The Stream

Originating from limestone springs, the Little Juniata meanders quietly through some of Pennsylvania's most beautiful farmlands and woods until it joins the Juniata River near Huntingdon. Its cool, spring-fed waters and alkaline PH combine to make this stream an ideal ecosystem for wild trout. Indeed, few streams east of the Rockies can compare to the "Little J." Its long stretches of "no kill" regulations, remote location, aesthetic beauty, prolific hatches, and sizeable population of big browns with broad shoulders have made this stream the destination of many anglers.  Because the stream is easily waded, it provides excellent opportunities for beginning flyfishers who love to fish for wild brown trout.

At Spruce Creek Outfitters our vast experience fishing the "Little J" makes us the perfect guiding service. When you fish with us, you fish with a team that literally lives on the river and thus knows it inside and out.  Because or recently implemented "no-kill" regulations, you will have a good opportunity to catch large fish. 

When to Fish

The Little J is productive all year, but the season really gets going with the Blue-Winged Olive and  Grannom Caddis hatches in April.  From then until the end of June, the stream abounds with successive hatches of Blue Duns, Sulphurs, Gray Fox, Green Drakes, Light Cahills, and Slate Drakes. During the summer terrestrials bring up the fish, while Olives and Midges round out the rest of the year. Nymph fishing is excellent throughout the season, so if you're looking for a get-a-way, try fishing nymphs with us in November and December. 

A typical day with us begins in the morning at the shop, where you will meet your guides. There, you will have the opportunity to purchase any equipment you may need and discuss the coming day of fishing. You should purchase your fishing license online prior  to your arrival.  (You can purchase a fishing license at http://www.fish.state.pa.us/license.htm). We will pre-arrange a meeting time to make sure you are on the water at the correct time so you can take full advantage of the anticipated hatches.  From the shop, you'll travel a short distance to the stream, where your guides will get you started.  Because we accommodate all skill levels, you need not worry about your fishing skill.  Our guides are patient and knowledgeable, and they will make every effort to help you improve your fishing skills while making you feel comfortable. During the day, you will rotate "beats" so you can experience a variety of different fishing conditions.  This practice also enables the guides to "rest" the water after a sustained period of fishing.

At mid-day, you and your guides will break for a streamside lunch, which we will provide. During lunch, you will have plenty of time to relax and meet up with any friends who have fished other beats. As you might suspect, lunch is usually a time for trading stories, with the conversation usually centering on technique, the history of the area, and, more often than not, the size and quantity of your catch.

After lunch, it's back to the stream for more fishing. Because conditions usually change throughout the day, you will have ample opportunity to fish a variety of techniques.  Feel free to ask about any new skills you might like to acquire, and take advantage of any fishing lulls by practicing what you have learned under the watchful eye of your guide. If you get tired and need to take a break, simply tell your guide, who will let you determine how much you would like to fish.  We like to fish through the evening hatch, so you may want to pace yourself for the fast and furious activity at day's end.

If you are interested in fly fishing but don't know how to start, you might want to try one of our "Mini Schools," special one-day sessions where we teach casting, knots, "reading" the water, hatch-matching, and equipment selection.  We allow ample time for our students to enjoy fishing on the Little Juniata and limit our class size to four students per day to guarantee you personal instruction.  Rod and reel rentals are available.

A Brown Trout Ready For Release

A Perfect Cast!

2011 Guiding Rates