Man, fly fishing for trout on Tobyhanna Creek in Pennsylvania was a blast! I hit up State Game Lands 127 along Route 423, using my go-to nymphing and dropper hopper setup with a caddis and Frenchie, just like you mentioned. I caught a ton of rainbow, brown, and brook trout. Here’s the rundown of my trip.

Tobyhanna Creek is this cool stream in the Pocono Mountains. The water looks like weak tea because of the hemlock trees around it, but the trout don’t care. I fished the part in State Game Lands 127, right off Route 423. It’s easy to get to, you park, walk a short trail, and you’re at the creek. This spot has fast water, slow pools, and little pockets where trout hang out, so it’s perfect for nymphing or tossing a dry-dropper rig.

I went in early spring when the water was chilly, about 50°F, which is great for trout. I used my 9-foot 4-weight fly rod with a floating line. It’s light enough to toss small flies but strong enough for bigger fish. You need a Pennsylvania fishing license and trout permit, which I got online. The rules for this part of the creek are pretty standard, not like the Delayed Harvest section nearby where it’s stricter.

I started with nymphing because trout love eating bugs under the water, especially the stocked ones. I set up two flies: a size 14 Pheasant Tail nymph as my main fly and a size 16 Hare’s Ear as the dropper. I put a strike indicator on my 9-foot 5X leader to spot when a fish bit. I’d cast upstream, let the flies sink, and drift them through fast water or seams where the current changes. That’s where trout like to chill and eat.

It took a bit to get the hang of the creek’s flow. Some spots are quick and rocky, so I had to be careful not to snag. But then, boom, a 12-inch rainbow trout grabbed my Pheasant Tail in a shallow riffle! It was a stocked fish, all shiny and full of energy. I let it go and moved to a deeper spot. There, a wild brown trout, maybe 14 inches with a yellow belly, hit the Hare’s Ear. It was picky, but I got it with a good drift.

Around mid-morning, I saw caddisflies bouncing on the water. Tobyhanna gets lots of bugs in spring, like Blue Quills or March Browns, and caddis in summer. So, I switched to a dry-dropper rig to fish the surface and below. I tied on a size 12 Elk Hair Caddis as my dry fly, it floats great and looks like a caddis or even a grasshopper. Then, I added a size 16 Frenchie nymph as the dropper, tied about 18 inches below with 6X tippet. That pink hotspot on the Frenchie is like candy to trout.

The dry-dropper worked awesome in slow pools and near grassy banks. I cast near the edges and let it drift. A brook trout, all dark green and orange, nabbed the Frenchie in a pool. It was wild, maybe 10 inches, and just gorgeous. Pennsylvania’s state fish! Then another rainbow smashed the nymph in a deep spot. I was stoked.

By lunch, I’d caught like 12 fish: five rainbows, four browns, three brookies. They were 8 to 15 inches, wild and stocked. The wild ones were trickier, needing perfect drifts, but the stocked rainbows just went for it. Every spot on the creek was different. In fast water, I kept casts short and quick. In slow pools, I used a longer leader and let the flies hang out longer.

State Game Lands 127 is great because it’s easy to reach but not too crowded. You park off Route 423, walk through some hemlocks, and it’s just you and the creek. The shade keeps the water cool, and I saw little fish like sculpins and crayfish that trout eat. It’s a cool vibe, all peaceful.

Later, I tried a size 4 Woolly Bugger streamer to maybe hook a big brown in a deep pool. No monsters, but some fish chased it, which was fun. As the sun went down, I went back to nymphing and got one more brown before heading out. The creek’s look, with that tea colored water and green trees, was almost as good as the fishing.

If you’re going to Tobyhanna, spring or fall is the best time. Bring a 3 or 5 weight rod, some nymphs like Pheasant Tails or Frenchies, and dry flies like Elk Hair Caddis. The spot off Route 423 is great, but you can walk up or down for quieter water. Check the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission for rules, and wear waders because the rocks are slippery.

Tobyhanna Creek Fishing Tips

Gear

• Rod: 9-foot 3 to 5 weight with floating line
• Leader: 9 foot 5 or 6X for nymphs, longer for dry-dropper
• Tippet: 5X or 6X
• Flies:
  • Nymphs: Pheasant Tail (#14), Hare’s Ear (#16), Frenchie (#16)
  • Dry: Elk Hair Caddis (#12)
  • Streamer: Woolly Bugger (#4 or 6)
• Other: Strike indicators, waders, good boots

How to Fish

• Nymphing: Two flies, cast upstream, drift through fast water or seams. Watch the indicator.
• Dry-Dropper: Use a caddis dry fly with a nymph below. Fish near banks or slow water.
• Streamers: Try in deep pools for big fish, pull it back quick.

Where to Go

• State Game Lands 127: Park on Route 423, walk the trail. Has fast and slow water.
• Fish under the bridge on 423 for almost guaranteed catches
• Rules: Get a license and trout permit. Check Fish and Boat Commission.

When to Go

• Spring: Lots of bugs, good for nymphs and dry flies.
• Fall: Pretty trees, good fishing.
• Spring/Winter: Fish when it’s not too hot or cold.

Fish

• Rainbow Trout: Stocked, hit hard, 8-15 inches.
• Brown Trout: Wild or stocked, picky, up to 20 inches.
• Brook Trout: Wild, colorful, 8-12 inches.