Allegheny Reservoir and upper River

[wvmuskychick]

I am a diehard fisherman or fisherwoman...however you want to put it. I grew up fishing for trout and the large pond we had on our farm. I have lievd in the area for about two years, but it wasn't until I chartered a trip in Waneta Lake that I became a musky lover. This year I plan of doing nothing but fishing for the toothy monsters. I am planning a trip to the Allegheny Reservoir and the Alleghany River this summer. Any info on making my trip worthwhile is greatly appreciated!! Is the upper river any good for fishing for musky?? Places to stay is another question I have, was looking to stay in a vacinity that is a close drive for both places!! Thanks again!!

[Red Childress]

Hey muskychick,

We were waiting for your arrival. I saw your post on the MHunter site. :)

As for places to stay around the Reservoir, there are plenty of campgrounds around the ANF as well as hotels and B and B's around Warren...it all depends on what you are looking for. The musky fishing on the Res is a low density fishery with state record potential. Many of the fish suspend there during the summer months so locating the thermocline (if one is present at the time) will help rule out unproductive water and maximize your trolling efficiency. Bay mouths, points, old creek channels or in the middle of nowhere can be key spots. Finding schools of baits will also help out, of course.

The river is much "easier" to contact fish. I assume when you say the "Upper Allegheny", you actually mean the river below the Kinzua Dam outflow. That section of river is actually the origin of the Middle Allegheny with the section that flows into the Reservoir being called the Upper Allegheny.

To access the Middle stretch, a jet boat would be great to have due to shallow shoals and free flowing channels. Running a boat without a jet drive is almost impossible but drifting in a canoe or kayak will work fine. If you check my "Preparation" page here on my site, you will see a few places to stay with phone numbers included.

Feel free to ask more questions as they arise.

[Red Childress]

I just went back over to MHunter site and saw that you were actually talking about the Upper Allegheny heading toward Salamanca. We have a guy or two on this site that fish that area from time to time. Access points are very sparse and can be very tricky to navigate even with a jet boat.

I will leave it up to the other guys to say what they want about this stretch as I have only fished it once and that was from shore in the Potato Creek area for big trout.

[toothyfishman]

Muskychick you have a private message.

[McDunnoftheAllegheny]

Musky chick I have never fished the area that Red is referring to but I highly sugest the section of river below the dam, it is a fantastic fishery IMO. Best of luck to you and your fishing endeavors, may your next one be your best one!

[wvmuskychick]

Thanks fellas' for all the great information. Sorry about the Upper comment..I was referring to the areas above the Reservoir to Salamanca. I thinking about staying in the Alleghany State Park in the Red House area. I can not wait to get on the water, I'm dreaming of muskies everynight now that I found these great stretches of water. I'll be fishing by kayak bc I don't have a boat to use, so it'll be even more of an adventure. I've ordered some guide maps to help and plot out my invasion!!! ;) I probably won't go below the dam, seem like a long driver from where I will be staying. Would love to find a great boat for some musky fishing, so if ya know of a good one send me some pics!! Love the forum I can talk fishing everyday, so I feel like I'm in the right place!!! Happy fishing and can't wait to get in yall's neck of the woods!!!!

[toothyfishman]

There is a good number of pike in Quaker Lake right in the State Park.
Remember that you need a Indian Reservation Lic. on the river for a large section of that water almost back to Allegheny back toward Olean.

[Red Childress]

No need for apologies, muskychick........you were exactly right about the Salamanca section being in the "Upper" section. The Middle section begins at the Kinzua outflow and continues downstream for about 100 miles or so.

[muskyjerk]

I fish in the middle Allegheny by kayak almost exclusively. I if you have any kayak questions I may be able to help and vice versa.

I once mentioned that below the dam on the Allegheny was the middle section of the river on fisherie and someone gave me a profanity and insult filled reply as he still prefered that this stretch be called the upper. I guess he took it personally.

Just goes to prove that this is still one of the best places to share info. Thank you Red and every one else.

[toothyfishman]

Drove to Erie yesterday and was thinking about this post while driving by,
If fishing the Res. waters there is a big hole that would be where I'd start looking for a muskie. If you do some google earth maps and see where route 219 connects to route 86. The river coming from Allegheny will flow under 86 (east of 219) then under 219 then back under 86 (west of 219) in about a 2-3 mile stretch. Between the 219 bridge and the Salamanca side 86 bridge (west side) there is a RR bridge that has a very deep big pool in it. The deepest pool I know of up that way. I've seen trucks there so it can be drove too somehow??? Maybe find that on the google map too?
15+ years ago when I did float trips there I floated from 219 bridge to the beginning of Salamanca, Race street is where we drug the boat up the bank and loaded back up. No launch there. That was a nice area.
We mainly caught pike.
Where the Tunagwant flows in (from PA bradford area) right below the RR bridge was a great pike spot west bank down to the 86 bridge. Could hit both spots they are pretty close together.

[FishnBeer]

That is actually the exact route I float in the summer months. We get in under the 219 by 9 mile road, and we go a little further to the school at the tail end of Salamanca.

I do know the RR bridge. I have been scanning the past couple years of good fishing spot out that way.

[wvmuskychick]

Thanks guys for all the GREAT info!!! I can't wait to go fishing!!! Keep the info coming the more the better!!! I want to make it a memorable trip!! Where can I get and Indian Res. License??

[Red Childress]

Just drive to the Reservation and stop at one of the gas stations. I am not aware of any online site in which to buy one but I have not looked either.

[wvmuskychick]

thanks Red...I may head up that direction this weekend to check everything out!!!!! Can't wait!!!