Steelhead fishing upper Walnut Creek Erie

bigslackwater

bigslackwater

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We typically avoid Walnut each year due to the combat style fishing and the short distance to the falls. My question is in regards to Asbury woods/Buttermilk falls area in the upper reaches of Walnut. The PFBC acquired this area some years back. However, its often said that steelhead seldom make it up the falls past the Manchester pool. We actually went out to Asbury woods for most of a day and got skunked. This was a few years ago in mid November a few days after some tremendous rain that should have allowed fish to move. If they ever were going to get past the falls, this would have been it. Our opinion was there were no steelhead that far up. We WORKED it hard. Didnt see a fish, didn't get a strike, didn't even accidentally snag one. Does anyone know if they actually do reach this park later in the season? If not, why did PFBC acquire it with Erie permit money? The disappointing part is it's one of the most beautiful stretches of creek around Erie. upper walnut
 
Ive done some limited scouting when I lived up there, and never have seen one in Asbury woods either - but I've heard of them being caught behind Millcreek Mall some years ago - lot of mixed reports. There are a couple natural barriers/man made that make things harder than they need to be for the fish on walnut. Ive caught them above the railroad tracks closer to the mouth, and there is about a 4-5 foot waterfall they have to get over where the creek runs under the railroad tracks (near route 5), I imagine they can only get above this during a high water event as well. I haven't made it any farther up river than that, other than Asbury area. Just my two cents, and observations.
 
I live near that area of Walnut but haven't fished there or downstream in years due to too many negative experiences with other "sportsmen". A few cars sometimes park along the Asbury area access points but I haven't seen any steelhead myself in the usual pools that used to have them, back when I did fish Walnut in the 90s and 00s. My guess is that fish still make it upstream, even further upstream than the Asbury area, when conditions are right.

My wife tells me that she read on Facebook that more landowners in the Manchester hole area have posted their land just last week. Maybe someone else knows more details.
 
The Manchester hole got posted last week after too much littler and people hootin' and hollar after dark at the falls. Unfortunately this seems to happen more and more. The Cattaraugus in NY, on the Seneca reservation has been shut down to non-residents. Residents can take guests. They too sited too much litter and disrespect of the rules. Last season the Catt saved our Erie trip since Elk was very low.
 
bigslackwater said:
The Manchester hole got posted last week after too much littler and people hootin' and hollar after dark at the falls. Unfortunately this seems to happen more and more. The Cattaraugus in NY, on the Seneca reservation has been shut down to non-residents. Residents can take guests. They too sited too much litter and disrespect of the rules. Last season the Catt saved our Erie trip since Elk was very low.
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Haven't been to this section in years, but man this is not good.

Bad behavior, etiquette, litter, and disrespect will always get access shut down. Weird, I thought it was the job of the PA Fish and Boat to police this section - and from my experience it was very infrequent and sparse. I have never actually have seen them patrolling, just sitting in their trucks parked in the parking lot, but again this was years ago. Maybe, just maybe some proper enforcement would have prevented this latest move?
 
TerrellBFly said:
Haven't been to this section in years, but man this is not good.

Bad behavior, etiquette, litter, and disrespect will always get access shut down. Weird, I thought it was the job of the PA Fish and Boat to police this section - and from my experience it was very infrequent and sparse. I have never actually have seen them patrolling, just sitting in their trucks parked in the parking lot, but again this was years ago. Maybe, just maybe some proper enforcement would have prevented this latest move?
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Its the human condition....one of the main reasons i seldom fish erie tribs anymore..id rather get one nice wild brown close to home and not see too many slobs around...although the easy access areas on any trout stream usually has litter...just erie steelhead is magnified by more people and bigger fish that seems to be the draw ao your gonna get that...salmon season on the salmon river ny even worse
 
riverwhy said:
The Steelhead fever died years ago. I am much healthier and happier now.
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For some reason I am actually considering putting a fair amount of effort into it this year, which I have never really done. I don’t think I have ever went up more than twice a year, and it's been 10 years or so since that happened. I am within distance of making it a day trip (barely) so I am going to try to squeeze in more often to see if I actually have it in me or not.
 
bigslackwater said:
The Manchester hole got posted last week after too much littler and people hootin' and hollar after dark at the falls. Unfortunately this seems to happen more and more. The Cattaraugus in NY, on the Seneca reservation has been shut down to non-residents. Residents can take guests. They too sited too much litter and disrespect of the rules. Last season the Catt saved our Erie trip since Elk was very low.
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Catt: excuses, not a reason. the residents due more to litter than visitors fishing. They tear up "roads" too. Perhaps they hope people will hire locals to escort them?

There are small regions of the reservation that are open. The most upper and lower (west of rt90). But the best fishing is closed. perhaps after two years of lost fishing activity they will amend
 
Lack of water and fish brings out the worse in people.
The tributaries are very low with the lack of rain and the moderate drought the area is experiencing, Looks like no quality rain for the remainder of the week.
This will likely be a talking point for the fall meeting. Hearing local business are very concerned over these recent developments.
 
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nymphingmaniac said:
Catt: excuses, not a reason. the residents due more to litter than visitors fishing. They tear up "roads" too. Perhaps they hope people will hire locals to escort them?

There are small regions of the reservation that are open. The most upper and lower (west of rt90). But the best fishing is closed. perhaps after two years of lost fishing activity they will amend
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I think they will reconsider at some point.
 
Regarding Walnut Creek, if you hit it right, the PFBC will stock those 2 PFBC areas with steelhead that were stripped of their eggs. You have to get lucky but I’ve had some nice days there when those areas have fish.
 
Prospector said:
Regarding Walnut Creek, if you hit it right, the PFBC will stock those 2 PFBC areas with steelhead that were stripped of their eggs. You have to get lucky but I’ve had some nice days there when those areas have fish.
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Any idea if they still do this? Family has planned a trip to Erie over the New Year and I was hoping to sneak out and get into some steel in this section.
 
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