Youghiogheny River, 6/6/2015 Fayette, Somerset Co.

[DaveS]

Met up with several other PAFFers on Saturday June 6. PhilC had inquired about the "Yough" several weeks prior and Krayfish had put in several previous floats with not too much to show. So when Alby proposed an early June float, we quickly assembled a small flotilla. Don (glenfiddich) would float with Albatross, Krayfish, with me, and Phil and his buddy Andy would be adding the Yough to an already planned trip to the NB of the Potomac.

A late day storm cell in the SW PA and Maryland area put a pulse of dirty water down the Casselman River, threatening otherwise excellent conditions.

Four of us launched near the Dam in Confluence, PA. Meeting PhilC and Andy at the Ramcat launch approx i.5 miles downstream, as they had had an unexpectedly late day the evening before.

A smattering of caddis and sulphers had gotten a few fish up and rising. by the time we reached Ramcat, Krayfish had landed a small fish on a dry and lost a VERY nice trout to the constantly drifting mats of weeds.

The discharge from the Dam was a very cool 40 Degrees, the Casselman peaked quickly a 700 CFS and dropped back quickly, and the resulting flow below Ramcat was a slightly discolored 58F and slowing clearing.

We managed a few fish here and there on streamers, dries and nymphs. The best was a 20 (+?) inch rainbow Krayfish nymphed up as we floated into the head of one of the deep pools. Sadly the fish was too shy to pose with Kray for the customary "hero" shot!

AS afternoon turned to evening the bugs steadily increased in numbers... we saw March browns in good numbers, both duns and spinners. Clouds of midges, tiny olives, light cahills, sulphers, isos, several caddis both light and dark, a few stoneflies, and a mayfly that was both new and unusual; Size ten wings on a body that I would describe as a size 16 extra stout!

By nightfall there were good numbers of fish rising and I think everyone got some action and a couple fish were landed up to maybe 16-17 inches. The cold water had sapped whatever energy I had left in my body, and I left the river and its still rising trout to those few guys who just won't quit.

A few pics to fill in the blanks and the hope that all the guys had as good a day on the river as I. Hope you will all join me again.

 

[albatross]

I had a very enjoyable float. No fish to hand for me (possibly the only one skunked), but a beautiful day on the water. I'll post some photos later. In addition to the bugs Dave mentioned, there were good numbers of orange cahills, and a handful of green drakes and coffin flies from the tail-end of that hatch. I think march brown and Cahill imitations were the most productive flies throughout the day. As the march browns diminish this summer, the ISO's should come on to take their place.

The flotilla of recreational boaters was strong, as expected on a nice Saturday in June.

 

[troutbert]

Here's a question about coldwater releases from the dam.

On the USGS site it shows the water temps of the last week ranging between 45 and 48F. That's cold!

But often they run out of cold water later in the summer.

Wouldn't it make more sense to use the cold water more stingily now, mixing the cold water with warm water to release it at say 54F, while still maintaining the same volume. Saving some coldwater to release in late summer?

Isn't this technically feasible, i.e. don't the dam release mechanisms allow taking water from different levels and mixing to get a target flow temperature?

 

[krayfish2]

Thanks for having me along yesterday. I had my best day on that river yesterday for sure. A good mix of bugs all day long. We landed a handful of 17" - 19" fish and one over 20". A big brown from the Yough continues to elude me though. I didn't know it held so many bows!

If the Casselman wasn't pumping muddy water, I'm thinking we would have killed it. Between the drive and the float, that is one exhausting day. Up at 3am and not home until 1:30am

 

[LetortAngler]

I agee. would be a good idea to regulate flows in order to obtain better temps late in the year. The outflow at the Dam, which I believe is around 170ft(?) deep at the bottom release, typically releases cold flows well into summer. However, some years I have heard that the lake "turns over" resulting in warmer temps around the end of summer/ beginning of fall. Back in 2012 I remember getting a water temp reading in the upper-sixties not far below the outflow at Confluence. Of course, it varies year to year.

 

[fayettenamese]

They control the discharge of the dam primarily for rafters, not fisherman. I fish that stretch of the yough at least twice a week in the summer and have for a few years. I watch the gauges religiously and every friday at 10am it spikes and continues through the weekend to give the rafters a push through the shallow rapids. You need not worry about them running out of cold water. Above Ohiopyle, it never gets above 65, even in the dog days of summer.

 

[albatross]

Photos...

 

[greenghost]

fayettenamese wrote:
Above Ohiopyle, it never gets above 65, even in the dog days of summer.

Every year around Labor Day, it gets above 65 degrees (sometime over 70 degrees) and stays there for a few weeks. Last year's reading during this time period is below--luckily it didn't reach 70 last year. But screwed up the fishing for sure. The reservoir simply runs out of cold water. Can releases be scheduled better to accomodate both rafters and anglers? Yep. Will they? Nope. It's all rafters because of the business it draws in. It dwarfs angling expenditures.

 

[troutbert]

The rafters don't need or want COLD water. They just want volume of flow.

So, they could adjust releases from the dam in the way I described, to save more cold water for later in the season, without negatively affecting the rafting.

 

[greenghost]

btw -- I've actually written to the USACE about this very topic. They did respond and I exchanged emails with an engineer who insisted the primary goal for releases has nothing to do with rafting or angling, but rather flood control dictated by a algorithm involving factors like reservoir pool level and weather. Yet, every weekend -- with the exception of extreme drought or high water periods -- the water is bumped up. So my guess is their priorities are flood control first, then rafting. Angling is tertiary. Also, I've heard through talking with local anglers that USACE has discussed release schedule changes with local conservation groups (Chestnut Ridge TU?) to possibly develop a better release plan. Not sure if there is truth to this... especially since many think there's nothing wrong with the current schedule.

 

[troutbert]

My post was not about the volume of water released.

It was about the temperature of the released water.

They could keep the volume regime exactly the same as they have in the past, and adjust the temperature as I described, and end up with more cold water remaining for late summer and early fall.

That would have no impact on the rafters, or on the flood control function of the dam.

 

[greenghost]

troutbert, good idea. It would be nice if they had that control! But from my understanding, it's a bottom release only dam. There is a top water slide for lake overflow on the left of the dam, but the outlet is like this huge 20' tunnel that's over 1/4 mile long.

 

[afishinado]

greenghost wrote:
btw -- I've actually written to the USACE about this very topic. They did respond and I exchanged emails with an engineer who insisted the primary goal for releases has nothing to do with rafting or angling, but rather flood control dictated by a algorithm involving factors like reservoir pool level and weather. Yet, every weekend -- with the exception of extreme drought or high water periods -- the water is bumped up. So my guess is their priorities are flood control first, then rafting. Angling is tertiary. Also, I've heard through talking with local anglers that USACE has discussed release schedule changes with local conservation groups (Chestnut Ridge TU?) to possibly develop a better release plan. Not sure if there is truth to this... especially since many think there's nothing wrong with the current schedule.

Looks like at 11pm every Friday night, the algorithm for flood control calls for a release of water...

 

[troutbert]

greenghost wrote:
troutbert, good idea. It would be nice if they had that control! But from my understanding, it's a bottom release only dam. There is a top water slide for lake overflow on the left of the dam, but the outlet is like this huge 20' tunnel that's over 1/4 mile long.

Thanks for that info. I was assuming that they were able to draw water from various levels and mix them to get a desired temperature.

I think some dams have that ability. An Army Corps employee at Kinzua told me they try to match the temp of the outflow with the temp of the inflow to the reservoir.

I'm not sure how common that is at the various dams.

 

[vcregular]

I have a hunch that the Yough dam does not have selective withdrawal capability. If it was built for flood control and if it was built a long time again, there was not need for selective withdrawal since the downstream river was probably dead. Only a few dams in PA have selective withdrawal in order to blend water. One of them is Beltzville which is somewhat newer.

 

[JackM]

I think it is correct that it can only release from the bottom, unless it overflows as mentioned, which is pretty rare. Flood control is the main purpose, but it is also a hydroelectric generator dam, which probably explains why the bottom release is exclusive.

Read About It

 

[DaveS]

My understanding of the whitewater release is that the elevated flows mitigate the dangers of the lower river. In particular the "Dimple Rock" and the resulting hydraulic that has claimed several lives over the years.

 

[PocketWater]

A buddy and I are planning our first trip to the Yough soon. We don't have the boats to float it at all. How is wading the river near the Ramcat Run parking area and downstream? From aerial photos it looks like it is shallower in that area with some nice riffles/rocks. Or could one of you gents point us to a good wading section?

Thanks in advance. Looking forward to fishing some water with some nice trout in it.

 

[McSneek]

PocketWater wrote:
A buddy and I are planning our first trip to the Yough soon. We don't have the boats to float it at all. How is wading the river near the Ramcat Run parking area and downstream? From aerial photos it looks like it is shallower in that area with some nice riffles/rocks. Or could one of you gents point us to a good wading section?

Thanks in advance. Looking forward to fishing some water with some nice trout in it.

It is difficult wading to say the least. Pick your spots and use a wading staff. There are a lot of, huge boulders, deep pockets and heavy riffles right against the banks. You will find many spots to access but don't expect to be able to wade with impunity. You will be mainly confined to stretches where you'll be fairly close to the bank.

 

[JackM]

If you know how to swim with waders on, there is no place you cannot wade. 😎