Struggles on small creeks near PGH

[ianpcook]

I debated whether to put this here or in Fishing Locations; I chose here because the struggles feel experience- and expertise-driven.

I live in Pittsburgh, and have been trying to fish some of the creeks that are relatively close, such as Buffalo Creek (the Keystone Select Stocked area that crosses Butler and Armstrong counties). This morning I arrived just past dawn, and took my 9ft 5wt and a bag full of options. The result was, to say the least, frustrating. Aside from feeding the trees and sunken logs some choice flies, I only put one small rainbow in the net.

My questions are numerous, but I'll boil them down to some general topics:
- is it basically pointless to try these streams so far after the last stocking (though close to the next stocking)?
- in the couple of years I've been trying, I can't recall seeing a truly busy "rise" during what seemed like a hatch on some of these streams; are dry flies mostly pointless for Buffalo, Pine, Deer, Bull and the rest of the water close in to the city?
- are people trying to cover a lot of water on streams like this, or do most people just know some key holes and hit those on repeat?

I always try to remind myself that any day on the water is a good day, but yeesh, some days that's harder than others...

 

[troutbert]

Probably few trout are present in those streams at this time of year.

 

[PennKev]

Those are not great, or even good, trout streams. You cannot expect much this time of year until they are restocked.

I understand the desire to fish for trout, but unless you can make a trip to better, year-round trout streams, you are just setting yourself up for frustration.

Are there stocked trout left somewhere, in some streams? Yeah, maybe. Is it worth the effort? Probably not. The attrition rate for stocked fish over the summer is insanely high.

If you don't mind some level of frustration, exploring streams on the natural repro list is probably a better use if your time right now. At least you know those streams are capable of holding trout year round consistently.

 

[JG63]

I debated whether to put this here or in Fishing Locations; I chose here because the struggles feel experience- and expertise-driven.

I live in Pittsburgh, and have been trying to fish some of the creeks that are relatively close, such as Buffalo Creek (the Keystone Select Stocked area that crosses Butler and Armstrong counties). This morning I arrived just past dawn, and took my 9ft 5wt and a bag full of options. The result was, to say the least, frustrating. Aside from feeding the trees and sunken logs some choice flies, I only put one small rainbow in the net.

My questions are numerous, but I'll boil them down to some general topics:
- is it basically pointless to try these streams so far after the last stocking (though close to the next stocking)?
- in the couple of years I've been trying, I can't recall seeing a truly busy "rise" during what seemed like a hatch on some of these streams; are dry flies mostly pointless for Buffalo, Pine, Deer, Bull and the rest of the water close in to the city?
- are people trying to cover a lot of water on streams like this, or do most people just know some key holes and hit those on repeat?

I always try to remind myself that any day on the water is a good day, but yeesh, some days that's harder than others...

Couple of weeks and a two hour drive up 79 puts you in Steelhead territory - take some white streamers, some black streamers, a few color variants of egg patterns, and some smaller stonefly nymphs and have at it! Beginners luck goes a long way when you have no bad habits!

 

[kbobb]

I’ve stopped fishing these SW PA trout streams basically after early June and fish for WW species especially small mouth. You’ll find better local WW fishing than trout fishing. I don’t really care if it’s a trout or other on the end of the line. A nice small mouth on a popper will make you quickly forget about a snooty trout on an 18 BWO.

 

[TroutHunter814]

Travel just a little bit further East ( of those mentioned streams) into the Ridges, and you can fish for stocked trout, and wild populations all year round if ya know where to look.
Send me a DM if you’d like more details

 

[dryflyguy]

That’s life in the city, as the old saying goes
After starting this sport many years ago, I quickly realized that I would have to drive a bit to have quality fishing
And have gotten used to it

 

[Shawn_H]

Yeah go east instead of north. And the smallmouth suggestion is a good one. If I’m trying to stay super close to home I’m going smallmouth fishing.