For the most part, Middle Creek is far from fair-to-middlin’ in size. Where the stocking truck pulls into the SGL 188 driveway, the stream is some 90 feet wide. The problem for winter anglers is that this is also thin water unless rain or snowmelt has occurred.

For good winter fishing, I’ve had to walk one-half up or downstream to find suitable winter holes. Middle Creek has more than its share of hard turns, and I count on the curved banks to collect a few trees or very large limbs in the middle of the flow. The obstructions result in deep eddies and pockets where trout stack up on Middle Creek.

West of Middleburg, this is rural country, and visiting anglers should have plenty of elbowroom this month. Route 552 between Troxelville and Middleburg is the main access road. The Special Regulation area was stocked in October.

LITTLE LEHIGH RIVER
In winter, the Little Lehigh in Lehigh County is as close to guaranteed success as you’re likely to find anywhere in the state. Major portions of this stream are full of fish -- an unnatural amount, actually -- and winter fishing in this limestone stream is excellent. Midge fishing at this time of year is legendary.

The main activity on the Little Lehigh begins at the bridge on Fish Hatchery Road and continues downstream to the Route 309 overpass. This is the area of the famous “Hatchery Pool.” Anglers gather on both side of the bank to catch trout that seem to be feeding constantly, even in winter.

On the north side of the pool, a riprap wall holds the banks together, while a little farther downstream the bank is steep and slick. Hugging the trees on this bank, adept anglers may dunk flies into the shore-side eddies.

Below the hatchery pool, the stream opens to a wider, flatter flow. Along the south side of the stream, the bank is flat and groomed.

Even in a blinding snowstorm, there’s a good chance the hatchery pool area will be crowded. This is where many anglers come to get their winter fishing fix.

I prefer the Delayed Harvest, Fly-Fishing-Only section near the Wild Cherry Lane bridge east of Macungie. There’s good access to this section along a footbridge and park path that eventually lead to some nice pocket water. Upstream, above the Wild Cherry Lane bridge, the stream is barely 30 feet across, but quite deep and very good in winter. The section from Wild Cherry down to Mill Race Road bridge was stocked in October.

PENNS CREEK
In May, anglers come from around the world to fish Penns Creek’s famous Green Drake hatch. But come winter, the place is practically deserted. The good parts on this central Pennsylvania stream are managed under Special Regulations, so the trout are still there in January.

Penns Creek is wide and long enough to be called a river. Through Union County, the water flows for some 26 miles. Centre County adds some 12 miles to the upper part of the stream, and Snyder and Mifflin counties add 21 more miles before it flows into the Susquehanna River. However, there are few trout in this lower section.