fallscity1
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French Creek FLoat
Hey guys, need some advice on a potential French Creek Float trip. First off let me state that I'm a seasoned vet of floats on the Allegheny, Beaver, Shenango and Mahoning Rivers. Due to work and family(lil kids) my kayak has seen only duck hunts the last few years. I've got a few day hall pass I can cash in any time between June 21-30. My question is will FRENCH BE FLOATABLE AT THIS TIME OF YEAR? One of my old fishin buddies and I are gonna go on a few day trip, and while I have never done French he has shore fished it in the past. Are we wasting our time trying to float with low flows of summer? Is there a DONT FLOAT height that I should watch for on the USGS French Creek at Meadville Gage? http://waterdata.usgs.gov/pa/nwis/uv/?site_no=03023100&PARAmeter_cd=00065,00060,00010 We would more than likely be on the lower end of French. Any and all replies will be greatly appreciated. P.S. if your looking for new waters to try I can help you out with the aforementioned Lawrence/Beaver county rivers.
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kayak99
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Re:French Creek FLoat
2012/06/05 07:57:21
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French Creek is very much floatable this time of year. June would rarely be too shallow but if in the summer it gets low, walk the riffles. I'd be more concerned about high water than low.
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Josh7388
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Re:French Creek FLoat
2012/06/05 09:56:49
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What he said about high water. I float Shaws landing to utica almost every year and it's and great trip. Rarely ever have to wade even in low water
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dakotab
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Re:French Creek FLoat
2012/06/05 12:54:48
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Might see you out there. Me a few buddies are floating from lake LeBoeuff (sp) to the Allegeny. We're leaving on the 20th.
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Pork
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Re:French Creek FLoat
2012/06/05 12:57:54
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Now that's gonna be a heck of a trip!
Not sure if you're familiar with the creek, but careful of the dam in Saegertown. And, HAVE FUN!! :)
*and, how long are you planning on that float taking?
"If you ever get hit with a bucket of fish, be sure to close your eyes." ><)))*>
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dakotab
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Re:French Creek FLoat
2012/06/05 14:06:07
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We're thinking we should be able to do it in a week. We did 8 miles on Memorial day and were done by 4 oclock. One of the guys google earthed it and it said it was 69.8 miles by creek. So 10 miles a day should be doable.
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kayak99
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Re:French Creek FLoat
2012/06/05 15:21:05
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Forgot to mention, last weekend I noticed a strainer down in the third pool below Utica on the right. (I usually go left when the water is up.) You can get around it easily and it's fairly shallow in that pool but the current could take a novice into it. I'm hoping someone with a chainsaw cuts this up. I may not get back up there for a couple weeks.
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ToothyCritterGitter
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Re:French Creek FLoat
2012/06/05 17:53:52
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between conneautee and saegertown is a pretty deep section of the creek.
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wade alexander
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Re:French Creek FLoat
2012/06/05 18:24:06
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i saw some amish/menonite girls down at cochranton pulling a canoe... so my advice would be dont be a **** lol they were cute too..im not ashamed  i think some good fishing would be a couple miles above wilsons chutes...been all over back there its really nice looking probably some deeper water
post edited by wade alexander - 2012/06/05 18:27:07
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fallscity1
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Re:French Creek FLoat
2012/06/08 13:33:23
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Thanks for all the info guys... we'll be kayaking it. Probably 1 nite over. I'm gonna look up some of the launch sites you mentioned.
Not yet sure what day we will shove out, but I;ll let you know and try to snap a few pics as well as fishing reports.
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kayak99
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Re:French Creek FLoat
2012/06/10 19:06:53
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You asked what the best levels for French Creek would be. I use the Utica gauge http://water.weather.gov/...wfo=pbz&gage=utcp1 The water as it is right now at this writing at Utica, 2.33 ft is perfect. The water today was just slightly clouded, flowing nicely and just the right depth to still cruise through the riffles. If it gets much under 2 ft you'll be walking a lot of riffles, if it gets up close to 4 ft chances are it's muddy and fast flowing.
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fallscity1
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Re:French Creek FLoat
2012/06/15 01:00:30
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Kayak 99,
thanks a ton. This is the specific info I was searching for. Watching the USGS gages from home has saved many an awful trip and many gallons of gas.
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kayak99
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Re:French Creek FLoat
2012/06/25 14:49:19
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Well, did you make the float? When, where and how was it?
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fallscity1
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Re:French Creek FLoat
2012/06/27 19:12:19
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Kayak99,
We put in on fri 6-22 at the Saegertown launch. Time was about 0630 and the Utica gage read 1.87'. We took out at the Boro launch in Meadville at about 1530. It was a nice section of stream. I was rather surprised by some of the shallow sections.
I only had to get out and pull my yak a short distance twice.When we traversed the pools we found cover and fish. We only boated 6 fish each, sub par by our home water standards. My buddy did boat a nice walleye of 21" in one pool. The rest were smallmouth of average size 8"-13".
We contemplated our day two over a few cold ones in Conneaut Lake. It was decided to head back south and forego the section from Meadville to Cochranton.
Overall I would flaot it again as well as the lower portion that we skipped, just not high on the priority list.
Our trip back south didnt disappoint... its gonna be hard to make the drive up north again when we know what we have in the backyard!
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fallscity1
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Re:French Creek FLoat
2012/06/27 20:34:30
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psu_fish
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Re:French Creek FLoat
2012/06/27 21:09:58
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I like floating from Carlton down to Sugarcreek
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kayak99
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Re:French Creek FLoat
2012/07/05 21:15:26
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Glad you had a good trip. Smallies don't seem to be biting as in past years and I've caught fewer larger ones. Might be the warmer water. Still a great creek to float though! Updating this post. Caught the largest smaillie of the year yesterday on the hottest day of the year. That's French Creek! Unpredictable!
post edited by kayak99 - 2012/07/08 11:16:09
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