fishing trip

Where is a better place to go on a weekday morning-early afternoon next week for bass, Conneaut Lake, the Allegheny River near Parker or PI Bay?

Thanks a lot. I was kind of leaning towards conneaut anyways. And also is there any good crappie/perch fishing to be had there right now?

andyg - it sounds like you have made up your mind but, I wanted to let you know that I did fish North of Parker at Emlenton on the river last week and simply slammed the bass on a spinnerbait. White tandem Booyah

I did a 39 mile, two day float in a canoe w/trolling motor from Franklin to Emlenton. We spent the night at a campground in Kennerdal. I did two of those floats this month. The first one was with high water and we caught several fish. The conditions were great on the second float and we hammered many 18-20 inch fish. The question about the jet drive is a good one. I usually float or take a jet up around the Tideoute area. These few trips were my first time on the lower stretch. All of the guys I saw at the boat ramp had jets. The river has much deeper and longer holes or stretches on the lower part but, I would be afraid to tell you that you would not need a jet. I would definetly post that question and see who answers. I will tell you that anywhere on that stretch that I mentioned has dynamite smallie fishin - much better than the upper part, atleast for this time of year. Hope this helps.

No where on the Allegheny (above the dams) can you go very far "up" the river with a prop unless it's really high water and you know the river.  Many aluminum boats with props go downstream, running the deeper pools and drifting thorugh the riffles.

If you're going to run the river much, put a jet pump on your motor, otherwise you're limited to the pools where you put in unless you want to put in one place and take out someplace else downstream (and then you have the problem of getting the trailer to the take out point).

Use the canoe, you'll enjoy the river more.

P.S.  Canoeing the river is usually at its best when the gauge at Franklin reads about 3 to 4 feet with 4 ft being optimal.

My cousin's camp is only about 2 miles from the sand and gravel launch so i'll definatley have to try that this summer. If I put in there how long of a pool can i run with a prop? O yea I'll have to remember to say it's my "cousint's"

I was indeed speaking about the sand and gravel between Franklin and Reno.(where 2 mile run dumps into the Allegheny, about 1 mile upriver from where frenck creek dumps in)
 
You are also correct the nearest launch is down river below where French Creek dumps in at 3rd street, behind the Joy.
 
The entire stretch from where lower 2 mile run dumps in to where upper 2 mile run dumps in is a good drift for eyes and smallies.
 
But again>>>>> be aware of the Franklin Hillbillies.

Drift Oil City to Franklin and work the pools. Drift a crawler and cast whatever you want, you WILL catch fish.

A john boat with a small outboard will make the run (not very fast) upstream from Franklin to Reno, if you know what your doing.

ORIGINAL: andyg

I do have a 14' sea nymph with a 7.5 merc, but i'll definatley want to canoe that stretch before I take it out

Just make sure you have a pull rope (and oars) if you plan to run upstream to the gravel pit from Franklin ramps with a prop. 

ORIGINAL: bronzeback2

Anyone ever put in a fishermans cove access, have 13 foot square stern sportspal with minnkota and was wondering how that would work there for chasing smallies and eyes? thanks

Nice access area and a nice area of the river to fish.  Your boat will work well in that area.  What I would do is head upstream and fish the riffles just above Fishermans Cove.