Why is Slippery Rock Creek Not More Famous?

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troutbert

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Slippery Rock Creek runs a long a way through public land, it's a decent sized stream, it runs through a beautiful landscape and has decent physical habitat.

Yes, it's a stocked trout stream, but so are the popular stretches of Pine, Loyalsock, Kettle, First Fork Sinnemahoning etc.

I don't live near Slippery Rock Creek, so I've only fished it a little bit. Why does it not get the love like those streams?
 
Lack of diversity of insect life compared to the other waterways you compare it too is my guess. I could be wrong as I am not an expert on it

I live about equal distance between thwre and the Little J. Guess which direction I am heading given the choice?
 
The traditional trout hatches on SRC are not as good as other nearby stocked water. The headwaters are plagued with mine drainage. SRC runs high and dirty longer than other nearby creeks such as Neshannock. It's can be pretty silty in areas with easy access/ wading. The park is dangerous to wade, especially so in prime trout season.

These are just some reasons off the top of my head. I've caught trout very late in the year while fishing for smallmouth, but the water in SRC gets very warm, even by stocked water standards.

I've heard stories from old timers about fantastic hatches prior to mine drainage becoming an issue. I've also read historic accounts from early settlers who raved about the abundance of fish in the creek.

I don't know of any accounts of wild brook trout in the watershed even though neighboring watersheds just to the north have them (or did historically). There are some wild browns in SRC tributaries that get maybe a little to much attention. The lower stretches of SRC are a pretty good cool/warm water fishery with plenty of bass and some other surprises
 
troutbert said:
Yes, it's a stocked trout stream, but so are the popular stretches of Pine, Loyalsock, Kettle, First Fork Sinnemahoning etc.
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On another note, the streams you mention and others in PA are more famous for their hatches, accessibility, and scenery than for being quality wild trout fisheries. It also has a lot to do with the "going to camp" traditions in those regions.
 
My best guess on the famous aspect is the people that live near it travel/ vacation away from home at the more popular destinations you listed. People that live near the popular destinations aren’t traveling or vacationing at slippery rock either. Kinda leaves it without a fanbase in my opinion.
 
I've lived within a mile or 2 of the slippery rock for the past 25 years, but rarely fish it. When I do, it's for smallies. As said, other streams and drainages nearby have much better hatchs and such. I DO remember hitting stonefly hatch in the flyfishing area maybe 25 years ago and it was crazy, fish rising everywhere, with me catching some of the biggest trout I'd have ever caught at that point in my life. I've never been able to experience those conditions again. Even the White fly hatch in August can be touch and go, some years being epic, and others being a total dud. BUT, when it does happen, catching 5 lb smallmouth is totally possible.
 
i do know when it rains, it muddies quickly
 
It doesn't get the love because with the exception of the First Fork Sinnemahoning, it has more letters in its name and is harder to spell than Pine, Loyalsock, Kettle or even Little Juniata... 😉
 
pheasant tail 2 said:
I went to school at The Rock in the mid-80's. Trout fishing is a "meh" at best.
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But why? Pine, Kettle, First Fork, Loyalsock are all also hatchery trout dependent but quite popular with fly fishers.

What's the difference? Are less trout stocked than these other streams? Do the stockies die more quickly because of poor water quality? Are they harvested more heavily?

Suppose a long delayed harvest area was established in the park. Would that make it more of a destination for fly fishers?
 
Scenery, water quality, amount of public land and other nearby recreational opportunities, historical cabin and recreational property areas.
 
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PennKev said:
The traditional trout hatches on SRC are not as good as other nearby stocked water. The headwaters are plagued with mine drainage. SRC runs high and dirty longer than other nearby creeks such as Neshannock. It's can be pretty silty in areas with easy access/ wading. The park is dangerous to wade, especially so in prime trout season.
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^ Here is your answer

A shame, because it does run through some gorgeous scenery, but as a trout fishery it is underwhelming.

With Neshannock (Cool Spring in Mercer is also an underrated fishery) being nearby with decent hatches, great stockings, good access, etc., Slippery Rock is kind of relegated to being just a warmwater stream.
 
I fished the FFO section of SRC a lot in the 1990s. I had good days both nymphing and with dry flies. Don’t recall the last time I fished it but it may have been ten years. I mainly fished in front of the bridge. Below the bridge was very rocky and difficult to wade if you weren’t familiar with it. I remember one sunny afternoon doing well on Adams dry flies below the bridge. The stream not only runs higher after a rain but takes longer to drop back down.
 
Dr.J 1952 said:
I fished the FFO section of SRC a lot in the 1990s. I had good days both nymphing and with dry flies. Don’t recall the last time I fished it but it may have been ten years. I mainly fished in front of the bridge. Below the bridge was very rocky and difficult to wade if you weren’t familiar with it. I remember one sunny afternoon doing well on Adams dry flies below the bridge. The stream not only runs higher after a rain but takes longer to drop back down.
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That seems to defy physics to run higher initially and take longer to drop back down. Any reason why that would be?
It seems like this stream has some cool positives. Might it be a good candidate for watershed restoration?
 
A few days after a rain, the water would clear but would still be high. It’s a pretty big watershed and the stream gets wider out of the canyon in the state park. Many times I’d stop there and it would be running fast and high. I’d go up to the Neshannock and it would be fine. I’m not a hydrologist , I’m just saying what my experience on that stream is.
 
Agree with the above posts about water levels and staying dirty longer after rainfall events.
I have smallmouth fished just upstream of the project water and enjoyed my afternoon but it was a very tough wade for me. Though very scenic.
Never fished the FFO. The project water takes a lot of criticism in most posts I see on here, with both hatches and fishing not being like it was “back in the day”. I would like to see a nice white fly hatch there to form my own opinion.
 

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I was there during a pretty epic grannom hatch back in like 21/22. Agree with others though. Not great for trout and very treacherous. It's like a mini lower yough.
 
troutbert said:
Slippery Rock Creek runs a long a way through public land, it's a decent sized stream, it runs through a beautiful landscape and has decent physical habitat.

Yes, it's a stocked trout stream, but so are the popular stretches of Pine, Loyalsock, Kettle, First Fork Sinnemahoning etc.

I don't live near Slippery Rock Creek, so I've only fished it a little bit. Why does it not get the love like those streams?
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It’s not a trout stream. (Not anymore, anyway) It’s silty. It’s polluted thanks to AMD and agriculture. It’s fast to rise and silt up and slows to decline. Personally, I think much of it is a mud hole. The hatches aren’t what they used to be. Even the white fly hatch intensity has declined. The fishing, even for bass, is “meh” usually. Sorry to sound like a miserable ole coot, but this stream is a laughable shadow of what it once was. That’s why it’s not famous.
 
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