Re: Local carp/catfish spot
2023/06/02 10:59:10
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Although it’s not in southwest PA, Pymatuning is absolutely polluted with channel cats if you guys are able to travel a little bit. When my sons want to catch catfish, we make the 1.5 hour drive there.
On either side of the beach near the Jamestown campground, there are some summer evenings where you can catch them as fast as you can reel them in and get your line back out. Late June through August is when that happens. It’s about 100 yards from the parking lot there but all flat, level ground.
Around the Jamestown marina there are several places where you can park closer to the water with short, easy walks. On the south side of the marina across the water there’s a little peninsula that sticks out with a handicap preferred fishing area on the south side of the peninsula. It’s a very short walk on a paved sidewalk.
If you want any more specific info on Pymy feel free to send me a private message.
Lake Arthur is also pretty good for channel cats with many easily accessible areas for folks with mobility challenges. Under the 528 bridge, they did some shoreline improvements there a year or two ago with nice level, gravel pads at the water’s edge. I’ve found the beginning of June till mid month a challenging time to catch good numbers of cats at Arthur as they are in spawning mode.
Both Arthur and Pymy have some small numbers of flatheads in them now too, with some 25# plus fish being regularly caught at Pymy. Haven’t seen any giants from Arthur but I’m sure they’re there.
At both places the last two hours before dark into the dark are best so your willingness to fish then should get you on some fish.