Fishing the Allegheny at Harmarville

Fishing the Allegheny at Harmarville (Full Version)

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drthomasholmes -> Fishing the Allegheny at Harmarville (3/31/2008 1:47:14 PM)
Anyone fish here? I got a boat last spring, and since I'm only 15 minutes from the Harmarville launch, I fished there several times last year. The only problem was I couldn't seem to catch anything (well, some pathetic crappies and sheephead). Seemed like the dead sea. Anyone else fished here? Any tips? Specifically walleye. I used to have better luck when my Uncle and I launched from Millvale, until they stopped people with motorboats from launching, allowing only kayaks and canoes. BTW, what's the word on the Sharpsburg launch?

Porktown -> RE: Fishing the Allegheny at Harmarville (3/31/2008 4:23:54 PM)
The dam is probably where I'd focus time at. Be careful heading up stream, it is pretty shallow all around that area. I've never taken a motor boat in the area, but used to wade the area a good bit. I used to have a good bit of luck out there too (2-8 years ago). From right about now until June, then again in Sept-Oct. the fishing can be really good. Mostly in the evenings, but some times in the middle of the day. I did good with twister tail or sassy shad plastics bounced off the bottom or straight retrieved. Shadraps and stuff like that did well as did plain old fathead minnows. Walleye and sauger will move into the shallow areas at night. Probably easier from the shore, for the most part. I'm basically a shore fisherman, trying to convert my knowledge to a boat, and isn't working very well... I saw some guys doing very well on boats in the main channel between the lock and last island. I don't remember when that was, or what they were using. I'm pretty sure it was in the summer. It's a nice place, especially for wading. If you put your time in on the boat, you'll figure out what to use and where. The guys at the bait shop can probably help a little too. I know some guys love those sonar lures. I think you can pretty much only use them from a boat. I've lost about 10 of those things before, on about 20 casts from shore. Lock 2 might be a better bet from a boat. There is rather limited shore access, so you'll have less hook shy fish, and more area to move around.

sagebrush -> RE: Fishing the Allegheny at Harmarville (3/31/2008 4:58:32 PM)
Fish the dam. If you're heading upstream, you can make it to the dam no problem if you stay to the right by the lock. Once you're past the island, hang a left and fish near the sunken barge. Lots of walleye and sauger in the early spring. The easiest way to catch them is drifting a fathead with a split shot. Jigs also work well.

trigger -> RE: Fishing the Allegheny at Harmarville (3/31/2008 6:01:03 PM)
My buddy gets alot of Walleye at the Highland Park Pool.

plnoldrick -> RE: Fishing the Allegheny at Harmarville (3/31/2008 6:27:55 PM)
little bit further down at the mouth of deer creek is pretty good for walleye and other various toothy critters after they stock the creek.

6 wt swing -> RE: Fishing the Allegheny at Harmarville (4/4/2008 9:15:41 PM)
waded the area quite a bit. Use old waders due to stains. Always caught fish by the 1st island and barge. In mid to late June there seems to be a pollution of gar. They hit everything. Very slimy. Anyway the barge is the most consistent producer. Walleye, sauger smallies. At least once a year one of the 4 that i regularly fish with sees, hooks or catches or "the token musky."

smallhook -> RE: Fishing the Allegheny at Harmarville (4/4/2008 10:09:09 PM)
I used to wade near that sunken barge years ago when I worked at the old Gulf Laboratories. Bait always outfished Twister Tails but did good on both. Nice bait shop right across the street too. Never fished there off a boat.

Walleyeman360 -> RE: Fishing the Allegheny at Harmarville (4/5/2008 11:03:46 AM)
Waters still high now but when it comes down up by the dam in front of the islands and over by the sunken barge can be awsome. If fishing by boat you can anchor out in front of the islands between them and the dam and catch fish all day long... Pretty deep at harmar to about 30-35 feet by the first island by the lock.. The fish are there... Walleyes, Cats, Bass, Skies... Its all in their.. Creek bait works the best hands down no doubt....

drthomasholmes -> RE: Fishing the Allegheny at Harmarville (4/5/2008 3:48:59 PM)
Thanks guys! What do you mean by creek bait? Also, do you guys mostly troll or jig?

2dog -> RE: Fishing the Allegheny at Harmarville (4/5/2008 7:06:25 PM)
Minnows and creek chubs that you get out of a creek.

DanesDad -> RE: Fishing the Allegheny at Harmarville (4/6/2008 12:24:11 AM)
Smallies hit good off shore by the barge...or at least they used to.

Snag_826 -> RE: Fishing the Allegheny at Harmarville (4/7/2008 8:41:51 PM)
Fished the wall at lock 3 today for two hours. Managed about a dozen or so fish between my buddy and I. Sauger and white bass. Unfortunately nothing that big or noteworthy. Still had a blast nontheless!

drthomasholmes -> RE: Fishing the Allegheny at Harmarville (4/7/2008 10:33:27 PM)
Boat or shore? If shore, where do you park to get by the wall? Thanks.

Walleyeman360 -> RE: Fishing the Allegheny at Harmarville (4/8/2008 12:10:27 AM)
you can park by the steel warehouse in cheswick... no gate... go to the right... parking always open

crappiefisher -> RE: Fishing the Allegheny at Harmarville (4/8/2008 1:27:09 AM)
Grew up in Oakmont for 'bout 20 years. Lots of great mem. fishin them waters. One time I ended up whole front page of Pgh. Press Sun. paper sec. old fash. style black & white fishin it. My mother told me I wasn't aloud fishin it without a grown up so when the paper came I hid it in my room for awhile then decided to burn it so I wouldn't get grounded [sm=icon_frown.gif]. It can change from year too year faster than a fiddle stick , more then than now from chem., comp. plants & just plain stupidty. River rats & even some BIGGG Water Mocc. where around then. Caught some C&R or died in my sisters swimmin pool state record fish around those waters in the early - 7o's. Have fun & take a gallon ov bleach if you go to the beach. Crappy

Snag_826 -> RE: Fishing the Allegheny at Harmarville (4/8/2008 2:19:32 AM)
Fishing from shore. You can park by the warehouse. Surprisingly, they had a gate up to the right today. Had to park on the left hand side. The water is rediculously high, but that never stops me! Just dont expect to be able to fish anywhere else but the wall for the next few days...waaayyy too rough. Get some fatheads and youll have fun for a few hours. Cant wait till things start to really pick up. Probably gonna break out the boat tomorrow after work and get her ready!

Snag_826 -> RE: Fishing the Allegheny at Harmarville (4/8/2008 9:48:34 PM)
Fishd the inlet below deer creek today with two buddys. Caught nothing but did see a lot of huge gar cruisin around. Guys across from us caught a walleye or two just before we left. Always saw this place from 28 and wanted to try it and now i finally got the chance. we fished from the train bridge. Has anyone ever had any luck here?

Porktown -> RE: Fishing the Allegheny at Harmarville (4/9/2008 8:16:43 AM)
I've caught some small fish where the river meets the inlet. Fish will use the inlet for refuge when the river is high. If you catch it at the right time, you'll be in nonstop fish. Other times, you'll just be exploring. I'd suggest wearing waders, and head to the mouth of it.

wallyfisher101 -> RE: Fishing the Allegheny at Harmarville (4/14/2008 3:43:06 PM)
a few years ago we crushed the sauger and walleye on the lock wall but recently we only have been catchin a few.

Walleyeman360 -> RE: Fishing the Allegheny at Harmarville (4/27/2008 6:14:16 PM)
Got a nice eyes down on the rocks the last couple days, mostly 12-14 but a couple over 20 and one 27 7lbs. Gets me excited for next weekend.... Creek bait and fatheads one ounce of lead all the way to the white water....

eyesandgillz -> RE: Fishing the Allegheny at Harmarville (4/28/2008 1:38:59 PM)
don't forget casting stickbaits when wading the area. last year I lit up the sauger the one day I got to fish the area in the springtime by casting rapalas and bombers. switch up colors until you find the one they want. started off using a jig and twister tail tipped with fatheads but the sauger were short striking and just stealing bait. saw that the guy next to me was reeling them in left and right and he was casting a shallow stick bait of some sort (never did ask him what it was). I tied on a firetiger rapala I had in my wading box and it was on. in a couple hours of fishing i must have landed over 40 sauger and had multiple misses. i was wading just below the barge and casting out into the fast water.

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