The Big Spring
Big Spring Creek is a world-famous limestone creek that flows through woodland and farmland for six miles before emptying into the Conodoguinet Creek. It is the fifth largest spring in Pennsylvania. The creek boasts a consistent flow of cool, fertile water, allowing the trout to grow year-round in aquatic insect-laden waters that range in temperature from 46 to 51 degrees.
The stream flows north to the town of Newville, Pennsylvania, in Cumberland County. Its historical roots are legendary, as it is considered perhaps the finest brook trout spring creek in fly fishing literature. The creek bears a striking resemblance to an English chalk stream, so much so that English writers often reported on it in the 1930s and 1940s. The brook trout population here is distinct from that of mountain streams; these fish are highly selective and often spend much of their time feeding at the surface. Big Spring Creek was instrumental in the early development of fly fishing in America.
The Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission designates Big Spring as a Class A wild trout fishery for both brook and rainbow trout from its headwaters downstream to Nealy Road. This section is catch-and-release, fly fishing only. From Nealy Road through Newville, Big Spring is open to all types of fishing tackle and is stocked every spring by the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission. Furthermore, from Laughlin Dam in Newville to where Big Spring flows into Conodoguinet Creek, it is recognized as a Class A wild brown trout fishery.
In 1971, a state hatchery built by the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission became operational by 1972. Shortly thereafter, the native wild brook trout population in this limestone spring creek dramatically declined. A study conducted by Dr. Jack Black and Gene Macri, titled “An Ecological Survey of Big Spring with Emphasis on the Effects of Fish Hatchery Effluent,” began in 1995 and was released to the public and the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection in 1997. It revealed that the hatchery’s effluent had negatively affected the stream. This study, along with subsequent reports from the DEP and advocacy from local citizen groups, prompted the closure of the hatchery in 2001. Following this closure, the stream made a remarkable comeback, now hosting over 350 pounds of brook trout per acre in the upper section, making it the most productive brook trout stream in the nation.
The mayfly populations, including the legendary sulfur, have also returned. While the stream is one of the hardest to fish due to its sophisticated trout, it presents a challenge for fly anglers wishing to test their skills against these intelligent fish. Historically, the stream featured a series of mills that powered grain grinding. These mills no longer exist, except in old photographs. Big Spring has become a storied location for legendary anglers such as Charlie Fox, Vince Marinaro, and Ross Trimmer. As a young man, Ernie Schwiebert met Ross Trimmer here and was introduced to the legendary Charlie Fox.
Today, with the brook trout population restored, it is crucial to protect the environment of this stream. Any mistakes could upset the delicate balance, potentially favoring the rainbow trout if the current substrate conditions, which are optimal for brook trout reproduction, are altered.
