Fishing near Pittsburgh? (Erie, Kittanning, Venango: airplane, to eat, activity)

[Fiddlehead]

Pittburghers,

I was reading an article about the Alleghenies the other day and noted that the Allegheny River had something like 80 fish species. Wow! I began thinking about fishing. I took my 6 year old son fishing this summer for the first time and he hammered me! We went out lake fishing three times and each time he landed a nice keeper trout (11-12"), while I enjoyed the scenery. I guess he inherited his Grandpa's fishing prowess (it skips a generation..).

Obviously there are three huge rivers near the burgh, but can you fish in them, and eat the fish you catch? Catch and release is fine too. We love trout, but would love to catch walleye, perch, sunfish, bass, and.....dream of dreams.....northern pike. We have never seen a pike or muskellunge out here in Oregon. So, fisherpeople, what does Pittsburgh have to offer the angler?

[BrianTH]

So the rivers have really been cleaned up at this point, and in fact one of the biggest events in Pittsburgh this summer was the Forrest Wood Cup bass fishing tournament, and the Bassmaster Classic was held here a few years ago too. Anyway, there are definitely plenty of places you can just drop a line and fish for bass, walleye, catfish, and so on. I'm not sure about actually eating your catch.

And there are lots of places nearby for more serious fishing--Lake Erie, a bunch of stocked lakes, trout streams, and so on. There are plenty of fishing organizations around so I would hook up with one of them if you wanted lots of specific tips.

[Internet Superman]

Fishing below Kittanning, all you are going to catch is carp.

Sometimes a brown trout - if you know what I mean.

You are much better off to fish at a State Park or at a farmers pond or lake.

We went to feed the ducks last year at Pymatuning State Park last year and all that is in that lake is Suckers and Carp.

[Fiddlehead]

Originally Posted by internet superman

sometimes a brown trout - if you know what i mean.

.

lol!

[mattm93]

I love the mysteries of what could be in those rivers. As for fish, I always remember hearing locals talk about there being fish big enough to eat a person. I dont know how true this is but its still kinda interesting to think about.

[Fiddlehead]

I would expect some pretty big catfish, and carp. Doesn't seem like one of those bottomfeeders would eat ya, unless you had been "sleepin with the fishes" for a few weeks...

[scottrpriester]

Originally Posted by mattm93

I love the mysteries of what could be in those rivers. As for fish, I always remember hearing locals talk about there being fish big enough to eat a person. I dont know how true this is but its still kinda interesting to think about.

Carp, which can grow to over 6 feet in length, are often the fish of tales that could "eat a human".

One place I have been meaning to research for fishing opportunities is North Park. I am told that there is a fly fishing only area where you can fish for Trout, which used to be one of my passions. I would love to get my wife in to fly fishing with me.

[raynist]

Originally Posted by Internet Superman

Fishing below Kittanning, all you are going to catch is carp.

Sometimes a brown trout - if you know what I mean.

You are much better off to fish at a State Park or at a farmers pond or lake.

We went to feed the ducks last year at Pymatuning State Park last year and all that is in that lake is Suckers and Carp.

Not sure they would hold Bass fishing tournaments in Pittsburgh's rivers if there was nothing to catch but carp and crap.....

[Hopes]

Originally Posted by scottrpriester

I would love to get my wife in to fly fishing with me.

Buy her some waders for Christmas!

My husband introduced me to fly fishing 18 years ago. Love it! There's something about wearing the waders, hearing the water flow over the rocks, and seeing the sunshine filter through the leaves of the trees that makes everything seem right in the world!

We prefer going to the northern counties starting at Venango, but we have also fly fished some of the Allegheny County streams for a close weeknight activity when our children were younger.

Prior to meeting him, I always went lake fishing and I've fished the Allegheny a few times. I don't know many people who would keep the fish caught in the rivers closer to the city, but it's still enjoyable if you're into river fishing.

My friends ice fish in Erie every winter, but I've never tried it.

[bbrian12]

i would not recommend eating anything out of the river
i have seen carp and catfish up to 3 to 4 feet long in our rivers

fishing the river is fun if you just want to catch big fish like cats and carps

once a while you may get a nice bass, pike, muskie, or trout or a car tire
or the monongahela monster (a joke) that no one ever seen but swears its in there, or the airplane that crashed in the river 50 years ago that no one ever found

lake wilhelm, lake pymatuning, and lake arthur are some nice fishing spots all north of pittsburgh