We must encourage and join groups like this. If you encounter warm water on big Pine, try one of its productive tributaries, where temperatures usually remain in the 60s throughout much of the summer. When Pine heats up, thousands of trout migrate to one of the cooler holding pools on Cedar, Slate, or Trout runs, or to one of a dozen more smaller feeders. The most eventful time on Pine Creek, if the water temperature is cooperative, is the last two weeks in May. Most of the trout in Pine Creek are stocked, but there is an occasional holdover and plenty of lunkers.
Pine Creek is a large freestone stream, more like a river than a creek.
From April to early May the water is usually high and cold, with temperatures between 45 and 60 degrees. Pine warms quickly, however, and without the benefit of cold limestone springs or any heavy canopy to shade it, it becomes marginal trout water early in June. Dave and Dana Poust of Tombs Run have reported seeing hundreds of dead and dying trout in Pine Creek when the stream warms in early July. Pine Creek passes through some of the most scenic areas in Pennsylvania. Much of the stream is accessible by car on PA 44 near Waterville and on PA 414 above.