Northcentral Pennsylvania, Pennsylvania
Pine Creek Fishing Report: May 20, 2026
Pine Creek is good today with 781 cfs at the primary gauge and morning, then watch storms and showers as the best window.
- Status
- good
- Flow trend
- falling
- Best window
- Morning, then watch storms and showers
- Best methods
- nymphs, dry flies, streamers
Quick Summary
Pine Creek is in a useful fishing window today. USGS showed 781 cfs and 2.44 feet at 7:00 AM, with the flow trend falling. Water temperature was Not reported by the gauge. Start with nymphs, then adjust to dry flies or streamers if fish show you a better lane or feeding level. Leave the water if thunder develops; open riffles and drift boats are poor places to wait out lightning.
Conditions Snapshot
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Status | Good |
| Flow | 781 cfs at 7:00 AM |
| Gauge Height | 2.44 feet |
| Water Temp | Not reported |
| Clarity | Not reported |
| Trend | Falling |
| Best Window | Morning, then watch storms and showers |
| Best Method | nymphs; dry flies; streamers |
| Wadeability | Good |
Weather
For Slate Run, PA, the National Weather Service forecast says: Today: A chance of rain showers between 9am and 10am, then showers and thunderstorms likely. Mostly cloudy. High near 73, with temperatures falling to around 65 in the afternoon. Northwest wind around 6 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New rainfall amounts less than a tenth of an inch possible. No active NWS alerts were returned for the point check. Plan around wind, changing light, and any showers or storms rather than assuming a full-day dry fly window.
River Notes
The best starting point is water that matches the current gauge: inside seams, protected banks, riffle drop-offs, and slower buckets rather than the heaviest current. A falling trend is worth watching through the day; if the hydrograph turns sharply upward, clarity and wade safety can change before hatch timing does. Clarity was not available from an official gauge during this check, so treat it as Not reported and verify it at the access before committing to a long float or wade plan.
Hatch Activity
Current hatch guidance is based on seasonal May patterns for this river system, current public report context where available, and today’s official gauge/weather check.
| Hatch | Size | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Sulphur | 14-16 | Check soft edges late |
| Blue Winged Olive | 18-22 | Best with cloud cover |
| Caddis | 14-18 | Pupa in riffles |
| March Brown | 10-12 | Sporadic larger bugs |
Recommended Flies
| Category | Fly | Size | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dry | Sulphur Parachute | 14-16 | Evening dry fly |
| Dry | Elk Hair Caddis | 14-18 | Search riffles |
| Nymph | Hare’s Ear | 12-16 | General searching nymph |
| Nymph | Prince Nymph | 12-16 | Use in pocket water |
| Streamer | Black Woolly Bugger | 6-10 | Cover banks when flows allow |
Tactics
Start with nymphs in defined lanes and adjust weight, depth, or leader length before changing flies. If fish begin rising, simplify to a single dry or dry with an emerger/dropper and lengthen the leader. In bright or windy periods, return to subsurface presentations along protected banks and broken water. Re-check the gauge before wading new crossings, especially if the trend changes from stable or falling to rising.
Gauge Links
| Gauge | Flow | Temp | Link |
|---|---|---|---|
| PINE CREEK AT CEDAR RUN PA | 781 cfs | Not reported | USGS 01548500 |
Sources
Official sources checked: USGS station 01548500 and the National Weather Service forecast for the Slate Run, PA area. This report is an original Custom FlyBox summary based on current official gauge and weather data, with local public conditions reports reviewed separately for hatch, access, and method context.