New to the forums and also general questions about Brook Trout and Brook Trout spots...

 
   Hello everyone!
 
   I just arrived/joined online and am looking forward to gathering some information in regards to trout fishing this year. Now I know there already has been some discussion about Brook Trout, yet I was wondering if someone could email/pm or send me some general information on spots of where to catch these at? Specifically, I was wondering about in in the general Lawrence/Mercer areas? And also, is it true that at one time there was "Brookies" in Hell's Run (Hell's Hollow)? (in Lawrence county).
   I have never caught one of these as well as plan on always catch and release and would also like some tips (if possible) about what to use (bait) and again where to get these. So far, I have only been able to find "possible spots" in: Butler (Harbar Acres Lake), Hell's Run (which I am not sure is a myth or not in Brookies being there?), and spots up farther north (outside of the scope of SW Pennsylvania I know) such as Greenville and Clarks Mills (there's a bridge there with a pool).
    It's just again, would love to finally catch one of these and last year I caught so many Rainbow and Brown Trout I'd like to move on to these. Thanks again everyone for the help/direction and tips in advance......
 
Mike

There's no brook trout in Lawrence County, and yes that's a myth. None in Mercer either(except for a stocked stream or two). To see what species are stocked in the streams, check out......   http://fbweb.pa.gov/stocking/TroutStockingDetails_GIS.aspx   KJH807's link is great, but the link I put up will take you right to the lists. Just select the county.

..Hey everyone and thanks for all the info/links and tips. I've been checking out the links (very cool!) And I was wondering Solitario - what did you mean by "going up north"? Did you mean counties such as Venango and Clarion and such? Or other "north counties such as Crawford and Erie/Mercer? Thanks in advance...

  Heya Jeb - thanks for the info and my dad just moved to Clarion some months back...ill be sure to check that area out :) Also nice Palamino in the pic, I never caught one of these yet seen 2 of them in a small pool in New Castle, PA. Oh yes, when you mentioned about SW areas - can you send me an email online here of some of those areas? Thanks again!

 Hey there Mr Ninja,
 
   Thanks for the all the information, and I had heard about Hells Run for sometime now and when you said "native" did you mean these were found to be in the creek naturally and not stocked ever at all? And as far as Brook Trout go, I finally found a spot to catch them, and although not year round, it still is/was great to finally get my fill of these this year :) Thanks again!

jones mill run up near seven spings and trent is stocked with only brookies - and some large ones.  the upper reaches of the creek have natives - very small typically but in the fall their colors are spectacular.
 
phish

Hell's Run is a very delicate small stream, sssshhhh !
 
Also,
Try Kooser Run near Donegal or any streams down that way. Lots of stocked brookies and natives too.

Wow and thanks to the both of you for the extra information as I added/noted it all down - much appreciated! :)

^What he said, and any other similar stream. Streams of that type can BARELY handle pressure from CAREFUL C&R anglers, let alone people who let the fish flop all over the ground. The fish population in that stream(and others like it) has been ruined since being posted about on the internet(by the PFBC and various forums, FB, etc.) A few years ago I saw a roostertail stuck in a log there..  not good   Fortunately, there's MUCH better wild brownie streams in the area, and that aren't as dangerous terrain wise. Trust me. Put on some hiking boots and get away from the known streams and you will be rewarded with good sized WILD trout...   Stay away from the class A list. Yes, they may have(or "had" in most cases....) good numbers of fish but they get way too much pressure and the fishing can suffer. One of my favorite brookie streams(in Central PA) recently got added to the Class A list a couple years ago and the pressure skyrocketed. Needless to say the fishing really went downhill.. My biggest wild browns in western PA have all come out of streams that are stocked in areas............and streams WAAAAYYY off the beaten path. But if you're gonna mishandle fish(ie. use worms on a 2/0 hook and let them flop all over the rocks, and keep them out of the water for more than 5-10sec to get a video or pics), stick to stocked trout or carp.
 
Also, I might add, PLEASE take a thermometer with you. Even on the wild streams, if the water temp is in the upper 60s early in the morning don't even think about fishing. Warm water stresses the fish, and yes even some wild trout streams can get toasty in the summer. It's best to let them be for now.

Mr Troutman!
 
  Hey I like the screenname..I have to admit i'm a bit jealous because over the last two years i've been on a trout kick lately myself and woohoo - found 5 fulltime year round spots :) for Brook Trout, Brown Trout and HUGE fat Rainbows ...all within 30 miles of my place, now how can you beat that :) You oughta email me and ill send these across to you complete with GPS and what to use.
   Alright let's see what you had to say...hmm "can barely handle the pressue from careful C+R anglers"? I dont under what you mean by that? If you catch a fish, then release it, which I do and you do, apparently its something that "I'm not as good at as you"? Awe, this means I must not be part of "the elite fishing in-crowd"? Let's look at this closer shall we? Since I take it that you were aiming this at me, if I (or someone wasn't careful) then we would:
 
- Not even put he fish back in the water and let them lay there till they die
- Not even use hemostats to "carefully" get the hook out (which I use).
- If I did put them back in the water I would just drop them in and walk off immediately.
 
  Or maybe is it because you and the "elite" in crowd are stil upset that I do just as well (and better at times) then the 8 million dollar fly fishing and outfit gear? I still am using a 15.00 Walmartrod and closed face reel combo, and along with my spinners have been an unbeatable team (sounds kinda like Mortal Combat doesnt it?) ;)
    Oh, now here's a good line you brought up about "letting the fish flop all over the ground". Let's have some factual fun with this...so with that means you are telling me...
 
- All of the fish you ever landed (on the ground of course) have never flopped once?
- All of the fish you ever landed (on the ground of course) you had them unhooked and gently (PETA elitist in-crowd fisher-people approved) way within xx seconds?
- ....How many times have you told a 9 year old kid this after he caught his first bass?
 
.....I could have added to that list yet I couldn't tell if that was supposed to be an insult aimed at me? or maybe ou just are that way to quickly judge other people fishing. And why is that you people come up with these "unknown/unspoken and unreckonized DNR rules" at the expense of someone else's catch? Let's move on to what else you had to say (this is fun:)
     You also said that "spots like these have been ruined by them being posted on the internet"? Now why would you say that? :( Last time I was there, I didnt see your name also added to any sign that said "Hells Run - exclusive use and ownership provided by Sevenmileshowcase and Mr Troutman" or did I miss it was posted somehere else around there? Now when I was in pre-school, one of the first things we all learned was a word called "sharing" :) Now I know we'd all like a fishing spot all to ourself yet in the day in age we have to learn to share don't we? Also, this creek is recognized and posted online from PS/Fish and boat commission. So be sure to remind them the very same line you told me about "how they ruined it" too :)
       Come on now, let's not ruin someone elses fun and fishing experience, I know I don't "hog" any spots or keep them private. I have researched the entire eastern and south western spots of PA with my Google Earth, GPS navigator, stocking list and much more where I serve as a guide sharing every nice hot trout spot and what to use. So let's all share and be friends.
       Let's see what else you had to say :)  Someone got a rooster tail stuck in a log? :( that sucks, and I hate it too when I lose a spinner or two, but my favorite spinners are Panther Martins. Speaking of which I can think of two spots that there were so many spinners in one branch it looked like a Christmas Tree.
      Now you got a GREAT POINT there - where you got to travel and go searching for the wild ones. That's something Ive ben too lazy to do for awhile now :( That's what I heard you have to do and agree there. Yet you mean to tell me that as soon as a stream makes a class A list all of a sudden everyone and their brother just shows up and takes it over? As far as central PA goes, I'm too lazy to drive that far and I was THANKFUL as ever to have found a place for Brookies again 30 miles around the corner from me (well actually two) so that made my year :) woohoo! You sound like youre the pro in finding new spots too yet for trout I dont want to catch any really over 15 to 16 inches at most. An bigger than that is well.....just too big I think for trout :) kinda strange for me isnt it?
       Uh oh, just when I saw we were becoming internet buddies you seemed to have taken a turn for the worst now :( They way you began talking to me online sounded like some new kid took over your favorite trout hole and you sounded mad :( I hope you didnt think that was me - did you? Since you were cool earlier - this is what I use for trout:
 
- 4 different color Panther Marting spinners (black/silver/green+white and bright yello)
- I quit using maggots - they began to nickel and 3.00 me to death)
- Small mini-rapala minnows (although the hooks are so small they never stay on)
- I only use worm (on a size 6 hook) if I really have to and are desperate
- Salmon Eggs - which works every now and then - Brookies it works pretty good, yet the brownies dont seem to want anything to do with these.
- Trout (power bait) - is messy/boring and doesn't work
 
    I'm sure Im forgetting other things yet I have to run some errands here in a bit. Yet you seem to be heavily focused on "mishandling fish" - you arent one of those HOT PETA CHICKS are you? And how do you define "mishandling fish"? How about I do this for you?
 
- Mishandling fish? - How can you keep every fish you land from "flopping" over?, What is considered "mishandling fish"? Now is this defined by you or the PA fish and boat commission?
- To not keep a fish out of the water for longer than 15-20 seconds? Now that's about as funny as this one old guy at Volant tried to tell me its the pole and reel selection that you use that catches more fish (aka Fly fishing instead of walmart combos). :) It was even more funny because I brought in 6 15+ rainbows and all this old guy got was a small 11 inch Smallmouth. But lets get back to the point, let me ask you....have you never had a fish swallow a hook before? And if so, now were you able to get them back in the water in no more than 15/20 seconds? Now let's be realistic, it would take you AT LEAST 10 to 15 seconds to go grab your pliers or hemos. right? :)  You're starting to remind me of this kid in elementary school, that did nothing except to tell everyone there wasnt a Santa Clause :(
    Why did you ask me if a brought a thermometer with me when I fish? Of course its been warm lately, yet I have not had a problem in any stream, creek or anything else lately. I just throw out my trusty spinners and away we go :) You dont actually take one of those with you and take a temp every 10 feet instead of just casting do you? Wow thats dedication!
     And its best to let them be for now? hehheh no way! I like to catch trout year around and that last line you said about "leaving them alone for now" sounds like you want the places for yourself :)
     Anyways, great talking to you again and I think Ive seen your name on my youtube channel :) Be well and have a great rest of the week! ROCK ON :)
 
 

Mike, since you had so much fun dissecting my post, I'll take the time and do it to yours as well. Yeah, I may have exaggerated some parts but I'll try to explain more in depth the the questions you provided.
 
FYI, though you(all of us for that matter) can always improve our fish handling skills(I've seen a couple of your vids), my post was mainly aimed at the general angling public, not you personally. Except for that first sentence, but I apologize if you took offense to that. 
 
Now give me a little time to write out a long, detailed reply lol...........

MikeFromOhio
 
- You cannot judge someone by how they handle a fish?

 
Sure I can.  I can judge anyone however I wish.  Right now I'm judging you to be a "dumass".
 
Please stay in Ohio.

Troutman save your breath dude. We all know the type of angler that 'MikeFromOhio' represents. Not his fault, 'MikeFromOhio' sounds like the geek that got put in his locker during gym class. Most likely 'MikeFromOhio' post his sick videos on Youtube hoping to attract a friend. Something he probably never had growing up. After hearing others talk about 'MikeFromOhio' you couldn't pay me to watch the videos. I know one bad potatoe will destroy the bushel but, please do not judge other Buckeye Anglers by the antics of 'MikeFromOhio'.

Alright now for my next contestant and has been one of my longtime fans ...ITTTTTSS "Troutguy" :)
 
  Hey what's going on out there? I was beginning to think you forgot about me as well as I wasn't part of "the troutguy in-crowd". Well let's see what you have to say....
 
>>>>Mike, since you had so much fun dissecting my post, I'll take the time and do it to yours as well.>>>>
 
  Uh oh, now this doesn't sound like a good start :) Good thing I just made a pot of coffee, this is going to be as entertaining as catching trout with a Walmart rod/reel combo right in front of rich fly fisher-people.
 
>>>> Yeah, I may have exaggerated some parts but I'll try to explain more in depth the the questions you provided. FYI, though you(all of us for that matter) can always improve our fish handling >>>>
 
  How ...and I still can't believe I read that..how can you:
1. Improve "fish handling skills" while you still use your own hands to land them?
2. Or to take a fish out of a net (if you used one) without hands?
3. How do you also improve "fish handling skills" if a fish swallowed a hook to achieve that "15" or was it "10-15 second" time deadline?
 
  I mean there's things I'd like to improve on too like my "Santa Letters" for Christmas, or to lose that 10 pounds I gained from last week (sigh :( or find somewhere online I can continue to buy my Shakespeare Synergy 15 reels that they dont make anymore :( but I don't think any of these will ever happen (now im depressed) :(
  
   <<<<<my post was mainly aimed at the general angling public, not you personally.>>>>
    Oh, I knew that :) its all good, that's why I don't have to take Prozac or see a shrink (pretty neat huh?) Its all in good fun my fellow trout catcher, yet its great to pass the time when you're waiting for downloads to complete online.
 
<<<<<Except for that first sentence, but I apologize if you took offense to that.  Now give me a little time to write out a long, detailed reply lol...........>>>>>
    I don't take anything seriously, not even my vids, my comments or even myself :) OH COOL! A "long detailed reply".....:) :) :) I LIVE for those and I hope its next, I still have about 2 hours before I have to leave, yet no matter what you say, I think you're still cool in my book :) Rock on!

 
  Well, I guess while I'm here wondering if Mr Troutguys internet got cut off or someone forgot to pay the bill, lets have a look at D-nymph? (am I pronouncing that right?)  Either way its kind of a short one yet let's look and see what they had to say:
 
<<<<<Message: - You cannot judge someone by how they handle a fish?>>>>>
  Uh, unfortunately no. I know I can't :) Although I did try once to plan out my week trying to use a "Magic 8-ball", but it didn;t work. Not to be insensible, yet what is your infactuation with people's hands? Is that your way of asking me out?
 
<<<<< Sure I can.  I can judge anyone however I wish.  Right now I'm judging you to be a turd. Please stay in Ohio.>>>>>
  Now there's the first fact I've seen all night (so far). That's very true, now we all can "judge how we want to" That's called "individuality" in which we all have separate social security numbers for, which means we all don't share the same mind, mental illnesses, fishing tackle, and etc..and etc..
   Now, now, let's not resort to name-calling, You don't see me doing that do you? No need to be mad at me, I wasn't the one who stole your fishing spots and if you would have asked nicely, of course I would have added one of your videos to my most famous and awesome fishing "flew-tube" (youtube channel). You wouldn't believe all the hot babes that always write in asking "If I know any single guys who like to use fishing gear for screen-names" so there's no need for "online passive-aggressiveness" ok? :)