I E-Mailed the Fish Commission April 14 of last year about Brush Creek, how to see about getting it approved trout waters again, still no answer, they said it will take time, but will get back to me. About time means no time limit to them I guess. John

i have been annoyed with the pa fish com. for years i quit fishing for about 20 years. for me it was a combination of things over agressive officers writing a citation to a friend of mine because his bait hit the water as the waves rolled in while he was fixing his 6 year old sons reel 3 rods in the water. after finishing work on the 10-6 shift i would go fishing my peacefull fishing trip would get squashed as the stocking truck rolled in with the mongrel hord of truck chasers who promtly sat on my lap with all their children cuz they are good for 2 rods apiece and no license required they proceeded to yank freshly stocked fish out of the water with 5 feet of string. now i am not saying all kids are bad but it seems these days parents dont control their kids i would gladly share my spot my bait and tips with anyone but rudeness is inexcuseable

I just read that "my peaceful fishing trip" dude they payed just as much as you. I've always said even as a kid there was something cool about throwing a spinner into a flowing stream and catching them it's just fun. Now when I'm out there and see that I don't get upset I talk to the people find out where they were and fish around them. There not bad people, they just weren't guided in fishing by their parents or don't have the right mentality

Recent article in the tribune review suggested stopping fall and winter program stockings for trout. If that happens it could be my breaking point where I no longer trout fish or buy the stamp. My trout season starts in October, not April. The fall and winter trout not caught are still present during opening day in lakes and there is not that much movement in streams over the winter has been my experience from our old tackle shop's stocking in the less famous pine creek.
I miss Allegheny county trout fishing as I am a North Park Local. I'm just glad this wasn't an Ice year as almost all lakes would be 1 hour away. The river has been good for walleye and some other fish I've caught kayak trolling this winter.

ORIGINAL: wrighter00
If you're looking to thrill the kids consider what Pittsburgh does have, 3 rivers.

Not sure the rivers are the best place to take young kids. When they are a little older, sure. Most places that I fish of the river, require waders to get a good drift or work a seam / ledge well. Putting a kid under 10 years old in waders in the rivers, is unadvisable. Having small kids fish any moving water in the Winter, probably isn't advisable either. Combine that with the amount of snags (which wading helps eleviate), broken glass and other litter, sewage (just about anywhere in Allegheny Co. after a rain), and some rather rude characters at times. Until the kids are completely into fishing on their own, and not into playing with whatever they find on the ground, the rivers aren't all that child friendly.

ORIGINAL: wrighter00
Glade Run lake is a little further north than the park, but it has year round stockings.

Not any more

@Pork Chill environment and places to sit considered, as the poster stated. There are enough places to relax and fish safely down there. Most every dam and boat launch has an open or park area which is or rather should be patrolled. There are plenty of other parks along the rivers too. I assumed that these areas were best suited for what he was looking for.

I have never ran into any trouble while fishing in the city. Maybe I should say any more trouble than I would find while walking into the woods. If you're worried about bears then take a gun or a dog. It depends on where you're fishing. If it's strictly fun family and safe lake fishing to be done with small children, then I'll have to go with the post about sticking with blue gills and bass.

@rsquared Hmm, it's stated on the site that it's stocked through out the year. Another annoyance... What about Slippery Rock? It has fall stockings and some wayward wilds. It has a large DHALO area too. It's about 45mins up rt79.

@rsquared Yup, that Glade Lake was it. Come to think of it, I still lived in the city when I looked that info up. That was about 2 years ago. Good to know that before I actually drove out there sometime. Rumor had it that the creek had some wild ones too. Guess I'll steer clear and look into other places. Thanks for the info.

as well as donegal, twin lakes & keystone not too long ago

ORIGINAL: just_wanna_fish

i read glade was a draw down does that mean drained ? at any rate it is off the stocking list north park not getting any winter trout racoon and deer lakes are though

Yes, completely drained. Just a small creek running through there now.

Deer Lakes getting winter trout? Not on the schedule on the PFBC website. None till April 3. Delayed harvest area on Deer Creek is getting stocked in March, if that's what you meant.

Deer Lakes was stocked in October. Very, very little pressure there the handful of times I went this fall so I'd imagine you could find some till March 1 when it closes to fishing.

Creel,

They probably won't reply. Never have for me. I even called left a message with the pittsburgh management office a month ago. Still no email or call back.

ORIGINAL: beerman0303

Whether you agree with the PFBC's stocking policies or not, North Park Lake IS a GREAT place to take kids fishing. North Park is the first place my dad ever took me fishing, and I still went from time to time up until it was drained. Whether through stocking or natural reproduction os native species, some "orginization/authority/government" should take measures to ensure it remains fishable for years to come. It doesn't have to be a trophy fishery, just a fun safe place where you can catch few different species of fish.

That I can totally agree with.

Sorry, but NO. The whole point of your original post, was to complain that it wasn't stocked with trout this winter.

"Whether through stocking or natural reproduction os native species, some "orginization/authority/government" should take measures to ensure it remains fishable for years to come."

They are. That was the whole point behind the work done, and money spent doing it.

Spoon, OK yes i was complaining. You got me. Congratulations.
Petty? I can think of lots of other stuff on this forum that could much more easily be described in that way. If i was looking at it "in the grand scheme" i wouldn't have posted! I wanted to take my kids to NP for some trout- I didn't really care about 8 million dollars worth of improvements at the time, as irrational as it sounds. I wanted to catch some friggin traaht on a rare 50 degree winter day at the same place ive been doin it since childhood! Forgive me for questioning the PFBC for not doing (stocking trout) one of the things we pay them to do! And they still haven't responded to my very simple inquiry.
In the grand scheme of things, it looks like the work done will ensure that my kids and many others will be able to catch fish there for a long time. Although lets not celebrate yet. Pine creek has been overly cloudy and silt laden ever since the digging began last year. Hopefully improvements in one waterway will not lead to degradation in another.
I guess i did ask for people's opinions, so i can't get upset when i get what i asked for....

No offense, but unpowered water craft, have the right of way. Although, they should use common curtesy. I have had many situations with sail boats on Arthur, that clearly had no control over their vessels. I do my best, to figure out where they are going, and do a huge loop out of their way. I have sat for 10+ minutes waiting for some boats to do what they are going to do... I figure they are just learning. The sailboats with motors going, that expect you to yield, get under my skin a bit though.

I'll try to loop around the paddlers too. Although, they have much more control, and not very fast moving, so never really had any issues. Unless I am in some confined space, where I know, going around means a prop full of salad or bottoming out. I am not exactly sure what happened in your situation, but not sure how 4 wide is dangerous?