The Lackawanna River runs through Scranton, where fly fishing is one of the better ways to spend a fall day out of the city. The father-son duo at A&G Outfitters (lessons from $25/hour) have this stretch of northeast Pennsylvania covered; if the river is running low in sections, they’ll send you to an unexplored spot a little further upstream. If the going is good, they’ll let you in on the secret. Although the Lackawanna River was once known as one of the 20 most polluted waterways in the USA, the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission just designated a five mile stretch as a “class A” trout stream.
The Adventure of Fly Fishing in Scranton
As I stood knee-deep in the river on a recent Friday, it was not hard to see why this place is a magnet for fishermen. “There are stretches where you’d think you were at one of the big parks out West,” says A&G Outfitters co-owner Greg Nidoh.
“The peaceful landscape is incredible. You might occasionally see a rusted shopping cart or soccer ball floating upstream, but that’s part of the charm of urban fishing.” My guide for the day was Adam Nidoh, a 29-year-old Scranton resident, who took us into the river behind an old slaughterhouse and a supermarket. Sensing my skepticism, he assured me this was one of the best spots for beginners.
We waded out into the river, where Nidoh demonstrated the art and science of casting with a few flicks of the wrist. My first couple of casts ended with the fly wrapped around the upper end of the rod, but after a short time I got a strike. I watched my fly bob quickly beneath the surface, flicked my wrist upwards and felt a thrilling tug. In a moment, a trout rose above the surface.
I brought it into the net and examined my glistening catch. “Slightly larger than you’d usually find around here,” said Adam, releasing the fish.
We spent the rest of the afternoon testing different casting spots, the sun flickering through the orange-tinged trees. Sending the cast back and forth, I let the soothing rush of the emerald river wash over my waders and thought I might just stand there forever.
Watch this video to get a glimpse of what it will look like:
Where to stay
The Colonnade is a delightful boutique hotel, located downtown near the University of Scranton. It’s owned and operated by Josh and Paul, two Manhattan transplants who returned to the city a little over ten years ago.
Watch this video to get a glimpse:
Around town
Scranton visitors have many outdoor options. Canoe Susquehanna offer trips on their namesake river (a tributary of the Lackawanna, meaning ‘where the river forks’) and the town has been building out singletrack, too.
Over 70 miles of purpose built trails now connect bike paths along the river. Bear Creek Preserve sits just south of town, with over 300 mountain biking routes within a half-hour’s drive.
Watch this video to get a glimpse:
How to get there
Martz Trailways bus goes from Port Authority to Scranton. The journey takes three hours.
For additional information, go to www.visitnepa.org.
Lead photo: Mike Rastiello
Gordon Macrae is a travel writer based in Brooklyn. He is currently writing a travel guide to the beaches of New York City and around. He is less Scottish than you think.
Sarah Knapp is a Brooklyn based entrepreneur whose love for the outdoors and community building led her to the October 2013 creation of OutdoorFest. She has a BA in History, is a Wilderness First Responder and a NY state hiking, camp and boating guide. Her proudest achievement to date is reading the Aeneid in Latin. 
Allison was one of our first top writers and Chief Editor but is no longer working with offMetro. Allison is a native New Yorker, who has lived in Rome, Tuscany, Melbourne, Toronto and Los Angeles. She frequently contributed travel pieces to Family Travel Forum, using her own children as guinea pigs as they travel the globe. She never missed a chance to sample local delicacies, as her love for travel goes hand-in-hand with her love for food and wine. 
Josh Laskin is a freelance travel writer and photographer based in the White Mountains of New Hampshire. When he is not at work or on the road, you can find him in the mountains snowboarding, climbing, hiking, fly fishing, mountain biking, and eating bagel bites.
Annie is a travel writer, environmentalist, and surfer based in Venice, CA. She heads up our West Coast team, keeps our grammatical errors in check, and makes sure our California writers always have a plan for their next adventure. Follow Annie’s travels @annelisemcb.
Carly Pifer is a freelance writer who has been known to follow whims inspired by romantic movie scenes or colorful street style shots to India, Japan, Tunisia and Argentina. After stints living in Seoul, Boston, Paris and Los Angeles, writing and searching for something intangible, she landed somewhat steadily in Brooklyn and has begun to find inspiration in her more immediate surroundings. 
Kate E. O’Hara is a New York based freelance writer and photographer who loves all things food—especially the people who make it and market it. Her writing aims to capture the essence of the food experience; the stories that go well beyond a plate of ingredients. In addition to her love of food, Kate is also known to have a hankering for red wine and craft beer. You can also find Kate on Instagram