Fishing in Pittsburgh (Carnegie, Beaver, Wall: travel, work, health)

[londonbarcelona]

Hey all,

5 months and counting and I will bein Pittsburgh permanently. *whew*

I am looking foward to my move, however, I still have a question:

Where do people FISH in the Pittsburgh area? Ideally, I'd like to be able to drop a line right into the river.

Anyone know where I can do that?

All that water, and it appears there is no where to swim or fish. I don't get that, could someone explain to me why a city with such a wonderful resource does not take advantage of it?

And if one does, where can it be done?

Thanks!!!

[gallacus]

I suppose it would be important to ask what type of fishing you are interested in. I do see people fishing all up and down the allegheny when I kayak in the summer, even the point will typically have people fishing after work on most summer evenings. I wouldn't eat the fish out of the three main rivers, but they are there to be caught. If you're looking for a specific recommendation on a spot to fish from, go just East of the 16th St. Bridge on the North side of the Allegheny. There's a parking lot right there for the bike trail, you can just cross the bike trail and descend to the waterfront.

As for swimming, not many people do swim in the rivers, mostly because they think the water quality is still abhorrent, but I usually jump off my kayak to cool off right in front of PNC park. Its a gorgeous place to cool off, with all the buildings around and the riverfront park. People will look at you crazy when you say you swim in the river, but I've done it many times and never got sick or anything. Just don't do it right after it rains. The city is even building steps down into the river from the point so more people can swim.

[Tallysmom]

Originally Posted by londonbarcelona

Hey all,

5 months and counting and I will bein Pittsburgh permanently. *whew*

I am looking foward to my move, however, I still have a question:

Where do people FISH in the Pittsburgh area? Ideally, I'd like to be able to drop a line right into the river.

Anyone know where I can do that?

All that water, and it appears there is no where to swim or fish. I don't get that, could someone explain to me why a city with such a wonderful resource does not take advantage of it?

And if one does, where can it be done?

Thanks!!!

It's sort of cold and gross. I've seen people swimming in the Ohio and I've waterskied on it. Well, if you call getting up on the skis and falling over waterski-ing. I called it water-falling.

But I do have to admit that was before steel fell. Rivers were kind of yucky then.

I pretty positive they stock Moraine's Lake Arthur... and they have swimming beach areas. I also know that when it's really hot, McConnells Mills was the place to be. The water's too fast for swimming -- fishing I don't know about -- but the warmth of the big rocks and the splash of the fast water is really refreshing...

[gallacus]

Originally Posted by Tallysmom

It's sort of cold and gross.

I have to say my experiences were quit the contrary. In the middle of the summer, the river feels about like the temperature of a heated swimming pool. Just cool enough to be refreshing, but still quite warm.

[suzeeq521]

I do believe the reason folks don't (and are discouraged from) swimming in the rivers are that they aren't safe. Not in the terms of water quality, but in the terms of water-safety. I believe that there are some serious under-tows, rough bottoms, etc., especially on the Allegheny.

I actually have a neighbor who lost his little brother that way in the 60s.

Also, the rivers are kind of "highways", so there is concern over the barge traffic.

As far as fishing goes - there is lots of that. I know that folks fish off the 43rd street dock in Lawrenceville and that one of the groups (Venture Outdoors, maybe?) hosted a "Carp All Night" event (a play on the Lawrenceville's annual "Art All Night".) there last spring.

Also, I believe it is Venture Outdoors that holds lunch time fishing events, Wednesdays during the season on the river walk near PNC Park. You have to have a valid license, but they can even provide poles, bait, etc. if you need it.

[Buzz858]

I Know when I was a kid I fished the OHIO river with my dad and brothers just about every night in the summer and got a lot of big Cat Fish never swam in it though because back in the 50's it was pretty nasty and smelled.
Now i am here in Rhode Island and spend my summers fishing for Striped Bass and blue fish.

[stasia]

Visit Kayak Pittsburgh to check out some excellent use of our river assets!

Resources on area fishing:

Fishing-Pittsburgh Region : PA Hunt and Fish

Fishing, Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh Resource Guide

[RockLobster]

LondB. The quality of both the water and aquatic life in all the rivers has improved in Pittsburgh in recent years. Natural populations of Smallmouth Bass, Largemouth Bass, Walleye, Shad, Channel Catfish, Bullheads, Carp and introduced Stripers and Trout from colder water streams flowing into the rivers are all being caught in and near the golden triangle (downtown)
One of the best locations right downtown for fishing is on the Allegheny River below Gateway Center. Here you will find water from the center's air system entering the river. This allows for higher oygenated water and is a location for many smaller fish. Hence where there are small fish you'll find many of the large game fish. I have seen several Smallmouth bass at that location larger then 4 pounds. Across the river under the lights of PNC Park, Bass and Walleye feed off bugs and minnows that are attracted by the massive lights. From a boat the shoreline both upriver and downriver of the Golden Triangle can be good fishing locations with good fish habitat being located there.
Prior posting has mentioned the hazard of being in the water following heavy rain events. For sure, the greatest health hazard does follow heavy rain events and rapid snow melt. Besides a lot of surface pollutants being flushed into the rivers all at once, much debris is also a hazard on and below the river's surface. Within an hour of downtown you can find trout streams in Beaver County, and to the east in the higher elevations of the Laurel Highlands. Beaver Creek which straddles the Ohio and PA state line 45 minutes Northwest of the city is a great Smallmouth Bass fishery and offers some amazing natural beauty. And trout fishing can be found one hour north of the city near Volant PA. There are also private lakes for fee fishing and private fishing-sports clubs around Pittsburgh. Overall good fishing can be found in and near the city as a rule. For actually eating the catch you had better refer to the PA Fish Commision for updates on testing of the species.

[simetime]

AS a fellow fisherman, I have fished up and down the Allegheny and some of the Ohio River and depending on what you are after, more than likely you will find it. I fished one of the streams that feed into the Ohio river and I caught a Striped bass, a walleye, a decent sized catfish and two Smallmouth Bass.

[pitt_transplant]

DO NOT eat the river fish. They actually had a news report on it a bit back. If you like to travel "cook's forest" was a place I always went to for rainbow trout when I was a kid.