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CONEMAUGH FISHERIES
This on-line SCRIP Fisheries Guide summarizes information
in our pamphlet, which can be ordered for $4 from SCRIP, PO Box 153, Johnstown,
PA 15907-0153.
We'll give you the Fishing Guide FREE if
you send in a $15 membership to the same address and note that you found
us on the Web! |
North Branch Little Conemaugh River
Description
- The North Branch of the Little Conemaugh River runs out of the Wilmore
Dam and into the main branch of the Little Conemaugh. The stream is located
off Route 160 on Evergreen Road in Wilmore, and near Route 53 above Summerhill.
The stream is of medium size and contains many runs and pools. The stream
is easily accessible for most of its course because of the many turn-off
areas next to the stream. However, where the stream meets the dam until
it hits Route 160, it is enclosed by an old iron gate fence. This is a
walk-in-only area of the stream and runs about 1 1/2 miles. This section
is especially worth while to cast a line in because of its seclusion.
Fish
- The North Branch contains a majority population of brown and rainbow
trout with a minority population of brook trout. The stream is stocked
by the Fish & Boat Commission during the season and out of season with
brown and rainbow trout. The stream also is home to holdover trout from
the previous stockings but does not contain numerous wild trout. The limited
numbers of wild trout do not infer poor water quality.
South Fork, Little Conemaugh River
Description
- The headwaters of the South Fork of the Little Conemaugh River were approved
in 1995 as an addition to the Wilderness Trout Program of the Fish &
Boat Commission. The stream flows down from high on the Allegheny Ridge
through State Game Lands and land owned by the Western Pennsylvania Conservancy.
The designated section of the stream is above Beaverdale Reservoir, and
can be accessed only by foot. The stream has a large population of native
brook trout, ranking in the top five percent statewide in pounds of fish
per acre of water. The stream also has an excellent pool-to-riffle ratio
and the undisturbed watershed keeps the water clear of silt. However, typical
of streams on the high ridges, it has little alkalinity for buffering capacity
from acid rain.
Fish
- The South Fork headwaters contain native, reproducing brook trout, and
in large numbers. However, typical of fish that never see a hatchery, these
fish rarely exceed 10 inches in length. Although the stream has lots of
native brookies, as with any native, stream-bred population, it could be
damaged by overfishing. Catch and release is suggested for these types
of waters -- and when the lunkers here are only 8 to 10 inches long, this
is obviously not the place to go in preparation for a large fish fry.
Beaverdam Run & Beaverdam Run Reservoir
Description
- Beaverdam Run Reservoir was opened to fishing about 2000 through the
cooperation of Highland Sewer and Water Authority when local conservationists
made arrangements to police the area and obtained a small grant through
the Kiski Basin Initiative to provide access. The stream below the reservoir
also holds fish.
Fish
- The Reservoir holds bass and pan fish, and Beaverdam Run holds trout.
The reservoir is also stocked by the PFC with Lake Trout.
Ben's Creek (Portage)
Description
- Ben's Creek near Portage can be reached from Route 53 by taking Benscreek
Road to Strawberry Road, a dirt road, where the stream is then attainable.
The access to the stream is limited to this small dirt road, and due to
the various chained locked fences blocking access to motor vehicles, walking
or the riding of quads is most opportune. The stream is very difficult
to fish in some places due to the amount of mountain laurel and other plant
life that interferences with casting and due to its small size. Therefore,
this would not be considered a stream for the novice angler. Ben's Creek
is a smaller stream capable of holding many fish. The upper portion is
not stocked due to the healthy population of wild brook trout. Rattlesnakes
and Copperheads inhabit the area as well as poison oak and poison ivy,
so hip boots are a must especially in the spring and summer months. Ben's
Creek was nominated for wilderness trout water rating in the upper section
but was denied.
Fish
- Ben's Creek contains brown, brook and some rainbow trout. The brook and
brown trout are stocked in-season and out of season. The stream also holds
some holdover trout and wild brook trout but most of the population comes
from stocked fish.
Lake Rowena
Description
- Lake Rowena is both a cold water and warm water fishery. The lake is
readily accessible, located in Ebensburg off Route 22 on Lake View Road.
Although the lake is not very large, boats with electric motors are permitted.
The lake is not very deep - a maximum depth of about 15 feet - but holds
fish all year long. The lake falls under the Fish & Boat Commission's
extended trout regulations, so it is open all year long to fishing. The
lake has a dock where physically challenged people can fish. Lake Rowena
is a perfect lake to bring the family and kids to picnic on a fine Sunday
afternoon.
Fish
- Lake Rowena is home to a variety of fish including but not limited to
rainbow, brown and brook trout, panfish, largemouth, smallmouth and rock
bass, pickerel, crappie and other species of panfish. The Fish & Boat
Commission stocks the lake, both in-season and out-of-season, with brown
and rainbow trout, and some of the rainbows top 36 inches in length.
Howell's Run
Howell's
Run flows from Lake Rowena into Wilmore Dam. The stream is located off
Route 22 and about 2 miles before the Ebensburg exit traveling eastbound
on Route 2013. It is a smaller stream with many riffles and runs where
the fish usually lie. The stream is very accessible because several bridges
run over it, including Spinner Road just above Wilmore Dam. The stream
is heavily stocked in its middle and lower portions while its upper section
is only lightly stocked. The stream is fairly easy for the average angler
to fish because the vegetation is only moderately inhibiting. Howell's
Run is stocked by the Fish & Boat Commission with brown and rainbow
trout.
Wilmore Dam
Wilmore
Dam was opened for public recreation for the first time about 2001 after
it was put into public ownership as part of the Cambria Somerset Authority.
For more information on Wilmore Dam, please visit BigDamFish.Net
Noel's Creek
Noel's
Creek is a smaller stream located off of Route 53 on Sportman's Road in
Portage. The stream is home to four small dams which create beautiful pools
and deep holes. These features of the stream help to hold the fish. The
pools contain a substantial amount of fish mostly because of their depth
and food content. The stream is easily accessible but due to its smaller
size it can sometimes be difficult to fish. Noel's Creek is stocked primarily
with brown and brook trout in season. The stream also contains a few rainbows
and holdover fish. In addition, it is home to some wild fish, although
these are in sparse numbers.
Laurel Run (Sidman)
Laurel
Run is located along Roberts Road and Route 160, flowing past Sidman and
into the South Fork of the Little Conemaugh River just east of the access
road to the Johnstown Flood National Memorial. This Laurel Run is a small
stream that is very accessible due to the number of bridges and turn-off
points along the way. The stream's best water is located behind the Dunlo
Sportman's Club in Dunlo. Parking is available across the street from the
club and the water is located in the club's interior. The members do allow
non-members to fish the stream because the water is not privately owned
by the club. Laurel Run is stocked by the Fish & Boat Commission and
Dunlo Sportsman's Club in the section behind their clubhouse.
Saltlick Run
Saltlick
Run has a nice little native trout population in its headwaters down to
Saltlick Reservoir, owned by the Greater Johnstown Water Authority. However,
it is impacted with AMD near Saltlick Reservoir. The AMD currently is piped
around the reservoir to keep the water supply clean. However, plans were
under way in 2002 and 2003 to treat the discharges.
Sandy Run
Sandy Run
is a small, trout-stocked treat that runs in a northerly direction paralle
to Route 219 from near the Johnstown Galleria to near South Fork, where
it enters the South Fork of the Little Conemaugh River.
Hinckston Run
Hinckston
Run is a high-gradient stream originating in the mountainous terrain along
Route 22 in Jackson Township. It flows 10.6 miles to the Johnstown neighborhood
of Minersville, where it enters the mainstem of the Conemaugh River. Its
course is interrupted by Hinckston Run Dam, a large reservoir recently
bought by the Cambria-Somerset Authority from Bethlehem Steel Company.
A 2-mile section immediately upstream of the dam is stocked in-season by
the Fish & Boat Commission. The stream is small but has good cover
from undercut banks, large boulders and small, swift pools. However, it
is adversely impacted by the typical problem in the region - abandoned
mine drainage - and when acid-snow melts in the spring in combination with
the mine drainage, fish kills have been reported. The stream is accessible
by several township roads - T-419, T-739 and T- 405 - which intersect Route
271 near Vinco. Brook trout, the heartiest of the trout species, is the
only sport fish on Hinckston Run because of the occasional problems with
acidity.
Hinckston Run Reservoir
Hinckston
Run Reservoir is another asset that was owned by the subsidiary of Bethlehem
Steel Corp., which was bought by the Cambria Somerset Authority and opened
to public recreation about 2001. It holds pan fish. For more information
on Hinckston, please visit BigDamFish.Net
Laurel Run (West Taylor)
This Laurel
Run is located directly outside the city of Johnstown off Route 403 in
the Tanneryville area of West Taylor Township. The stream flows directly
into the Conemaugh River. It is a smaller stream but flows quicker than
most streams in the basin. Entrance can be gained at Laurel Run Park or
anywhere along Cooper Avenue above where it branches off Route 403 near
the Johnstown America Corp. building (rail car shop). The brook, brown
and rainbow trout average 8 to 10 inches in length, but some of can grow
to be much longer. All fish in the stream are stocked by the Fish &
Boat Commission.
