Oil Creek, never been.

T

TXSTEEL

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Ljg011565!
I grew up in Cameron County, but moved to Texas years ago. I'm heading to PA this week and decided to make a detour to fish Oil Creek before heading to my final destination of Emporium.

I just got back into fly fishing a couple years ago and would appreciate any info on Oil creek and nymph fishing the area.
 
TXSTEEL said:
I grew up in Cameron County, but moved to Texas years ago. I'm heading to PA this week and decided to make a detour to fish Oil Creek before heading to my final destination of Emporium.

I just got back into fly fishing a couple years ago and would appreciate any info on Oil creek and nymph fishing the area.
Click to expand...
Been to oil creek once, in Titusville below Drakes Well - Years ago. Fun fishery, it was stocked with rainbows.

However, if you're heading to Emporium, I would keep going to the First Fork of the Sinnemahoning. That area has some excellent water/fishing, might be worth looking into.

Good Luck!
 
TXSTEEL said:
I grew up in Cameron County, but moved to Texas years ago. I'm heading to PA this week and decided to make a detour to fish Oil Creek before heading to my final destination of Emporium.

I just got back into fly fishing a couple years ago and would appreciate any info on Oil creek and nymph fishing the area.
Click to expand...
One thing about Oil Creek it is one of the slipperiest streams to wade. Screws and/or studs a must.
Water level is looking good on the USGS gauge. Grannoms were coming off last couple weeks.
Couple DHALOs, Drake well down stream and Petroleum Center.. Miller farm in between the two can produce fish.
 
bingsbaits said:
One thing about Oil Creek it is one of the slipperiest streams to wade. Screws and/or studs a must.
Water level is looking good on the USGS gauge. Grannoms were coming off last couple weeks.
Couple DHALOs, Drake well down stream and Petroleum Center.. Miller farm in between the two can produce fish.
Click to expand...
^
Everything @bingsbaits said is spot on.

Also if you look at @Sylvaneous recent stream report on Oil Creek, it looks like darker/black nymphs have been hot lately. Generally though, most generic nymph patterns will get the job done as long as you get them to the bottom.
 
I wouldn’t overlook dry flies—Oil Creek gets some awesome hatches. And don’t feel limited to designated fly-fishing-only areas; trout certainly aren’t paying attention to those boundaries, even if anglers sometimes do.


If you’re passing through, it’s worth stopping at The Fly Stop in Oil City for local insight and gear.


Also, keep in mind that the Petroleum Center Bridge in Oil Creek State Park is open to foot and bicycle traffic only—it’s closed to vehicles. If you’re relying on GPS or Waze, this detour can add a fair amount of extra mileage, so plan accordingly.
 
TXSTEEL said:
I grew up in Cameron County, but moved to Texas years ago. I'm heading to PA this week and decided to make a detour to fish Oil Creek before heading to my final destination of Emporium.

I just got back into fly fishing a couple years ago and would appreciate any info on Oil creek and nymph fishing the area.
Click to expand...
I could help you if no one else volunteers. Oil Creek is the local stream for me. I know nothing about Sinemahoning system, but I know people really like the First Fork and such. You might have a good chance at maybe a gray fox up there. The grannoms should be over by this weekend. Sometimes it is surpsing , though. The tan/green caddis MIGHT be starting by then, but who knows. It's kind of a between time. The land was ahead of season, but the water was AT season. The trout lillies usuallly bloom after the grannoms finish in a lul time, but were gone while I was fishing to a strong grannom hatch. I wish I could send you a map with a bunch of places circled. There are many and its easy, drive or walk or bike. The Petroleum Center bridge closure IS a big P-I-T-A for getting around. Water has been up. They have Trophy waters and there are a good number of 16+ inch palominos, so there are nicely sized fish throughout the creek. The solid and total parkland environment is nice: no fickle or anti-social land owners posting sections at a whim. No houses or dogs. Open water with no D!@K#EADS saying "Git off mah prop-tay".
 
TerrellBFly said:
Been to oil creek once, in Titusville below Drakes Well - Years ago. Fun fishery, it was stocked with rainbows.

However, if you're heading to Emporium, I would keep going to the First Fork of the Sinnemahoning. That area has some excellent water/fishing, might be worth looking into.

Good Luck!
Click to expand...
Thanks. I might hit First Fork on Friday and I'm heading to state collage area on Monday for two days.
 
bingsbaits said:
One thing about Oil Creek it is one of the slipperiest streams to wade. Screws and/or studs a must.
Water level is looking good on the USGS gauge. Grannoms were coming off last couple weeks.
Couple DHALOs, Drake well down stream and Petroleum Center.. Miller farm in between the two can produce fish.
Click to expand...
Thanks, I have studs, so I should be good there.
 
Sylvaneous said:
I could help you if no one else volunteers. Oil Creek is the local stream for me. I know nothing about Sinemahoning system, but I know people really like the First Fork and such. You might have a good chance at maybe a gray fox up there. The grannoms should be over by this weekend. Sometimes it is surpsing , though. The tan/green caddis MIGHT be starting by then, but who knows. It's kind of a between time. The land was ahead of season, but the water was AT season. The trout lillies usuallly bloom after the grannoms finish in a lul time, but were gone while I was fishing to a strong grannom hatch. I wish I could send you a map with a bunch of places circled. There are many and its easy, drive or walk or bike. The Petroleum Center bridge closure IS a big P-I-T-A for getting around. Water has been up. They have Trophy waters and there are a good number of 16+ inch palominos, so there are nicely sized fish throughout the creek. The solid and total parkland environment is nice: no fickle or anti-social land owners posting sections at a whim. No houses or dogs. Open water with no D!@K#EADS saying "Git off mah prop-tay".
Click to expand...
Thanks for the info. I'm kind of playing as I go along. Traveling alone, so I free to make detours as I go 🙂
 
Bruno said:
I wouldn’t overlook dry flies—Oil Creek gets some awesome hatches. And don’t feel limited to designated fly-fishing-only areas; trout certainly aren’t paying attention to those boundaries, even if anglers sometimes do.


If you’re passing through, it’s worth stopping at The Fly Stop in Oil City for local insight and gear.


Also, keep in mind that the Petroleum Center Bridge in Oil Creek State Park is open to foot and bicycle traffic only—it’s closed to vehicles. If you’re relying on GPS or Waze, this detour can add a fair amount of extra mileage, so plan accordingly.
Click to expand...
Thanks. I would like to do some dry fly fishing. My dad tried to teach me growing up, but I never had a lot of success with it. Always had a hard time seeing and knowing what flies to use. Later in life I found out I am red and green color blind, so that could be the issue. 🙂
 
BTW - was talking to another fisherman who has a camp in the area
He told me that funding was finally approved to replace the petroleum center bridge.
But the rebuild wont start until next year
And isn't expected to be completed until 2028
 
She will be high with todays rain.
 
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