Inspired by our recent exploration of Darby/Cobbs Creek wathershed, the wife and I set out to find the origins of Brandywine Creek, which we located with a little help of a GPS and a turn-around or two in the car. Unexpectedly, we found some other interesting local resources I was not previously aware of, including Hibernia Country Park and Lakes Struble and Chambers, all of which are great places close to Philadelphia worth being checked out by regional urban outdoor enthusiasts.

Nearly 45 minutes from University City and we are off of the PA Turnpike at the Morgantown exit. If you're hungry this exit is a good spot to stop for food, because there isn't much in the way of food for miles. If you're looking for Brandywine Creek or any of the sites detailed here, the first thing you'll want to do is head south on Route 10. Keep an eye out, because it wanders here and there. Follow Route 10, cross 32 in Honey Brook, and you'll be in the township where the west branch of Brandywine Creek begins.

You'll notice almost immediately just how geographically close Amish culture is to Philadelphia. You'll see a horse and wagon or other signs of plain folks just as soon as you hit the back roads. It gives one the immediate feeling that one is no longer in West Philly any more, and it happens with less than an hour's car ride.

Interestingly enough, my re-discovery of fishing as an adult happened because I was temporarily living in Morgantown due to a work commitment a few springs ago. In order to keep myself busy and out of trouble after hours I took to exploring the region and took up fishing after not being terribly involved with the sport for a number of years. For whatever reason, for those few months, my travels were exclusively north and west, bringing me to French Creek Park, Blue Marsh Lake, and Tulpehocken Creek. It was nice to be back in the area, checking out things I neglected to find the last time my rubber met the road on the fringes of Philadelphia's exurbia.

At the sign welcoming you to the community of Honey Brook, you'll notice nearby a rather wet ditch. On the east side of the road it'll look marshy, and there will be puddles. On the left side, the ditch will contain something slightly resembling a brook. This is where the west branch of the Brandywine Creek begins.

A few miles away, up around Lake Stuble, begins the east branch in a rather undramatic fashion. I like the term they use to describe where a river begins -- where it "rises". I thought it to be a peculiar term the first time I encountered it, but in time I have come to consider it appropriate. Usually, there is not flowing water. Then there is. And, because of rocks, drainage systems, and other features of the land that make everything not entirely accessible, I find where a river rises to be almost entirely impossible to pinpoint, even when standing at the precise spot.

Before this branch of the Brandywine can even get started, it is almost immediately dammed, producing Lake Struble. The manmade impoundment was completed in 1971. It has a normal surface area of 146 acres and is owned by Chester County Water Authority. The lake looks great for fishing and boating, as long as it is unpowered or has an electric motor. Fishing reports indicate the basic Pennsylvania menu of 'gills, perch, catfish, bass, and the like, but with the notable inclusion of walleye. Check the website for rules and regulations.

After getting a good look at Lake Struble, we headed back towards the west branch and found ourselves in Chester County's Hibernia Park, a little north of Coatesville Reservoir. I had never heard of this place, nor Chambers Lake, which is part of and sits along the western edge of the park, but I have a feeling I'm going to be spending some more time there in the future.

Hibernia Country Park in Chester County boasts 900 acres of trails, woodlands, meadows, open fields, play areas, pavilions, camping, and picnic areas. In addition to Chambers Lake on the western end, the eastern end is bordered by Brandywine Creek's western branch. Other fishing sites in the park include, Birch Run and a children's pond. Small boating and fishing occur on the 90–acre Chambers Lake.

Brandywine's western branch, along the eastern border of the park, is 20-30 feet in width and 18-36 inches in depth. It is a picture perfect trout stream, that is often stocked during the season.

At the opening of the season, Hibernia's 3/4-acre children's pond is filled with bluegills, largemouth bass and stocked trout. The pond is limited to children and disabled individuals for the first few weeks of trout season, and opens for the general public after Memorial Day.

Supposedly 48 feet at its deepest, the 90-acre Chambers Lake is stocked with warm water species, including panfish, channel catfish, chain pickerel, and smallmouth and largemouth bass. Chambers is one of only three Pennsylvania lakes that is a Panfish Enhancement Area, and one of a select number in the Big Bass Program. Fishing is permitted 24 hours a day on Chambers and there is a public parking lot and boat ramp available. It is always a good idea to read up on the latest fishing and boating regulations.

When we went to check out the upper end of the Brandywine watershed, we didn't really expect to find these excellent parks and lakes. I can't wait to get my boat with the electric trolling motor out this way. Check back for details on our exploration of the middle and lower reaches of the Brandywine water shed that I hope to put together by the end of the season.