Things to do / Travel Guide
Fishing around Pittsburgh and the Youghiogheny River is amazingly good. In fact, southwestern Pennsylvania's fishing for smallmouth, largemouth, and spotted bass has gained national attention: in 2005, Pittsburgh hosted the prestigious CITGO Bassmaster Classic. Though southwestern Pennsylvania locals fondly refer to it as the “Yuck,” the waters of the Youghiogheny River are far from unpleasant. On the contrary, the Youghiogheny River is listed among the best trout fishing spots in Pennsylvania.
Fishing for trout, walleyes, sauger, smallmouth, largemouth, and spotted bass in southwestern Pennsylvania is best from late spring or early summer through the first week of October. Anyone over 16 who wishes to fish in southwestern Pennsylvania's waters must purchase a Pennsylvania fishing license. Visitors to Pennsylvania will be required to purchase a non-resident fishing license. One-day, three-day, and seven-day tourist licenses are available. Many local area sporting goods stores, including some Wal-Mart and K-Mart locations, sell Pennsylvania fishing licenses, or you can purchase a PA fishing license PA fishing license online.
Fishing Trips around Pittsburgh
The city of Pittsburgh has several wonderful fishing locations not far from downtown. The city's only boat access is located off East Carson Street on the South Side at River Front Park near 18th Street and Carson Street. Fish for smallmouth and largemouth bass from your boat or from a newly revamped, handicapped-accessible fishing pier. River Front Park is a great place for shoreline angling and widely considered one of the best spots in the city.
For other shore-based angling sites along Pittsburgh's rivers, access the rivers' banks by using the bike trails that run parallel to the shore. Point State Park in downtown Pittsburgh is located at the confluence of the Allegheny, Monongahela, and Ohio Rivers. At Point State Park, shore anglers get surprisingly easy bites - for the best fishing, stand parallel to the shoreline against the concrete wall. The North Shore neighborhood, between Heinz Field and PNC Park, is also a favored spot for good bass fishing.
Fishing Trips on the Youghiogheny River
The Youghiogheny River proves that trout love cold water - even in the winter. The Youghiogheny River is stocked with fingerlings and trout several times a year and trout fishing along the Youghiogheny is permitted (and worthwhile) year-round. The middle stretch of the river between the towns of Confluence to Ohiopyle is very popular for fly fishing trips and shore angling, and is considered one of the best stretches of trout water. Though the Youghiogheny is notorious for its dangerously swift currents and deep waters, the best place for wading is between Confluence and the place where the Casselman River joins the “Yough” - this stretch is very popular on summer weekends.
The Youghiogheny River Lake also has many coves and backwater areas great for panfish, walleye, and smallmouth bass. Trout fishing is open year round.
|
|
|