Tips for finding new water

As an out of towner, the biggest thing I struggle with is trying to find new water. We live in South Carolina and come to Erie annually for Thanksgiving. We're only in town for a few days, and that doesn't leave a lot of time for exploring. I essentially spend 51 1/2 weeks researching and preparing for a 3 day fishing trip and turkey dinner.

We've hit most of the park 'n cast spots like lower Walnut, Twelve Mile, Sixteen Mile, etc. but I'd really like to find some spots away from the parking lots and crowds. I've taken the PFBC map and plugged all the GPS coordinates into Google Earth (yes, I have too much time on my hands) to try and get a better picture of things. There is certainly plenty of water but knowing what is posted vs. fishable is tougher to decipher. The PFBC map has some info but there is a lot of water that doesn't get mentioned. For example: Sixteen Mile Creek has some access from the sewer plant down to the mouth. But what about upriver? Perhaps there is access but maybe there is some impass that prevents the fish from getting there. This is the stuff I struggle with. I can read books, listen to podcasts, scour the Internet for facts, but the bottom line is there is no substitute for experience. Each year we get a little better, but if anyone would like to offer some general tips on finding new water (without giving away your secret spot) I'd appreciate it.

Not trying to be an azz here but what more do you really want. You have the PFBC maps with GPS coordinates.. there are maps on this site. All that's left to do is go exploring. There are no secret spots in Erie. Almost all will have people at them. If you only have 3 days to fish you can cover alot of water if you choose to do so. Hit a few spots in the morning if you don't find fish keep moving.  

Best piece of gear to find new waters = good boots
most posted land will in fact have signs or wires
the upper reaches of most of the creeks get less pressure and have some great holes

Plenty of water to fish, as was said, don't be afraid to explore a bit, and get up and away from the parking lots and from the crowds. It's not hard to find a couple of fish off aways, in water most anglers will walk right by, or think "if I don't see them, they aren't there." Plus, you'll get away from any of the elitists.

It's as easy as 1,2,3.

1) view a map from this site. It's accurate and free.
2) pick a spot to park and enter the creek
3) walk to an area you never fished before

Gee thanks TopDog.  You're talking about the newly posted tubes area?  AwEsUm tiP.  We walkud and walkud and walkud uNtil we hit dis pLAce kalled Cooks Forest.  Dems sum guD water ther.
 
All kidding aside, we got out yesterday and again this morning.  Went to a few spots on upper Elk.  I landed my first steelhead yesterday, and my wife landed her first today.  Lost a bunch and a few snagged fish too.  All fish are back in the creeks ready to fight another day.  Everyone we passed on the creek was nice & friendly.  It's been a great experience so far and we still have another day to get out.  My son broke his fly rod, and we did get the car stuck in the snow today but someone was nice enough to pull us out.  To answer the other age old question - was it worth it?  Hell yeah!
 
I didn't mean to agitate anyone with this thread and perhaps I should have worded it differently.  Whenever we travel, I'm always trying to find some new fishing opportunity.  Freshwater, saltwater, mountains, or whatever - if there is water, I'm going to try and catch something.  If you've ever gone to a new part of the country and tried to fish somewhere you've never been before, you know what I am talking about.  It takes some homework, and I have some "tools" for lack of a better word that I use to try and educate myself as much as possible before I go.  Certainly nothing beats experience and time on the water. 
 
For purposes of this discussion, forget about Erie, PA, and forget about steelhead.  My question to the group was really a generic "what do you find helpful when researching some place that you've never fished before?".  I've got a system, and I'm sure many of you do too.  That's all.  No harm intended.
 
Happy Thanksgiving & tight lines to all.

In topdoggs perfect world the erie tribs would be for him and a select few only to fish. Even though the local economy would take a hit causing taxes to go up and paf&b wouldn't sell enough Erie stamps to maintain the steelhead program. Doods a dork and is to be ignored at all times. Such a shame a nice guy like yourself has to be dcked around by him.

Dood gets irritated by people posting accurate reports for fear that it may drive business to the Erie area and get in his way on the trib. This site is designed for reports and a community where fellow anglers can interact to better their experience on the water. The stream is big enough for all of us. I'm less than a mile from elk access and people seeking a great fishery don't bother me. It helps the economy and keeps money in the system, even if that money is mismanaged from time to time. I like ur Wikipedia crack by the way...well played

Hey topdog...
 
When hanging your yellow rope stringer... which side is the **** side again? All always get that mixed up. I only keep the browns anyway. People might get the wrong idea with a stringer full of rainbows.

Chriswalker97
 This site is designed for reports and a community where fellow anglers can interact to better their experience on the water.

No, it isn't.
 
This site is designed to bring increased traffic to fish USA webstore.  And then make fish USA more money.  Period.