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All Pennsylvania reports
Laurel Hill Creek
Photo: Historic American Engineering Record Opens in a new tab. · Public domain
Should I go fishing?
Check the water temperature first.
Water temperature is unconfirmed. Use a stream thermometer; stop trout fishing at 70°F or warmer, or sooner if fish show stress.
Fishing rating70
Rating updatedRiver local time:
Why this recommendation?
USGS shows 67 cfs. The flow has been stable over about 6 hours. USGS marks this reading provisional and may revise it. USGS records for this date (1919-2025, 107 readings) show a median near 30 cfs and the upper quartile near 70 cfs; today's flow is on the high side for the date. This is near the high side of normal, so be careful about wading, clarity, and pushy current before calling it good.
Available live dataHighHow much of the live flow, weather, and alert data came back.
Confidence in this recommendationMediumWater temperature not verified; do not use this score to clear warm-water risk.
Usually checks again about every 45 minutes
If you go
- Check first
- RiverReports coverage is verified and USGS 03080000 is the official source.
- Try
- Pick the section first so the rule and fly choice match the water.
- Leave when
- Skip or pivot when Laurel Hill Creek is rising fast, warm for trout handling, stained after storms, crowded near obvious access, or when the intended bank or reach has not been confirmed as legal to fish.
Flow and weather
Showing server-checked river conditions while current readings refresh.
- Flow
- 67 cfs
- From the latest stored river check. Open the official source for the newest reading.
- Air forecast
- 63°F
- Next 24h high
- 81.0°F
NWS air forecast near
- Rain chance
- 0%
This is an air forecast, not a river-temperature reading. Check the water with a stream thermometer before fishing in hot weather.
Latest stored weather check
Partly Cloudy
- Wind
- 0 mph
- Weather checked
More forecast and source details
Partly Cloudy
National Weather Service
Ursina, Pennsylvania
The National Weather Service forecast is temporarily unavailable.
Live data
Where these readings come from
RiverReports gauge: Laurel Hill Creek at Ursina
Flies for this time of year
Seasonal starting points, not a live hatch report. Match what you see on the water.
- Ant PatternsantView fly guide ↗
- Beetle PatternsbeetleView fly guide ↗
- Grasshopper Patternssmall hopperView fly guide ↗
- Jig Fly Patternssmall jig nymphView fly guide ↗
See flies for every season
SeasonWhat to look forFlies to try
January to March
What to look forMidges, little black stones, BWOs, and slow nymph windows
April to June
What to look forHendricksons, March Browns, sulphurs, caddis, BWOs, and spinner falls
July to SeptemberThis season
What to look forTricos where present, ants, beetles, hoppers, and shade-line terrestrials
Flies to try
antAnt Patterns→beetleBeetle Patterns→small hopperGrasshopper Patterns→small jig nymphJig Fly Patterns→
Also try Trico, dry-dropper
October to December
What to look forBWOs, midges, caddis remnants, and streamer windows after rain
Each fly name opens its matching Fly Box guide.
More fishing tips
Methods, fish species and trip notes
How to fish Laurel Hill Creek today.
The safest helpful plan is to fish cool, stable water and confirm the exact PFBC section. High water, warm afternoons, or uncertain reach rules should push you to a different plan.
Stable spring flow
Fish pocket water and riffle seams with nymphs, caddis, and mayfly emergers.
High stained water
Use streamers and heavier nymphs from safe edges. Avoid risky crossings.
Low summer water
Fish early, use terrestrials, and stop if water is warm.
Cold water
Slow down with midges, small stones, and soft hackles in deeper buckets.
Wading, bank fishing or floating?
Access choicesNo single best option
Wading and Bank fishing have the same top score. Use current access, footing, weather, and local rules to choose.
Wading70/100
Wading is in play only where your chosen access has clear footing, legal entry, and no forced crossings.
Bank fishing70/100
Bank and edge fishing remains a practical low-commitment option if access is legal and footing is safe.
FloatingNot recommended
This report does not recommend floating this reach.
Full river report
Is Laurel Hill Creek worth the trip today? Check flow, weather, hatches, access, and rules for Pennsylvania before you go.
Laurel Hill Creek is a Laurel Highlands trout stream with several section types. RiverReports and USGS 03080000 help with the flow picture near Ursina, but the rule and access plan depends on the exact reach.
Fishing words used on this page
- U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) gauge
- A USGS gauge is an official river station that measures flow or water height.
- Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission (PFBC)
- PFBC is the Pennsylvania agency that sets fishing rules and manages fish and access programs.
- Cubic feet per second (cfs)
- Cubic feet per second, or cfs, shows how much water passes the gauge each second.
- Nymph
- A nymph is a young water insect. Anglers also use the word for a fly that copies it.
- Riffle
- A riffle is shallow, fast water broken by rocks.
- Seam
- A seam is the line where fast and slow water meet.
- Tailout
- A tailout is the shallow, slower water at the lower end of a pool.
- Blue-winged olive (BWO)
- Blue-winged olives, or BWOs, are small mayflies that often hatch in cool or cloudy weather.
- Caddis
- Caddis are small water insects. The adults look a little like tiny moths.
- Dry-dropper
- A dry-dropper rig has a floating fly with an underwater fly tied below it.
Why this call
Why this score
FlowUse caution
USGS shows 67 cfs. The flow has been stable over about 6 hours. USGS marks this reading provisional and may revise it. USGS records for this date (1919-2025, 107 readings) show a median near 30 cfs and the upper quartile near 70 cfs; today's flow is on the high side for the date. This is near the high side of normal, so be careful about wading, clarity, and pushy current before calling it good.
SeasonHelps
Fall: Cooler flows and lower pressure help nymphs and streamers.
WeatherHelps
The current NWS air forecast is about 63F, and the next 24-hour high reaches about 81F. Partly Cloudy.
Public alertsHelps
No active NWS alert was returned for this forecast point.
Fishing usefulnessHelps
Skip or pivot when Laurel Hill Creek is rising fast, warm for trout handling, stained after storms, crowded near obvious access, or when the intended bank or reach has not been confirmed as legal to fish.
Trip notes
Check these before you choose a reach.
Use RiverReports and USGS 03080000 at Ursina as the primary flow checks. Stable, cool, readable water is best. Sharp rises, stain, pushy pockets, or warm afternoons should narrow or cancel the trout plan.
Skip or pivot when Laurel Hill Creek is rising fast, warm for trout handling, stained after storms, crowded near obvious access, or when the intended bank or reach has not been confirmed as legal to fish.
Start with the Ursina gauge, PFBC rules, DCNR state-park fishing guidance, weather, and one legal access choice. Fish shaded riffles, pocket edges, and pool tails before moving to more exposed water.
If Laurel Hill Creek is high, warm, crowded, or access-limited, compare the Youghiogheny River for a larger system, Slippery Rock Creek for western Pennsylvania freestone water, or Oil Creek for another trout option.
Laurel Hill Creek access and rules.
Use these places as starting points. Open the access link below and check posted signs before you park or enter.
Before you go
Check PFBC stocked trout, DHALO, and statewide trout rules for the exact Laurel Hill Creek section before fishing.
Where to access the river
Laurel Hill State Park
Useful access and logistics context. Verify current park and fishing rules.
DHALO and stocked sections
Check exact PFBC section boundaries before fishing or keeping trout.
Ursina gauge area
Primary flow reference for lower creek planning.
- Do not apply DHALO rules to the whole creek.
- Public park and game-land context helps, but posted property and section boundaries still matter.
- Spring weekends can be busy around obvious access.
Sources and report details
Official agencies and primary river operators come first. Secondary tools are labeled so you know what carries the most weight.
Rules and closures
Check what is allowed, where the rule applies, and whether the river is open.
Flow and weather
Check the latest river reading and forecast before you leave.
Access and land
Check public entry points, land rules, and seasonal access changes.
See all 6 checked sources
Rules and closures
Check what is allowed, where the rule applies, and whether the river is open.
What this source covers
Open the current rules and check the river section, season, and special limits.
What this source covers
Open the current rules and check the river section, season, and special limits.
Flow and weather
Check the latest river reading and forecast before you leave.
What this source covers
Open this page and check the latest safety advice before your trip.
What this source covers
Open this river reading to check the latest level, flow, and update time.
What this source covers
Open this river reading to check the latest level, flow, and update time.
Access and land
Check public entry points, land rules, and seasonal access changes.
What this source covers
Open the land or access page, then check signs before you park or enter.
How this report was checked
How this report was checked
Reviewed byBlueStreamFly River Review Team
Trip guidance checked
What was checked: This Laurel Hill Creek report is maintained from RiverReports and USGS Ursina flow data, Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission regulations and stocking sources, DCNR Laurel Hill State Park fishing access guidance, weather, media-credit, and Laurel Highlands trout planning sources.
Live measurements and forecasts keep their provider timestamps. Rules, access, and trip guidance use the source-review date shown here. BlueStreamFly planning advice is editorial interpretation, not an agency notice.
First-hand experience: BlueStreamFly does not claim a first-hand visit or local field test for this report unless a real contributor is explicitly named and linked.
Quick questions
What should I check first before fishing Laurel Hill Creek?
Check PFBC section rules, RiverReports, USGS 03080000, and water temperature before fishing.
Where should a first-time visitor start on Laurel Hill Creek?
Start with Laurel Hill State Park or verified public sections, then match the exact reach to the rule.
Can I wade Laurel Hill Creek?
Yes at normal flows, but freestone footing and high water call for careful wading.
What flies should I bring for Laurel Hill Creek?
Bring the seasonal fly box, a few confidence nymphs or streamers, and enough tippet to change when flow, clarity, temperature, or pressure changes.