Author Topic: South West PA (Read 1575 times)

Shaun Cmar · « **on:** May 28, 2010, 09:44:59 PM »

Beside the Yough, Loyalhanna, Laurel Hill Creek, and the Casselman. Does anyone else know of any decent trout streams south of Pittsburgh?

Dave Livingstone · « **Reply #1 on:** June 20, 2010, 09:04:31 AM »

Dunbar Creek...If you go east a little ways, Jones Mill is a pretty good area

Chris Smorul · « **Reply #2 on:** June 20, 2010, 09:21:16 AM »

Its a little more east than south but look at the Little Mahoning.

Mark Hanes · « **Reply #3 on:** June 20, 2010, 10:43:03 AM »

Little Mahoning has a nice Fly only section that holds some big browns it is a neat stream. It is only 40min south of me. I need to get down to fish it again soon.

Domenick Swentosky · « **Reply #4 on:** June 20, 2010, 10:07:17 PM »

You gotta explore some of the stocked waters down that way, and especially the tribs to those waters. Water that you may assume is too warm by now usually has some cold water refuge areas for fish. The trout have to find those areas or they die. On many stocked waters I believe that majority of the fish stocked are not caught so there should be plenty of trout around if you can find them.

I guess what I'm saying is to look at the stocking list, pick a stream and pay it a visit. Take the temp and if it's not ridiculously high, then fish it hard and prove to yourself that there are no trout around. Then think like a fish and try to figure where they would have migrated to.

I grew up in SW PA and no doubt about it -- good trout fishing can be tough to find after mid-June, but it can be a fun process if you have the mindset to explore and learn something new about your region. Look far beyond the waters that carry special regulations. I was sometimes surprised to find not only holdover stocked trout but some wild trout where I did not expect to be catching fish. But it is tough. You have to convince yourself to fish like there are always fish looking at your flies when the opposite is often true.

Enjoy the day.
Domenick

Shaun Cmar · « **Reply #5 on:** June 24, 2010, 03:21:38 AM »

Dave I figured you would have said Dunbar!

Dejon Hamann · « **Reply #6 on:** June 24, 2010, 08:23:01 AM »

"Dumb Bear"?

Chris Smorul · « **Reply #7 on:** June 24, 2010, 11:57:55 AM »

How's the Loyalhanna been fishing? I used to fish it with my father when I was a kid. I remeber it being a nice looking river.

Dave Livingstone · « **Reply #8 on:** June 25, 2010, 01:15:47 PM »

No, not Dumb Bear...Dun...Dun Bar. Dunbar. Shaun and I fished the Loyalhanna just last week and it was right after a thunderstorm with some heavy rain...we were fishing at 4:30 a.m. in water as clear as coffee. Once it cleared up a little, they were hammering #14 prince nymphs. As long as the water stays up, it stays cool. Best time to go would be around 4:30 a.m. and fish it until about 9 a.m. Its crazy but the trout are still hitting #12 sulphers in late June.

Dave Livingstone · « **Reply #9 on:** June 25, 2010, 01:22:07 PM »

Oh, and if youre on the Loyalhanna, keep an eye out for someone that looks like Magnum P.I. If you see him, youre pretty much screwed for any good fishing. We were up there and everywhere we fished, Magnum P.I. came down and walked right into the holes we were fishing and threw cross-line casts right at me.

Of course, its PA. When it comes to fishing, etiquitte is a 9 letter word.

Shaun Cmar · « **Reply #10 on:** June 26, 2010, 08:23:07 AM »

Well the nice thing about the Loyalhanna is the Chestnut Ridge chapter of TU stocks some very nice trout in the stream after the PFBC gets done putting in their minnows. So even after the rush is over and the water warms up, in certain sections of the stream some nice pods of fish can be found... especially in the section just off RT30 outside of Ligonier where they did the stream improvements. And yes that was very interesting at 4am with headlights on trying to wade thru that murky water. Turned out to be a decent day though. Wish it didnt get so hot because the water was just starting to clear up. If anyone has ever wondered where all of the 80's tv stars have gone for retirement it is definitely Ligonier. We saw what looked to be Gary Coleman last year walking around, Magnum P.I. tried fishing up close and personal with Dave, and the Dukes of Hazard boys drove past the fly shop with boss hog not far behind.

Chris Smorul · « **Reply #11 on:** June 26, 2010, 11:28:17 PM »

Dejon Hamann · « **Reply #12 on:** June 27, 2010, 10:16:49 PM »

Man I love that Magnum PI theme song. Was that playing?

Dave Livingstone · « **Reply #13 on:** June 28, 2010, 06:51:38 AM »

No, unfortunately...there was just the sound of running water, birds, and the occasional cursing that seemed to come out of my mouth every time Magnum P.I. slid into a hole i was trying to fish. I did notice that he was using a yellow humpy with a balloon about 4 inches above the fly.....tippet looked to be about 1x all the way to the fly. I've wanted to rig that up ever since but never had the guts to.

Shaun Cmar · « **Reply #14 on:** July 15, 2010, 11:44:28 PM »

Wussy!

Tim Long · « **Reply #15 on:** July 16, 2010, 07:10:21 AM »

Chartiers Creek - Great warmwater fishery...Highly underrated for bass.

Shaun Cmar · « **Reply #16 on:** July 24, 2010, 07:47:44 AM »

Quote from: Tim Long on July 16, 2010, 07:10:21 AM

Chartiers Creek - Great warmwater fishery...Highly underrated for bass.

Ive heard of that creek before. What county is it in?

Tim Long · « **Reply #17 on:** July 25, 2010, 03:57:09 PM »

Washington and Allegheny counties

It flows right through Carnegie, Crafton, and MckeesRocks

Chris Smorul · « **Reply #18 on:** July 25, 2010, 10:52:01 PM »

Chartiers Creek has bass in it? I remember when even a rat wouldn't swim in it. Next you'll be telling me that Saw Mill Run has brookies in it. J/k, glad to hear that Chartiers is coming back from extinction. I grew up not far from that creek in Crafton and it runs just below my grandfathers house in Carnegie. As kids we were warned not to go in the water as it would burn our skin off. It always had that orangish mine seepage color to it so we never doubted that and we stayed out of it.
I'm going to be in Pittsburgh for a couple of weeks next month, I might have to make a few casts in the shadow of the old steel mill.

Tim Long · « **Reply #19 on:** July 26, 2010, 08:39:15 AM »

If I carried a camera with me I would have proof, but you will have to take my word for it instead I guess. Two weeks ago I caught a 19.5" smallmouth near the Sharp Edge restaurant. I've caught numerous species including smallmouth, carp, and catfish on the river. Heck I even caught a turtle on my fly rod using a crayfish pattern. There are also tons of drum and redhorse.

Mark Hanes · « **Reply #20 on:** July 26, 2010, 09:18:06 AM »

Ok I have been by this creek and wondered if it had anything in it.

Chris Smorul · « **Reply #21 on:** July 26, 2010, 12:43:18 PM »

Ok Tim, you got my attention. Like I said, i am going to be in the burgh in a few weeks from now. What kind of patterns are the smallies taking? I want to fish Chartiers for sure.

Tim Long · « **Reply #22 on:** July 26, 2010, 07:20:40 PM »

Chris the biggest smallmouth I have caught the past two years have taken black soft-hackle wooly buggers similar to this
http://www.warmwaterflytyer.com/patterns3.asp?page=16
I use an all black tail and grizzly hen saddle for the hackle. The bass like these a lot.

For numbers of smallmouth and also for catfish and carp I have been tying these two patterns exactly.
http://www.flyfishohio.com/Foxee_Red_Clouser.htm
This second crayfish pattern has been more successful
http://www.flyfishohio.com/Mixed_Media.htm

Dave Livingstone · « **Reply #23 on:** July 27, 2010, 03:15:45 AM »

If youre fishing the crafton section, take some poppers, and your glock.

Tim Long · « **Reply #24 on:** July 27, 2010, 06:02:47 AM »

I'll have to give that a try Dave.

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Author Topic: South West PA (Read 1575 times)

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