Top 10 Places to Fish in Cumberland Valley PA

Cumberland Valley welcomes anglers of all skill levels and ages to enjoy the scenic streams and lakes that make our area a fishing destination. The Valley is known around the world for fly-fishing, which is why the top three spots are also our best spots for fly-fishing. Plan your Weekend Easy getaway and cast away your cares.

Pennsylvania's statewide opening day for Trout Season in 2025 is on Saturday, April 5. A single, statewide Mentored Youth Trout Day will take place on Saturday, March 29, 2025. See the PA Fish & Boat Commission stocking schedule for Cumberland Valley.

Discover what makes Carlisle a Trout Town in the article that appeared in American Fly Fishing magazine. See below for the top ten places to fish in Cumberland Valley.

 = Fishing     = Fly-Fishing      

 = Boating      = ADA Access

1. YELLOW BREECHES CREEK

Beloved by anglers of every skill level thanks to abundant trout and a mile-long catch-and-release section near Boiling Springs.

• Yellow Breeches Creek Water Trail Map & Guide provides boating and recreation info for approximately 22 miles of the creek, including two float trips
• ADA Accessible Fishing Piers: Available in Leidigh Park and Spanglers Mill 
• Parking: 1559 Boiling Springs Rd, Boiling Springs 17007, Fisherman's parking lot located on the left-hand side of the driveway when entering the property; reference two locations in Boiling Springs on Map #1 below;  Leidigh Park, 1526 Leidigh Dr, Boiling Springs 17007; Spanglers Mill, 1425 Spanglers Mill Rd, Camp Hill 17011; Stuart Park, 519 Pine Rd, Carlisle 17015

2. LETORT SPRING RUN

Copious reed beds and taxing currents make this spot a challenge, the wild brown trout here seem to be particularly wily.

• Handicapped Accessible: Fishing platform inside LeTort Park, Nature Trail is ADA accessible but not paved
• Parking: Reference two locations on Map #2 below for Cumberland Valley Chapter Trout Unlimited Land; LeTort Park, 260 E. Pomfret St, Carlisle 17013; S. Spring Garden St, Carlisle 17013

3. BIG SPRING CREEK GREENWAY

World famous limestone creek that flows through woodland and farmland before emptying into the Conodoguinet Creek.

• 5th largest spring in Pennsylvania
• Parking: Reference three locations on Map #3 below

4. OPOSSUM LAKE

Fifty-nine-acre lake stocked with rainbow trout.

• Three boating access points of which one has a surfaced launch ramp, boating is limited to boats powered by electric motors and un-powered boats
• Handicapped Accessible: Path
• ADA Accessible: Fishing dock
• Species, including largemouth bass, bluegill, purebred muskellunge, black crappie and tiger muskellunge, are catch-and- release and must be immediately returned unharmed.
• Parking: Open parking area at entrance on Opossum Lake Road

5. FULLER LAKE

Located at Pine Grove Furnace State Park.

• Common fish to be found include pickerel, bass, perch and stocked trout
• Parking: Open parking area available near the lake 

6. LAUREL LAKE

Located at Pine Grove Furnace State Park.

• Boat launch, 85 mooring spaces and boat rentals available
• Common fish to be found include pickerel, bass, perch and stocked trout 
• Parking: Open parking area available near the lake

7. CONODOGUINET CREEK

Fishing on the creek is accessible from 15 access points, all located within parks throughout Cumberland Valley. Click the link for locations.

• Conodoguinet Creek Water Trail Map & Guide features access points along approximately 40 miles of the creek and outlines two float trips
• Fish for smallmouth bass, rock bass, sunfish and stocked tiger muskellunge fingerlings
• Parking: North Middleton Park, 1770 Waggoner's Gap Rd, Carlisle 17013; Willow Mill Park, 80 Willow Mill Park Rd, Mechanicsburg 17050

8. SUSQUEHANNA RIVER TRAIL

The river's fertile limestone water is one of the best smallmouth bass fisheries in the East. 

• Other fish include muskies, walleye, smallmouth bass, panfish, catfish and carp
• Boating access points and boat rentals are available
• Parking: West Fairview Point & Park, 50 Front St, West Fairview; City Island Parking Garage

9. DOUBLING GAP LAKE

Located in Colonel Denning State Park.

• Stocked with trout
• ADA-accessible ishing pier 
• Parking: Open parking area near the lake

 10. CHILDREN'S LAKE

Spring-fed and stocked with trout.

• Fishing is permitted from a shallow-draft boat, electric-motored boat, or canoe
• Open to all ages for fishing
• ADA-compliant fishing pier that extends into the lake.
• Parking: Street parking around the lake, parking lot near the back of the lake by the furnace

Other Places to Fish

Although they didn't make the Top 10 there are plenty of other places to fish in the Valley. View even more details about the fishing locations in the Valley or view our blog on Fishing Honey Holes.

Fishing Guides & Attractions

Fishing Guides

• Angling Adventures
• Adventure Explorations
• Broken Pole Outfitters
• Tom's Fly-Fishing Service
• TCO Outdoors
• Precision Fly-Fishing & Tackle

Fishing Attractions

• Pennsylvania Fly Fishing Museum
• Huntsdale State Fish Hatchery
• Green Spring Trout Farm

How to Get Started

Make sure to take a few minutes to obtain a fishing license and/or launch permit and read over fishing and boating regulations before starting your trip. Visit the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission website for information on boat registration, fishing licenses, water trails and basic skills. 

You can purchase a fishing license online, by mail, or in person at 11 locations throughout the county including K-Mart in Carlisle or Wal-Mart in Carlisle, Mechanicsburg or Shippensburg.

A license, which must be displayed on an outer garment while fishing, is required of all people 16 years and older. A current Pennsylvania trout/salmon permit (stamp) is required to fish for trout and salmon in PA waters. These can also be purchased at the locations listed above.

Fishing Streams & Regulations

Check the PA Fish and Boat Commission website for Opening Day of Trout Season: Big Spring Creek, Children's Lake, Doubling Gap Lake, Fuller Lake, Green Springs Creek, Middle Spring Creek, Mountain Creek, Opossum Lake, Yellow Breeches Creek

Year-Round Fishing: 

Laurel Lake, Mountain Creek (from Adams County line downstream to the backwaters of Laurel Lake)

Catch and Release Fishing:

• Yellow Breeches Creek - 1.17 miles; 0.17 miles of the Unnamed Tributary to Yellow Breeches Creek (from the outfall of Children's Lake to the confluence with Yellow Breeches Creek at Boiling Springs) and 1.0 mile of Yellow Breeches Creek from the confluence with the Unnamed Tributary at Boiling Springs downstream to the vicinity of Allenberry
• Opossum Lake - The lake is stocked with rainbow trout. All other species are catch and release.

Catch and Release Fly-Fishing Only:

• Big Spring Creek - 1.1 miles; from 100 feet below the source (Big Spring) downstream to the Nealy Road Bridge
• Green Springs Creek - 1 mile; from mouth upstream to near confluence with Bulls Head Branch
• LeTort Spring Run - 1.7 miles; from 300 yards upstream of bridge on T-481 (Bonnybrook Road) downstream to the Reading Railroad Bridge at the southern edge of LeTort Spring Park