as conditions change through the day.

What kind of access does Penns Creek have?

Penns Creek has multiple access types — pier, shoreline, and at least one public boat ramp. Pennsylvania: at Poe Paddy the creek is an all-tackle slot-limit reach, 2 trout a day from 7" to under 12" from opening day through Labor Day and no harvest after. From 600 meters below Swift Run the next 7.48 miles are catch and release, artificial lures only.

Which state's fishing regulations apply at Penns Creek?

state agency regulations apply at Penns Creek. Size limits, creel limits, and seasonal closures are listed per species on each species page. Always confirm against the agency source linked from each regulation block — emergency closures can take effect mid-season.

Is Penns Creek tidal water?

No. Penns Creek is non-tidal — water level varies with rainfall, seasonal flow, and (where applicable) upstream dam releases rather than tidal exchange.