Spring Creek is a spring-fed limestone stream that runs through the Happy Valley just south of State College, and among fly fishers it carries the kind of reputation that golf has for Augusta. The water is cold, clear, and exceptionally fertile — fed by springs that maintain stable temperatures year-round and run over limestone bedrock that generates abundant insect life. Wild brown trout thrive here in numbers that attract anglers from across the country.
The section through Fisherman's Paradise, a state-managed catch-and-release area downstream of Bellefonte, is the most famous stretch, with public access along the bank. Even non-fishers will find the creek worth a look — the water is clear enough to watch large trout holding position in the current, and the surrounding valley is lovely farmland. A Pennsylvania fishing licence is required to fish; licences are available at sporting goods shops and the local Walmart. The stream is fishable year-round but the major hatches from April through June draw the largest crowds of anglers.