Big Spring is Like An English Chalk Stream

Most fly anglers do not understand the difference between a limestone  spring creek like Big Spring compared to a freestone stream.  Big Spring which is one of the largest spring creeks in Pennsylvania is very similar to an English Chalk Stream.  In fact, most fly anglers and aquatic biologists would be pressed to discern the differences between the two.  In the photos below look at Big Spring versus the famous Chalk Streams of England.  Notice that for the most part they look absolutely a like.  This is the reason that in the 1930's and 40s the English sent fly fishing writers and journalist to observe and report on this most impressive stream.  In the photos below can you tell if these are of English Chalk Streams or Big Spring?  These streams have basically the same water temperatures and macrophytes as Big Spring.  They have the same biogeomchemistry and thus produce similar aquatic invertebrates.  The photo to the left shows the world famous Itchen River in England.  It looks exactly like the Big Spring and other limestone spring creeks of the Cumberland Valley, Pennsylvania.  The photos are so similar that many fly anglers would swear they have fished this stretch on Big Spring or other limestone spring creeks in Pennsylvania yet have never been to England.  These streams have exactly the same water temperature around 11 degree Celsius and the macrophytes and substrates of the stream look exactly like Big Spring.  The photos have not been doctored!  This is what the Chalk Streams of England look like. The photo below is actually  Big Creek in Newville.  It's hard to believe but the world famous spring creeks of England are exactly the counterparts of Pennsylvania's spring creeks!  There are a few differences between the streams but for the most part they are ecological equivalents.  In the case of Big Spring the upper areas support a Wild Brook Trout Population of over 350 pounds per acre which may be the largest resident population of brook trout in a stream in the United States.  Also these are wild trout.  Although many stretches of the English Chalk Streams support wild populations other stretches are stocked.  Furthermore, the trout populations of English Chalk Streams are mostly browns and a few rainbows.  Big Spring is unique in the fact that it's trout population are Brookies!  Another difference is that the English Chalks Streams like the Test, Itchen and Avon are fairly long streams.  Big Spring is a relatively short stream of around 5 miles from its source to its end into the Condoguinent.   In the photo to the left this looks the Cumberland Valley.  It's actually the valley of the Avon River in England. This section so resembles the Cumberland Valley that it's almost impossible to tell the areas a part!  Because the streams are so similar they have similar macroinvertebrates and the fish behave in an extremely similar pattern.  These stream are the roots of fly fishing in England and the limestone spring creeks of Pennsylvania are one of the birthplaces of fly fishing in America.  In both streams the fly angler is basically the same.....a hunter looking for trout on a feeding station or riser to fish to.  These streams both require the utmost in patience and skill of the angler.  In England you would most likely be fishing for Brown Trout and on Big Spring you will be fishing for Brook Trout.  IN England of course many of these streams are private and you would pay for a "beat" or spot of fish on the stream in a time period but in America some of the best fishing in the world is actually free to those who have license!  I believe if you are successful catching the trout on Big Spring you can probably be successful anywhere in the world including the Chalk Streams of England.