Lehigh River – October Stream Report
Location: Carbon County, PA | Report by Precision Fly and Tackle
Get to Know the Lehigh in October
Fall is a quiet, rewarding time on the Lehigh, with cooler water, thinner crowds and trout feeding through the day. Expect olives, isos and evening sulphurs, with nymphs and streamers filling in between. Falling leaves can foul your line later in the month.
Stream Level
- Flow: Flows are regulated by releases from the Francis E. Walter Dam, so levels can change with the release schedule and with rain. Check the USGS gauge for the Lehigh River at Lehighton before you go.
- Forecast: Check the 7-day forecast for Lehighton before you head out.
Fishing Overview
Nymph the faster feeding lanes and swing streamers through the day, and watch for olives, isos and evening sulphurs when fish rise.
Specifics and Tips
- Best Times: Mornings and evenings
- Presentation: Nymphs in feeding lanes with heavier current, and streamers swung through the pools
- Wading: This is a large river, so wade carefully and check flows first. Mid to late October leaves in the water can make dry fly fishing tough.
What's Hatching
- Blue-Winged Olives (#18–22)
- Isonychia (evenings)
- Sulphurs (evenings)
- Caddis (#12–18)
- Tricos (#20–24, early fall mornings on the lower river)
Fly Patterns to Use
Dries:
- Hi-Viz Elk Hair Caddis, Tan – #12–18
- Outrigger Caddis – #14–18
- Blue-Winged Olive – #18–22
- Parachute Trico – #20–24
Nymphs / Subsurface:
- Beadhead Hare's Ear – #14–18
- Jiggy Prince Nymph – #12–14
- Crayfish Clouser – #4–8
- Woolly Bugger – #8–12
Know Before You Go
The Lehigh is stocked in several stretches by the PA Fish & Boat Commission and the Lehigh River Stocking Association, and it also holds wild trout. Stay on public access and check current PA Fish & Boat Commission regulations for the section you'll fish.
Precision Insight
Check the gauge before you go. On the Lehigh, a good nymph rig through the feeding lanes is the safe bet, with olives and evening hatches as the bonus.
