French Creek

Dad and I canoe'd French Creek yesterday (Thurs.) from the bridge at rt6 & rt19 down to the bridge on Miller Station Rd.

Water was a little high and fast for fishing... spent more of the trip dodging downed trees then actually casting lines..

No real action, saw a few bass hit the surface for food but not our baits.  Spent the day on jerkbaits, rubbers, and rapalas mainly with no action.

Was our first trek down the creek...we survived alive :-)

Any advice for creek fishing?

Seems as if you move too swiftly to really get much fishing done while in the boat.  We actually went to shore in a few spots for some casting at points.  Even then the current is so swift that I wasn't sure what to do... I'm more of a inland lake bass guy (Edinboro, LeBouf, PI, etc..) so the "heavy current" fishing was new to me...

TGIF!
Nick

Glad you survived.  I'd bet you had the creek all to yourselves.
 
I don't suggest canoeing on French Creek when the water is that high,,,for the same reasons you discovered.  It can be dangerous at times.
 
Not sure what gauge beerman uses but the best fishing is typically when the Utica gauge is under 3ft.  I prefer around 2-2 1/2.

Thanks for the advice guys!  I'm glad we survived alive. 

It wasn't "terrifying" at any point but it was swift... and you're right we had it all to ourselves!  Fortunately we have our PFD's and all that too but I could see how it can turn bad in an instant out there that high.. lesson learned for sure.

Yea, I swore I looked at the gauge links I saw posted in other threads on French Creek and thought it read between 3 and 2 but am I looking at the wrong chart?  Can you guys point me at the link and the chart I should be looking at.

It was surprisingly swift at rt 6   It did calm down as we got closer to Pinewood/Dutchtown if you are familiar with the stretch...  once we got to about the "tressels" it was actually a nice ride.

This is the chart at Utica, I think it is the right one!  I just failed to look ON THE DAY of the trip, I looked Weds night and thought it looked good.  Amazing (or maybe not so amazing) that it changed so drastically in a few short hours.

Well, atleast I know "the worst of it" kinda and can, using this experience, plan a much safer, much slower/more productive trip in maybe a months time.

I think I was focusing on the right hand Y axis too, not the "Stage (Ft)" but rather the "Flow"  so even on Wed it wasn't all that safe at well over 4ft...

I was initially reading it as somewhere around 2.5-3 but that's the flow.

My dad will get a kick out of this once I tell him...  thankfully a funny story instead of a tragic one.

Ya you wanna look to the left of the chart.  No, I do not use a map.  I have two family members with camps right on French.  One is in Saegertown and the other is in Cochranton.  I have only explored a few miles upstream or downstream of each camp.  I'm sure others on here can point you towards a map.   

I wasn't thrilled with the maps available via google earth/google maps at least for printing them off.  the creek itself isn't in proportion, etc.

I happened to stumble on to a great resource and wanted to pass it along.  The USGS has maps for order ($8 for a "7.5 & 15 Minute Map").  There are about 4 that cover French creek where I'm interested.

However, further digging revealed a "map locator" tool on their site that lets you download the maps as PDF, as such I've got a great topo of french creek on the stretch I'm interested fresh off the printer (used 11x17 size here at work).

It's kinda a convuluted two step dance, first you search for your location, then click step 2 and place some pins in the map.  After that you can click the pins and download the maps underneath.

Link to Map Locator

PDF of "Waterford" French Creek  (Warning, this is a large PDF 40-50MB)

PDF of "NE Cambridge Springs" French Creek (Warning, this is a large PDF 40-50MB)

PDF of "Cambridge Springs" French Creek (Warning, this is a large PDF 40-50MB)

i think thats the union city dam overflow but not sure.

WOW!!! MAN ARE YOU MISSING OUT!!!!

ORIGINAL: tank7791

I live on main st in saegertown i'm 500 ft from french creek and never fished it, i did not think anything was in there, maybe i should start tossing a few lines in

It's one of PA's little known treasures. Read a little of what you're missing:

http://www.nature.org/wherewework/northamerica/states/pennsylvania/preserves/art9996.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/French_Creek_(Allegheny_River)

But...respect the waterway. People have drowned when they should have stayed off the creek!

I have fished there several times. More in late winter before walleye closes. Caught several walleye and some musky. It also holds plenty of smallmouth and rock bass. Try stick baits or jigs.
 

I've lived in saegertown for about 2 yrs, i lived in erie prior to that, moved out here for work and now i'm looking for another job back in erie