Book Your Fishing Charter in Carlisle, PA

History, scenic nature, and a booming small-town tourism scene — visitors will be delighted to see and experience all these things and more in Carlisle. This burgeoning borough is deep in the heart of the lush Cumberland Valley in South Central Pennsylvania. It offers quick and easy access to the Appalachian Trails, streets filled with well-preserved historic landmarks, and many sights and events that visitors and residents can enjoy.

A highlight for fly anglers of all levels is the fishing adventure of a lifetime they can experience in Carlisle. Here you can access some of the best limestone streams in North America and worldwide. With rich water bodies, healthy fish populations, and stunning views, Carlisle is easily a fishing destination you should put at the top of your East Coast bucket list.

Carlisle Fishing: Epic Limestone Stream Fishing

Carlisle and Cumberland Valley sit atop some of the world’s best fly fishing destination lists. The limestone spring streams here are so pristine and conducive to fly fishing that even legends like Marinaro and Fox once found themselves casting a line here. What's even better is that you can enjoy year-round fishing in its limestone streams as they retain good water conditions conducive for trout.

One of the most popular bodies of water you can access from Carlisle is LeTort Spring Run. This creek is the stuff of legends among fly fishing legends, not just for its waters and vegetation but also for its wily brown trout, the smartest and trickiest to land. The upper part of the spring run is where Marinaro once fished. A catch-and-release fly fishing area is situated above the Bonny Brook Road Bridge and continues south of LeTort Park. 

Yellow Breeches Creek and Children’s Lake are good trout fishing waters, but unlike the legendary LeTort, you don’t need to be an expert to have a great time fishing in these spots. For anglers keen to target the rare rainbow trout in Pennsylvania, Big Spring Creek is the way to go. Apart from its rainbows, it has native brook trout and wild, stocked brown ones. 

While Carlisle is typically a big trout town, many other water bodies in the surrounding district offer excellent Pennsylvania fishing. The Susquehanna River Trail and Conodoguinet Creek have some of the best smallmouth bass fishing on the East Coast while holding other sought-after game fish like walleye, muskellunge, and common carp, to name a few.

Enjoy Indoor and Outdoor Sightseeing in Carlisle

1. Go Hiking in Cumberland County

Bring your family along for some outdoor adventure at the beautiful Kings Gap Environmental Education Center. Here you can enjoy hiking in the state park, observe the rich flora and fauna, and partake in other activities hosted by the park.

2. Go Art Gallery Hopping

Carlisle has a host of art galleries and exhibits all over town, the most notable of which are the Trout Gallery and the American Artisan Gallery. The Trout Gallery at Dickinson College has an excellent selection of works from all over the world, including artifacts from Africa and Europe. The American Artisan Gallery is focused on artisanal works by American artists practicing a range of media, including painting, sculpture, jewelry, pottery, glasswork, woodwork, and more.